Farming - Does anyone do it with horses?

[TooMuchRebel]

I’m interested to see how many of you guys use your horses for farm type work. Once I get mine going good and strong (or I may even purchase some mules) I’d like to start doing some farming! I’ve always wanted to farm, even just as a hobby, but I can hardly afford my gas bill let alone a tractor ha!

How did you start them on the farm? Were they already conditioned riding horses or did they condition with an increase in workload? Does the work help to strengthen their hind end? Obviously a two horse team is optimal but what all can one horse do? Also , any tips? Thanks!

[goodhors]

Nope. Too bad because we could get some return on all we put into them! Ha ha

What we use the horses for, driving and riding, competition, they need to be light on their feet, responsive, like dancers. We want them driving like very well trained riding horses, fast responses in all gaits. We have 3 good walks, 3 to 5 (experienced, older horses) trots, canter and hand gallop on our horses. All VERY forward gaits. Their vehicles move easily over prepared surfaces even with a load (400 to 600#) of people. So that kind of muscle development is much sleeker, smoother than the thicker, heavier muscling, steady walk striding, on an animal under constant weight of a moderate to heavy load. This includes plowing, grading driveways, dragging fair size logs, cultivating type jobs.

Consider it the difference between driving a sports car and a big farm pickup truck. They ride and manuever differently, because they do different jobs for you. It is fine to actually use your horse as a laborer, but it may affect his responsiveness under saddle. He won’t be working ‘on the bit’ with a pulled load. He won’t easily be able to lift the front for collected riding because his working muscles are not developed for that. Self carriage will be different. Not usually good at cantering distances, because farm work calls for slow and steady, never builds his wind.

Same with people. Muscle use is why the carpenter is built differently than a swimming lifeguard.

[Scribbler]

Yes, even 150 years ago there was a huge difference between the high end carriage horse and the quality draft horse, and no cross over. Of course those of more modest means had all rounders.

OP if you are interested in farming with horses, I would start looking around at the organic farmers. I bet some of them are doing this! Also there are some people logging with horses.

I know some people who have used the horse to harrow the arena! Or haul a sled of hay to winter pasture.

[goodhors]

Just wanted to add that our horses WILL take a load, go into their breastcollars if they have to manage the vehicle thru mud, up a sharp bank. Our trainer has them pull weight, mostly the single piece of chain harrow (4x6ft) with teeth up and down for resistance. It is a training step in going into pressure, teaching them to move INTO weight. But horse has many lighter things to pull before getting to that stage. You have to TEACH horse that they CAN move a resisting load, not something to do in the first 30-60 days.

Again, our horses only need to handle heavy weights for short times, depending on weather, competition setting. Not doing it even once a day or regularly. The can do weight when we need them too, but dancers seldom deal with heavy weights in their jobs.

[Bluey]

@TooMuchRebel

I’m interested to see how many of you guys use your horses for farm type work. Once I get mine going good and strong (or I may even purchase some mules) I’d like to start doing some farming! I’ve always wanted to farm, even just as a hobby, but I can hardly afford my gas bill let alone a tractor ha!

How did you start them on the farm? Were they already conditioned riding horses or did they condition with an increase in workload? Does the work help to strengthen their hind end? Obviously a two horse team is optimal but what all can one horse do? Also , any tips? Thanks!

Modern farming is about way more than a tractor, way more.
One farmer used to feed a handful of people 100 years ago, 26 people half a century ago and 156 today.
15 men and 40 mules were supplanted by a small tractor and plow long ago, why we have the abundant food we do today.

If you really want to farm today, ask any education counselor about all the different ways you may do that today.
There are many that don’t involve gas and tractors.
Agriculture is a huge industry way bigger than any one farmer.
There is room in farming for anyone, in many areas that don’t involve gas and tractors.

I don’t recommend farming with horses if you want to raise crops to sell today to make a living.
As a hobby, yes.
As a museum type farm, you can even get grants for that today.
Check into that with historical societies and chamber of commerces in towns that promote those and foundations that help preserve land.
May want to go work or volunteer with some of those and see what all is there for you.

I grew up part of the time in the mountains, farming with one horse, one bottom plow.
As a kid, I was in heaven when, at 10, I was finally turned loose with our old, smaller belgian to plow all by myself.
I was then big enough to lift the little plow off the ground enough to flip the leaf back at the turn of the row, turn the horse around and go back the other way.
Sad when it was time to go to the barn and put the horse away.
I agree with you, if you like horses, even just walking behind them plowing makes your heart sing.

[Trakehner]

We call them Amish.

[Rackonteur]

Talk to your county extension agent.

[Scribbler]

I doubt anyone would try using horses to work extensive grain fields. But I could see using a horse to till smaller vegetable plots for organic farming.

Remember that the term “acre” historically applied to the size of land you could plow with one ox in a day. Thats pretty slow going!

https://www.britannica.com/science/a…of-measurement

BTW oxen are just cattle that are used in harness. Typically steers. Not a special breed or anything.

[Trakehner]

Two horses are considered as fully capable of working 80 acres (the Civil War “reward” of 40 acres and a mule referred to the acreage a single mule could work).

[buck22]

Oh dear, this is so funny and timely.

We’re in one of the regions that has had unrelenting and epic rainfall for the better part of a year. The ground is just mush, and thats in the best of areas, so in frustration I shut down one of the big paddocks months ago to give it a good long rest.

I normally pick manure in the paddocks daily or every other day, but I had let this one paddock go for several weeks due to life and rain.

A few weeks ago, I’m surveying the paddock and ringing my hands over all the manure, rather than pick it, I decide to break it up and spread it. But how? Ground is waaaaay too wet for a tractor.

Bright idea! I comprise a horse-drawn drag.

Horsey, who hasn’t driven in a year, is brought out to work. Its only 1.5 acres. I figure 40 minutes dragging the worst of it and we’ll be done. I hitch him up and he gives the drag a serious sideways glance.

Off we go and he’s trying understand his role in all of this. The only time Mom ground drives is when we’re working on laterals and fancy stuff like learning piaffe in hand… so horsey decides this is time for fancy.

He starts with some lovely shoulder in, and gets ready to do his spirals. Then its attemps at haunches in down the long end. As we come around the first pass he’s prepping for passage.

I am dying laughing! I have the worlds fanciest ‘plow horse’. Got to love morgans!

After 10 minutes of theatrics, I give up, horsey is thanked for his service and put away, and mom drags the drag herself.

[Foxglove]

All 4 of my neighbors farm with horses --I live in Amish country. I had a Percheron for 20+ years and did a lot of “tractor” work with him —harrowed the dressage rings, moved logs, moved stones from one place to another --just fun stuff. At one point I was going to buy a “horse drawn mower” but was dissuaded by a book by Maurice Tillman --The Draft Horse Primer. The “business part” of any horse drawn equipment must be between the horse and driver --that way, the driver can’t be run over by the mower, plow, harrow, or disc. Ideally, the driver should drive from the back of a wagon! There are quite a few New England folks who do farm with one horse --I believe there is a book or website --“The One Horse Farm,” that you might find helpful. The main thing you should do is educate yourself before you are killed. I had kind neighbors who pointed out the dangers of logging with a horse (yeah, I just hooked up to a log and told my horse to walk-on.") flying chains, rolling logs, and a team that bolts are all concerns. In my area --Elkhart Co --every year we have 6-10 horse-related deaths. Last year a man stopped his team, walked in front to check the traffic, then was run over by the 4 horses. In a second incident a child was left sitting on a grain wagon. The team stepped forward, she fell off and the wagon ran over her —and then there are the teenagers -they like to “field surf” --you take a board and put it on the harrow (that you are supposed to walk behind) and stand on it. As the team pulls the harrow, you field surf. Except when you don’t. Then your guts are dragged all over the field because the harrow ran over you. Use caution. Research. Have someone show you what to do. Did I ever get hurt? No --plain dumb luck and a lot of kind Draft Horse People who took the time to show me what to do.

[CERT]

I would check out this book: “The New Horse-Powered Farm: Tools and Systems for the Small-Scale, Sustainable Market Grower.” I haven’t read all of it yet, but it is very thorough.

Also, “Horse-Powered Farming for the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Equipment, Methids, and Management for Organic Growers.” I don’t own a copy of this one, but it looks good.

I have participated in several horse-drawn farming clinics. It is an art and a science for sure.

Pioneer and White Horse are your two top manufacturers of horse-drawn equipment. You can call them for catalogs.

Do find someone you can learn from. Their experience is invaluable!

[Rackonteur]

@buck22

Oh dear, this is so funny and timely.

We’re in one of the regions that has had unrelenting and epic rainfall for the better part of a year. The ground is just mush, and thats in the best of areas, so in frustration I shut down one of the big paddocks months ago to give it a good long rest.

I normally pick manure in the paddocks daily or every other day, but I had let this one paddock go for several weeks due to life and rain.

A few weeks ago, I’m surveying the paddock and ringing my hands over all the manure, rather than pick it, I decide to break it up and spread it. But how? Ground is waaaaay too wet for a tractor.

Bright idea! I comprise a horse-drawn drag.

Horsey, who hasn’t driven in a year, is brought out to work. Its only 1.5 acres. I figure 40 minutes dragging the worst of it and we’ll be done. I hitch him up and he gives the drag a serious sideways glance.

Off we go and he’s trying understand his role in all of this. The only time Mom ground drives is when we’re working on laterals and fancy stuff like learning piaffe in hand… so horsey decides this is time for fancy.

He starts with some lovely shoulder in, and gets ready to do his spirals. Then its attemps at haunches in down the long end. As we come around the first pass he’s prepping for passage.

I am dying laughing! I have the worlds fanciest ‘plow horse’. Got to love morgans!

After 10 minutes of theatrics, I give up, horsey is thanked for his service and put away, and mom drags the drag herself.

:lol: Thanks for the imagery and the laugh!

Wish you could film this!

[Rackonteur]

P.S. You may enjoy this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uQOchrK7NA

[x]

I had a team of Haffie crosses that did farm work here–haying, manure spreader, etc. I didn’t try to use saddle horses. This team had been a logging team prior to my having them, and were very broke. Hooking a horse that isn’t used to it to a noisy machine like a manure spreader can cause all kinds of problems if you are new at it. Also, working your horse you need a good fitted collar and work harness. A.light harness will not work. I had a regular work harness, and I found that even mine some of the straps just weren’t strong enough (I bought it new) and I was having to repair it after hard work. Eventually I pastured the field and sold the team.

[Scribbler]

@Trakehner

Two horses are considered as fully capable of working 80 acres (the Civil War “reward” of 40 acres and a mule referred to the acreage a single mule could work).

But not in one day!

[Trakehner]

@Scribbler

But not in one day!

Nope…this is the amount of land a farmer can work as their “profession”…plow/till/plant/weed/harvest.

[Rackonteur]

@Trakehner

Nope…this is the amount of land a farmer can work as their “profession”…plow/till/plant/weed/harvest.

As in “the lower forty” on a larger farm.

[Trakehner]

Yep, the classic small “pocket pasture”. Often the kids would work it for experience…quite often with a mule for power.

[Wanderosa]

Check out the forum on Rural Heritage. Many of them are from areas of the US where practicality dictated not relying heavily on tractors. (I.E. - places like North Dakota and the Teatons where it’s so cold in the winter that diesel freezes.) There was one guy who fed 500 head of cattle daily with a mother daughter team of shires and a homemade sled. Actually, IIRC it was his preteen kids that did it because he got home from work after dark. He rigged up lights on a generator because the younger child was spooked by the dark. To harness, the younger child climbed onto the horses’ backs while the other pushed the harness up to him. Then, one drove while the other pushed the hay off the back of the sled. There was also a lady that had started training oxen as a child for fun. Her latest pair were featured on the Capital One commercial with Alexander Ovechkin.

I used to do a little work with my shire from time to time. Pulling the occasional tree stump and the like. The best horses for farm work are the “farm chunk” type like old style Brabants. Their body to leg ratio is almost 50/50. There are more so-called organic farmers in my area than I can shake a stick at. Not a one seems interested in using draft animal power. Ayrshire farm does a little mostly as a demo. The owner of Whitestone cattle farm is the most active I know of; working his truck patch-sized garden with a couple teams of Belgians.