Well, that's what we started off doing today. I put my plow in the dirt for the first time behind my own horse. Started her by myself and i have to say that the first 30 minutes was pretty frustrating. She wasn't acting up but just didn't really know what to do. After I got a few furrows made (by stopping and backing up a LOT to keep them semi-stright) she finally started to get the hang of it and even did fairly well with her gee and haw. So, for all of you hard noses out there, it was function not fashion today and we got the job done.

I have more plowing to do tommorrow and then I have thre more gardens lined up in the "neighborhood".

Also, another update. I started breaking my 12 y/o QH to drive. It went exceptionally well so far. She was a little lazy to walk off, but a little tap with a whip on the rear and she was back at it. We are only ground driving right now, but i have a plan. As soon as she gets to an exceptable level where I feel like she will definitely work in harness, I will go buy one. Till then, I am using make shift stuff and rigging the driving lines through the rings on my training saddle.

Till then...

Hey Will, Plowing isn't so easy is it! :o) I tried with my 4 mph horses in my rocky ground...I think it was the start of my failed attempt to drive them together. That plow went airborn so many times! And the horses walking so fast, nearly falling on their noses. They didn't put up with it for long! But after about four years of just driving single (mostly the mare), I'm back to trying to put my two together again! Surprisingly, I've learned a lot just by thinking about it for four years. We've been on a dead weight for roughly 5 days and ten miles so far, and I'm ready to hitch to the wagon today. I haven't got the 40" evener/neckyoke that I want but will try 36" again just because that's what I have, and I can't stand to wait any longer! :o) Will cobble up what I really need later today. There's a terrific little book out there, if you don't have it, by Steve Bowers, called "A teamster's View, More and Different". There are some little tidbits of advice in there that I don't think you'll find anywhere else.

Have fun! We can compare notes with our start-up projects!

Barb

Congratulations Will I always use my riding plow but today I am trying a walking plow to turn the garden over I will let ya'll know how it goes.

do you have the dohickeys on the tip of your plow beam for adjusting the point of your plow..if you do you can use that to help keep the plow from going air born or digging in..there are a couple of fittings (mercy boys..i can't remember what you call them right now even though i have them on the plow)that can be used for this..also you have to pay attention to the angle of your plow handles..if you push down on them the point goes up..if you raise them too much your plow cuts too deep..

Hi Will, I can almost smell that dirt turning from here. We have another couple months before we can even think about plowing here. Good Luck and God bless.

I welded a short flat strap to outside of the share so that all you do is move the handle from side to side to mantain the depth. You will ware yourself out trying to lift up and push down on the handles. In the ideal conditions you should be able to operate the plow with one hand. My JD 14" will go all by itself once I get it in the ground and moving if every thing is adjusted correctly

You need to go over your plow to make sure it is set correctly--it makes a huge difference in draft and handling.

wally b

Hit it hard again today. I guess I exaggerate a little about the zigging and zapping, but she did weave a little and over compensate when I wanted to keep the furrows straight. Today was much better. She is finally understanding where I want her on the land side. Her pace was also good today. Started a little fast, but walking good pretty soon aftr start. Got some photos and video, taken by neighbor. My garden spot is right near one of the most popular Mt. Bike trails. Really drew a crowd, so we had to be on our best behavior. I also moved the point of draft out far to the left and it helped me. I will definitely sympathize with anyone in rocky ground though. I felt in some areas that I was plowing a creek bottom. I hit about 1,000 rocks, plow bounced out of the ground several times, but I just tried to recover quickly and get suction going again. I still have a lot more to do, so hopefully we will both get good. I gave her an amish day today. We plowed all morning, broke for lunch and then back at it until late afternoon.

Then I rode my QH for about 30 minutes and worked on her ground driving again. Only 2nd session and we were going all over the pasture behind the house. I am VERY pleased with her progress. I think we can do it!!

Will we go wagon rides during the summer and this one we went on a guy had the nicest looking team...I felt like a dummy when I asked him what kind they were and he replied Quarter horses...he pulled a real fancy buckboard..quite the outfit...said he and wife went on several rides where they would ride them one day and the next day would drive them as a team.Good luck with the training

Wonderful to hear you are plowing. I'm still looking at about 18 inches of hard pack, and the events for the upcoming 2 weekends are a cross country ski marathon, followed by 3 days of snowmobile races. You give me hope that Spring may eventually come.

man i laearned that a few mounths ago we plowed in november for about two weeks it was my first and i loved it i used a riden john deere it was a blast lil scary at first didnt know what my team was going to do but they did they had been there and done that they might be a lil hyper and not want to stand but they did after plowing for a bit man good luck ya make me want to be there it has been raining and to wet here since then but we got are seed if it will dry up good luck to ya

Will, is it more fun doing it than dreaming about it?
Just keep it up and you might make a hand by the time you get too old to do it.

Now Dale, of course not....I'm from that new generation remember. Dreaming about it doesn't get dust in my eyes and nose. I can plow all day in my dreams and not even get tired. No, really I'm kidding, but it has just been too bad of weather to get out and do anything much. As soon as this stretch of pretty weather set in I was like a kid with cabin fever.

YES! I do love doing it, not dreaming about it. It feels so good to finally be looking at the backside of the horse. Rode her today instead of plowing since it was Sunday, and had a great ride. Her attitude was really nice after two full days of plowing. Can't wait to get back at it!!

Sounds like you are on the right track Will. Practice is the best thing for the horse and the plowman.I think my furrows get a little straighter every year, and it seems like my horses get better for the more time spent with them.

I plowed 2 gardens Saturday was dryer then I thought it was . High 55 Sat. and Sunday really enjoyed it . I'm ready for spring . Jerry Hicks I need your Ph # . muleman4@windstream.net

I still remember the first time I tried to get a sulky plow to work. My dad didn't understand that day why any adjustment didn't give any results. After the horse were tired of us we unhooked them. Dad thought we should have used another green 3 year old instead of the 4 year old that I had used for chores all winter. He kind of was right. After we measured the moldboard it turned out it was JD 14 inche on a 16 inche emerson sulky. May have worked strung out or 4 abreast, but couldn't get it to work with 3. 1983 was the year, still would like to have the ground turn like it does in the horse progress day vidios.

Will - where's the pictures???? Sounds like a lot of fun. When you get it all figured out, will you come up and teach me?

Will got my garden turned over saturday. My 10 year daughter drove I held the plow, could not have done it without her. It wasn't as nice as my riding plow but it will do' ready for the early veggies I thought 2inchs of rain Sunday.

I am working on some video to post. Hopefully finish it tommorrow and get the link up. Will load it to YouTube. Would have it already up, but I am trying to make a big production out of it:).

We were working at that plowing business on Sat. too. On Feb. 13 we were playing in the snow, then on Feb. 20 we were playing in the dirt. Weather sure can change fast down here. First plow day of the season in SC and Hannah tried out our mule harness since we were plowing together with a bunch of mules. Horses are 4 and 6, Hannah is 14.

This was a plow day near Columbia sponsored by the SCDHA. Had 7 folks
plowing, 4 with mules, 2 with Haflingers, us with Belgians.

Will,

Good to hear about your progress:) Can't wait to see the video.

Brabant Owner-Thanks for sharing the pictures!

Very nice Tommy. Thanks for sharing.

Man, I almost didn't recognize you in that red t-shirt and overhauls, hehe. Are you sure that's a mule harnes or is that a funny eruopean rig? Boy, looked like Hannah was doing a great job! You sure have done a great job keeping your kids interested in the horses. I hate I wasn't able to go, looked like you guys had a great time. Also, looks like Hannah found out how to turn a walking plow into a riding sulky plow...Thanks for posting the photos.

Wanted to let you know the plow I got from you is working great! Could not have been more pleased with it.

Brabant owner, sure do love them punchy horses of your's.

Thank you Hal, I take that as a real compliment. One time at the state fair I was line driving Bulah around and a woman asked me "Is that a plow horse??". I was happy to reply "Yes m'am it sure is". The horses in these pictures are the 2 oldest daughters of Rocky and Bulah. I couldnt resist sending 2 more pictures taken at the field where Todd, Will, and I were plowing on Jan. 1 and 2.