I’m looking at building a stoneboat, and realized that I’ve never looked underneath one to see what they ‘run’ on.
I was thinking of using 2x4s (or 2x6) the length of my boat, and doing three, one on each side and down the middle. But I have a lot of spare round posts that could be used. Would that make a good bottom?
Also, do you generally put a plow nose or anything on a stoneboat?
The ones I’ve seen have either two or three runners depending on their size. You want the front to angle up so that it slides more easily and doesn’t catch or nose-dive.
Something like this:
Is stone boat to be a working tool for hauling things? We found it to be too heavy for light horse breeds, to just drag it around. Husband copied one a friend with drafts used, so it was over built for light horses. They did better with dragging tires, could move tires easily, load was not so tiring or discouraging to them as the stoneboat.
I built a stone boat for my percheron when the kids and I were training him to drive 24 years ago (seems like yesterday!) I only had a picture to use as a guide (before www). I used two 8’ 4x4 and sawed off the ends at an angle like a sled. I then used 1x6s to span the two 4x4s --so the stone boat was about 8’ long, 3 feet wide. Again, I only had a picture to work from so had no idea how big it was supposed to be. I drilled two holes through the front 4x4s and bolted on a 4’ section of chain (really heavy chain) and attached a hook to the center. We then attached the horse, added a haybale, two kids and me driving --all of us sitting on the hay bale. The perch put his head down, pushed his shoulders into the collar and off we went over the hills and valleys of our pasture --we had to be sort of careful going down hill (couldn’t go too steep) because the stoneboat might run into him. Before we took off, the kids all practiced jumping off --just in case – well, 22 years there never was a just in case. That stone boat, only 3x8 riding on 4x4s lasted all that time. We used it for hauling stones (really --for the garden boarder from the pasture), wood, a million kids, dogs, cats, and goats. It finally fell apart a couple of years ago --wood rotted --by then those 4x4s were worn down to 2x4s. I still have the chain and use it for logs with the tractor. Sadly, the percheron died a year ago this month. We never owned a horse that was more flat out fun. Some place I have photos of him pulling that little tiny stone boat --I never felt so embarrassed as when I saw my Amish neighbor with his team on a real stone boat --it was HUGE --made with 8x8s --four across --but he was pulling with a young team, not just one horse. Anyway --my point is there probably isn’t a right way to make one --make it safe and fun and enjoy.
Aaaaw, your percheron sounds like he was an amazing guy! Our boat is going to be a bit shorter. I’m bulding it around a pallet. Just because we have a few. We settled on 2 runners made of stuck together 2x6, because DH says we have a bunch of odd 2x6 lengths he wants to use up. We’re going to angle the fronts, similar to the photo. I am going to use big 3/4" eye bolts on the front to hold shackles and hook my traces to that. We’re going to get real fancy and stick an AB? whip holder on it too.
This is for a Trakehner to pull. He’s skidded some elk about, and has pulled a wagon before, with his brother. They had about 8 people riding in the wagon, it was a decent size. I don’t doubt he’ll try to avoid pulling this too, but I don’t plan to load it up wildly. Plus it’s winter right now, so it will slide. If he really can’t handle it, it’s OK. We have other things he can drag too.
Sorry, that didn’t really answer goodhors, it’s just for training my Trak. I have a cart for him too, but figured a stoneboat would be a good tool working toward the cart. We don’t have any really big tires laying around, but a fair bit of scrap wood. So I thought this would work. I doubt we’ll use it for any real work, my husband would rather use the Gator in 99.9% of situations. If Warrior pulls OK, he might end up on garden duty. We’re talking carrots in the tens, and UP TO four pumpkins at a go LOL
As mentioned, he has driven, but not with me.
I would suggest using a single tree to attach his traces too instead of the eyebolts. He gets no shoulder relief without the single tree that moves each stride. He will probably get sore shoulders with the straight pull back to the stoneboat.
You could run a piece of chain between the eyebolts, attach the single tree in the center to pull with. You will want traces long enough that horse can’t kick the single tree or stoneboat. You may want to use a hip strap to keep traces from getting too low so they can be stepped over or tangle in his hind legs.
Goodhors has a point --the hook on the chain of our tiny stone boat was attached to a single tree that then attached to the tugs and collar. We used a New England Log Harness since the Percheron pulled trees too. And personally, I’d buy a metal single tree. We had a wooden one for about 20 years and then it broke. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but it could have been a disaster. Metal is definitely stronger.
We could use a single tree. I think my traces are a bit short for this too, so I can add length on the front with a chain. This harness has a hip strap, which will be useful for this activity.
I appreciate the input! Any other tips are very welcome…everyone who knows this horse is rolling their eyes at this idea. He is not noted for his brilliant work ethic. I mostly want to practice driving until my young mare is done at the trainer. Which could be a while yet.
I think anything that is fun with one’s horse is a good idea (as long as it’s safe). I did have my driving lines extended by having the harness maker attach a ring on one, and a clip on the other. When driving, I clipped the driving line with the ring to the one with the clip–when logging, harrowing, or driving the stone boat I needed longer lines so I had a second set of driving lines with a ring and a clip --just attached those to the first set and hand a lovely long set of ground lines. Do make sure you read (and I’m sure you have) extensively on using horses for pulling loads (a bit different from carriage work) --there are some important safety rules --(from memory here) such as never stand or go between your horse and the load, always stand up hill of the horse and load, never walk in front of a horse hitched to a load (or implement), never ride on an implement, load, or log (supposed to use a forecart) --I live in the heart of Amish country and every year there’s some horrible accident when someone forgets the basic rules -and I’m sure there are more. Sadly it’s most often children or teenagers who are injured or killed. Children are left holding the lines of a farm wagon and the team will step off pulling the child out of the seat, under the load. And last year a boy was harrowing and “field surfing” --you put a board on the harrow then stand on it while you drive the team or horse. Some how he fell and was pulled under the harrow. --so do be careful as with anything horse-related! I actually wear a helmet (with flowers attached) when driving –
When I was married and had my own place with 2 horses (200 bazillion years ago), I used my little Quarter Horse mare to haul manure. Did it all wrong, from a safety standpoint, but she was very good about it.
Used a car hood, upside down, to put the manure on, then my western saddle with D rings and 2 chains. I did it mostly in the winter when it was too hard to push a wheel barrow through the snow, summer I didn’t use her. She was a saint, learned to stand ground tied while I tipped the hood over to dump the manure and never got stupid or crazy. I’ve often thought that my present paint mare would do that too, but I board now so don’t have to worry about manure disposal.
OP, you probably should do some ground work with horse before attaching the stoneboat. I understand horse drove before, but review of harness feel, pressure on traces, relearning voice commands is ALWAYS a good idea to refresh his memory.
I suggested pulling tire, meaning a smaller tire, like from a pickup truck. Horse feels the constant drag friction, but is easily able to move the tire. You never start with a big heavy tire or load, horse may think something grabbed him, can’t get away!! He has to be confident he can move his load when asked to go forward.
We start small with our young horses, taking an extended time building up their loaded weight dragging or driving carriages so they do not quit on us. Trust me, they KNOW when you add pounds to the load! Even with carriages, horse feels that 2nd person weight if you have only been using yourself as his load.
Oh yes, I won’t just hitch him to the boat! Yikes! He’d lose his mind.
His basic ground driving is nice, we do that as part of our cross training for riding, but I am going to warm him up to shafts too (even though the stoneboat doesn’t use them) and get him used to traces, get him used to having a little “pull.” We’ll see how he responds.
I just had to plan a little head on the construction since I’m getting DH to slot in some time in his shop for it LOL
I am going to disagree with Goodhors on the use of a tire --should the horse jerk the tire, it may bounce and THAT will spook a horse! If you really want to start with something light, a hay bale might be more stable. We started our Perch with kids hanging off the tugs while I ground drove --they pulled back --yelling and screaming and generally acting like kids. The Perch was probably delighted when he was finally hitched to something that didn’t scream and yell. But we did have our share of bolting --always my fault —started driving him on the ground at six months old (with the kids hanging on the tugs) then when he was 1, we pulled a haybale (with kids riding on it) around and around the riding ring (100x50). When he was 2 we put him in a two wheeled cart that we had for our diving mare and drove him (and kids who had practiced bailing out and NOT grabbing Mom’s arm) around the pastures --that cart was pretty heavy and the wooden wheels sank a bit in the grass, so he did have a pretty heavy load. Then (the first bolt) was when he was 3 and I bought a 4 wheeled carriage --never thought he’d notice the difference --I was wrong. He bolted, tipped the cart (cart accidents are really sort of slow motion compared to cars) --crashed through 400 feet of fence, kicked the cart to pieces, broke every part of his harness except the collar, broke the shafts, and then cantered quite pleased with himself around the pasture with his little docked tail in the air. Because I was working with my kids, I went over to the Amish neighbor for help. He took the Perch for six weeks and put him on the harrow with a team (heavy work). Horse came back really well broke to cart after that, but I was still a bit leery and drove him alone in the pasture for a long time before I let the kids back in the cart. Then about a year later (early in the spring) he bolted with the stone boat --but by the time he got done dragging that around (couldn’t tip it or break the harness) he “saw the light” and was quiet (I also bought the biggest, strongest bit I could find for driving on the road --any other time, I used a snaffle bit). Perch never bolted on the road, but I thought if it was break his jaw or be dragged on to a highway with my kids in the cart by a run-a-way --well, you know what I’d choose). Anyway, he only bolted one other time in the 24 year we had him --I had a (bad) habit of leaving him standing hooked to the harrow out in the field (tied the reins to the harrow lever) while I picked up a rock or some such. The last time he bolted, he dragged that harrow all the way back to the barn. I walked back, got him straightened out (harrow was fine, harness was fine, he was fine) and put him back to work. He never bolted again --probably thought it was too much work. Ultimately the kids drove him all over to DQ, the county fair, all over. But by the time he was 20, the kids had grown up, and I didn’t have anyone to drive with. Gradually, I sold off the driving equipment, then last time I harrowed with him, I knew I should start using the tractor --he got tired too easy. He died a year ago 1/23 --I gave away his carriage, harness, and bridles. I still have his custom made saddle. I’ll clean it up and try to sell it this summer. I still miss that horse --not so much him as an old horse, but the fun we had with kids and playing with him all summer long. He was a good horse.
<a href=“http://s236.photobucket.com/user/foxgloveweeks/media/a18d234e-fac0-425f-a4cc-a68abb8d20a0_zpsb5304dff.jpg.html” target="_blank"><img src=“http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff31/foxgloveweeks/a18d234e-fac0-425f-a4cc-a68abb8d20a0_zpsb5304dff.jpg” border=“0” alt=" photo a18d234e-fac0-425f-a4cc-a68abb8d20a0_zpsb5304dff.jpg"/></a>
He sounds fantastic 
I love draft horses. My old girl is 22 this year, completely undriveable…I miss riding her though. She seems to enjoy retirement.
Poor Trak. He’d love to be retired too. Lol.
Actually Foxglove, tire jerking, a bounce off something like a post while pulling is expected, part of the training. Heavier tires of a pickup truck size are a bit weighty, a lot more than a tire from a small car, so the larger tires are less likely to bounce like a ball when moving along behind a horse.
We show our young horses the tire laying on the ground, let horse follow a dragged-by-person tire, to see them in action. The horse may be asked to walk over the tire, get a snack off the tire laying there. This is all before we think of attaching the tire to the singletree for dragging behind the horse. We like the tire to start dragging with because of it’s shape of round, and the “giving” makeup of tires being rubberized. Logs or poles will catch on dirt lumps, then JUMP as horse continues forward. The logs and poles roll on turns, can swing out wide when doing long-lining things. Just not dependable in how they react when pulled. Tires also will swing out on long line circles, but don’t leap and jump badly even over slightly rough ground. An advantage is how nice the work area looks after being smoothed by the tire’s countless circles behind the horse! Ha Ha. Tire swing-out in circles will help get horse used to some rubbing, tugging of the traces on his body. Horse is expected to ignore that stuff to go where reins tell him. He is not jumping when surprised by harness jerking on him when hitched.
Not sure what kind of hay bales you have, but just trying to pull a hay bale here would result in broken (rubbed thru or pulled off) strings, wasted hay on the gravel. I don’t think a hay bale would last one circle behind the horse, so I have never considered using a small hay bale for training a horse to drive.
We start our horses at an older age than Foxglove. We have come to believe that our horses for driving, don’t have the mental ability to accept a great deal of training for anything, at very young ages she mentioned. They can’t pay attention, are quite silly before age 4yrs. With the bit of age on them, previous daily handling, they are ready to accept training much easier and not get started playing games or avoiding requests. They just “get it” so much easier, respond better, so we can move right along thru the training steps they MUST understand to be a good Driving horse.
Ours are not Drafts, which I know a lot of folks start at very young ages. Not the same kind of horse accepting work mindset. We do a lot to prepare them to be Driving horses. There is no safe place to drive around here with a bolting horse, totally unacceptable for any reason because someone is going to get badly hurt.
There are lots of ways to train Driving horses, tools to use pulling. Horse has to learn and be dependable to voice commands, situations, before he ever gets hitched. Horse has to stop and stand EVERY time you say Whoa, from any gait. Not ONE extra step allowed on a loose rein. That is your emergency brake should some terrible thing happen like a broken rein or broken harness, vehicle problems. We have NEEDED that brake a couple times over the years, no one got hurt. Vehicle tipped over once, had a broken hame allowing harness to come mostly off, but horse stopped and stood with voice commands, while we sorted it out! Horses praised to the skies for OBEDIENCE. Driving is not riding, horse has to be trained to a higher degree because of the things we hitch onto him.
My trainer prefers to start older horses too. My mare was pushing 7 when I sent her. She’d done all kinds of in hand showing and what not (even showmanship…) but she started saddle work at 5 and just wasn’t ready. We put her out then started driving training the next year. She was challenging, but obviously ready. It was so exciting to see her compete in CDE last year! I hope the trainer wants to compete her again. I loved going to the events.
The Trak is 12. He’s definitely mature enough lol. I’m pleased with his obedience so far. He’s ready to begin working with a little resistance. I definitely agree on the whoa. My first lessons were with a teamster who really drove that home. His older horses were PERFECT. It was a real gift to get to work with them.
All good advise. I think there’s a difference between what we did with the Perch and actual training. At six months old he was the size of a small QH --at one year he was 16 hh. At 4 he was 18.2 hh. Our “training” was more of, “Mom, can we get Charlie out and play with him?” with three kids arguing over who got to ride/drive/ sit on the whatever we pulled. So don’t have a metal picture of an official trainer putting a 6 month old tiny foal into harness and work! Except for when he hired out for carriage work or weddings, I doubt broke a sweat too often. Lots of great advise here --goodhors sounds like much more of a professional than I am/was.
Boat finished! I didn’t get a photo before dark, but it is looking pretty Pro 
DH did a nice job.
Warrior has drastically improved in his voice commands, I feel like I might be able to put some weight on the traces this week or next. We’ll see how he progresses.
THanks again for the input!
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