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Logging with drafts
Posted by Mptclinics in IL at 2014-11-15 18:05:29
Skidding logs and clearing overgrown woodlands has been the main job our boys have had since we bought them last spring. We have run into some challenges recently, though, and I could use advice from you experienced horse-loggers...

HOW do you sufficiently clear a trail for skidding logs smoothly and safely?

At first, it wasn't really an issue for us, as we started at the edge, and pulled right into the clearings, driveway, and pasture area. No problem. Gave both the horses and us time to build confidence. Now, though, we are about 2 acres in to a 3 acre clearing project, and running into a mess. We took the stumps down to ground level as best we could, but there are still large roots and tiny stumps (less than 1-2 inch diameter that number in the hundreds (probably closer to a thousand!) that stick up at least couple of inches. All the early confidence work we did with the horses seems to be for naught now, as, no matter how we try to clear a path, we seem to jam a log into some unseen root or stump on the ground or hidden in the leaves. The horses have gotten to where they are anticipating the jolts, and getting increasingly nervous. We had a rough day of it today. Things just kept going wrong--running into unseen roots and bumps, dropping small logs, our stone boat attachment rings popped out resulting in a sudden release of the tension on the traces, which mildly spooked the horses, and then, just when things were finally getting better, one of our logging chains just snapped in half mid-pull. Like I said, rough day. We repaired the stone boat and got a new chain, but the horses were quite nervous, anticipating that next big jolt. I ended the day by having the horses just calmly pull the semi-loaded boat around the pasture until they were listening and at least walking, even if not quite as relaxed as I would have liked.

So, back to the original question: What is the best way to clear a good, safe, smooth trail to avoid these issues? Do we spend weeks prior to bring horses in? Do we have to bring in the heavy machinery (which seems to defeat the purpose of having the horses to begin with)? What's the best way to deal with this?
Response by Bill Smith at 2014-11-16 08:03:26
Hitch so that you get some lift on the front of the load. I see a lot of newbies hooking way too long. The All you need is room to clear the horses feet. Hitch the load as close to the single or double tree as you can. This will tend to lift the front of it. That's step one. You can trim the leading edge of the log if there's any size to it. That will help it slip over the stubs. The surest way is to use either a scoot or a....well, I can't remember the name of the thing I'm thinking of now...it's a small metal sled with a turned up nose...a GO DEVIL! That;s it. Anyway both of those will get the front of the log off the ground and make things a zillion tinmes easier with no catch on stubs, stumps or roots.
Response by Vince Mautino at 2014-11-16 09:46:20
Isn't there an arched type of affair with wheels that lifts the front on the log off the ground?
Response by Mptclinics in IL at 2014-11-16 10:25:54
I thought we were hitching pretty close, but we did just extend the trace chains by 3 links due to the doubletree beating the tar out of our new horse's coronets (he's got longer stride in back). That may have contributed to the mess yesterday. Didn't think of that! We can definitely get the logs a little closer when using the chain, if you think that will help. For larger logs, though we use the tongs.

Along the same lines, though, how do you truly clear an area or "break ground?" We are trying to convert this area to pasture, and it was so dense you couldn't walk through it last year. Briars, saplings, honeysuckle, Russian olive, grape vine, plus all the hardwoods. We sent in goats and hogs first, which made it possible at least. Then we went in and hand cut, scythed, and chainsawed everything we didn't want. That has resulted in our current problem. The horses can rip out the honeysuckle, but can't budge the hardwood or Russian olive roots. I certainly couldn't run a plow or grader through it yet. What is the next step? I'm even hesitant to turn the horses out in the area for exercise (which is something we'd like to do this winter),for fear they'll wind up with sprained pasterns or sole bruising from the unseen roots and stumps. Granted, I'm a little gun shy of injury now, thanks to the rough year we've had. However, these things are EVERYWHERE! You can't really see them unless looking hard, but you can feel them as you walk along or trip over them! My husband considered just gathering as much moldy rotten straw and hay as he could find and covering the whole area, a section at a time, in an attempt to just create matter above it. surely there is another way?
Response by Dale Wagner at 2014-11-16 13:46:22
A skidding pan, which Bill referrs to, is just a piece of iron about 18 inches wide and 24 long with it's nose turned up at about 6inch radius. A ring in the center that a chain will run through completes it if you use chain but you use a ring the tongs can't get hung on if you use tongs.
Vince was referring to what is called a spoolie. A pair of small wheels with a triangle shaped arm going back to hook tongs or chain to with anoother arm mounted at 90 degrees to the other but twice as long for the evener to hook to. Gives you lift but lets the log ride lower when going down a steep place.
Next time, don't start at the edge. Start at the back and skid across clean ground leaving all the tops, stumps, and limbs behind you. Swamp out the main trail like you were building a road. Get you some 7/16 cable with a foot of 5/16 chain on each end so you can reach back into a mess and keep your horse on clean ground. I had several pieces from 25 to 100 foot. You need a snatch block to put on tongs to move a big log out of it's bed or to bend your pull. I also had a swamp hook so I could roll out log to liimb it or to mount the snatch block on a tree.
When ever possible, use only one horse. One can pull 70% of a team and because one can go through narrower places you don't need to swamp out as much junk.
Response by Klaus Karbaumer at 2014-11-16 18:26:25
Do you have any chances to go along with a horse-logger who has done that kind of work for some time? When I first started working my horses in the woods, I had watched our local guys for some time.
Response by s d Mannies at 2014-11-16 20:20:27
Dale has covered it pretty well. I am no expert , but I spend a lot of time in the woods with my horses. When we put in the main roads , we go to great lengths to get it right. Build it like you are going to drive on it every day . then work off each side of it , with a single horse when possible , spotting the logs to the main road. I use a go devil on 8 inches and up or a arch. Don't want to add to your bad day, but when are clearing , we pull out as much as possible. Them little stump will be a problem for a long time.( hard on the feet) It's a lot of work up front, but when you pull them out instead of cutting , you are done with them. We use brush grabber, there like miniature tong. Bought them at Rural king. One trick I use a lot, pull from the smaller end of the logs, easier to get lift.
Shanen
Response by Peter Nielsen at 2014-11-17 03:26:50
For anyone cutting just for firewood, I recommend cutting your trees into four foot length. Then you can load it on a two wheeled cart pulled by one animal. You don't need much ground preparation, and the cart goes over a lot of stuff that would catch a log being dragged.
Response by Dale Wagner at 2014-11-17 10:08:21
The next step to break ground is to rip it and then you can spend the next 20 years picking sticks and roots and burning them.
OR
To make pasture, just learn what plants need what chemicals to kill them and how to use the chemical. Some stuff will need to be sprayed as it comes up and some at different stages of growth. Some chemicals require you to keep animals off for different time to where your animals can't eat the stuff back. Chemicals are your backup to just grazing the plants. You might need to spot spray just a few plants or maybe the whole thing. You can slice grooves in the bigger stumps to fill with nitrate fertilizer to get them to rot out faster.

The modern way to clear land is to cut the stumps high enough that an exavator can pull them out and throw them in a row. This knocks the dirt off of them so they can dry out. You keep throwing the stumps into the next row and burning.
Response by Billy Foster at 2014-11-17 11:53:49
I am not a professional logger but we do a fare bit here at our place in Maine. Our woodlot is hilly, dense and rocky. I will often clear the main trail before the first permanent snow gets here, usually around Christmas. Once the snow starts I maintain a packed road into where we will be working for the winter. We also use a log arch which lifts the butt of the log off the ground. The arch works with or without snow but the snow makes for a smoother road. once a teamster gets used to the arch they can get the teem into some pretty tight places. I walk behind it most of the time, only riding when the arch is empty and we are heading out to where we are cutting.

Response by harvey at 2014-11-18 17:57:21
Use a chain like you have on yourcart sometimes when yarding but like my grabs if want to get much done and not getting caught much like them with cart also.Logs or wood doesn't dig in so bad and if you hit a stump or root they usually roll clear. my single tree has a short hook ,can keep load close to horse for good lift .Try to send photo if I can.Was 6in snow here NOVA SCOTIA good luck.P.S. HOWS DEER HUNTING GOING.
Response by Hooker1r2 at 2014-11-20 10:26:48
Log on to FarmerBrownsPlowShop.net and check out his logging cart and DVD on logging with horses. I believe you will find it time well spent. Can't beat going to the woods with horses. Have fun & sty safe.

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