Hi, I have a bob-sled and just hitched (my percherons) to it for the first time today. Problem is, with my heel chains adjusted correctly, coming down a slight incline, the singletrees are banging off the horses' legs. I have put some hay on the trail and it does help slow it down. What else can I do to slow my bob-sled down so it's not running up on my boys? I am using a chain spreader with a goose neck. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Get your neckyoke as tight to the collar as you possibly can and take almost all the slack out of the brichen.

If you have a neckyoke, martingales,
quarter straps, and brichen all adjusted
it should keep the singletrees off their
heels.

I'm thinkin' my pole needs to be longer.

The old-timers up here in the northeast used a length of chain tied around each of the front runners to slow them down. I have 2 sets of heavy logging bobs, that are both equiped with downhill brakes and uphill brakes. They are all hand forged and lap welded and work on a folcrum, so when the pole moves back towards the bob, the brakes dig into the ice and snow. The uphill brake just dragged along behind and when the horses were stopped on a grade, the back brake just dug in as the bob slid backwards.

Around my area all our bob-sleds have poles and the harness brichen keeps the sleds from running up on the horses.

With a tongue you shouldn't have any problem.

I have seen factory-made bob-sled gears with a brake on the rear runners. A bar was pinned to the runner, which you could pivot down into the ground and would act like a brake.

Also, in a pinch, you can put a chain under and across the runners, which will add some drag.

Do you have all the slop out of the quarter straps, pole, strap, etc.? It sounds like there is some extra give in the system. If you need brakes, a set of old tire chains over the runners makes a great rough lock. I have also used old v-belts on a snowmobile ski. Be creative. KM

Most bob-sleds that I'm familiar with have a tongue. I know what a gooseneck is on a trailer, but not on a bob-sled. When we used to pull a toboggan without a pole, of course, there was a drag stick, that was perpendicular to the toboggan and about 12 inches in front of, and about that far behind the singletree. When the horse would stop, the toboggan, being light, would run up on this drag stick (which was about a wooden 1x2 or so.) That was brake enough to keep it out off the horse's heels.

What is a "chain spreader with a gooseneck"?

Well, my hubby lengthened my pole yesterday as the singletrees were too close. Brichen is tight, everything looks well adjusted. I think the pole was just too short! He added about 12" and everything is looking/working great now! When I get 15 to 20 people on the bob-sled, it really tends to push them downhill. I did hear about a chain you throw under the runners (with a bitch hook?), sounds like a good idea. You all had some great ideas! Used hay yesterday on the hills and that worked great too. Thanks a bunch all and Happy New Year! P.S. the gooseneck is: the doubletree is not fixed to the tongue, it hooks over a gooseneck hook on the front of the tongue. This was explained to me by an old teamster.Works good. It is also used for skidding logs.

The chain spreader is often used skidding logs (and after I first saw it, that's what I figured it was for, then I was told it was). It spreads the chains out to the ends of a piece of wood, a lot like a doubletree, but it is not conected to the tongue. It just sort of balances and moves around up there. It connects back via two chains connected to one large ring and slips over the gooseneck. A hook shaped like a actual gooseneck or swan's neck. It is a hook that is pointed back and the chain slips over it. The chain spreader can be used skidding logs. Back where the big ring is, there are hooks where you can hook a log chain. Hard to explain. How'd I do? :)

It was the gooseneck part that threw me. We just called them hooks:). A link out of a Patz barn cleaner chain is shaped about right. I've also seen eveners with a heavy U-bolt for attachment.

I have been using oxen for the past 32 years for firewood, logging, sap collection, haying, and field work (no longer the last two). I am also a traditional blacksmith (not a farrier) with an interest in hand-forged farming and logging hardware. I have not had to add a brake to my bob-sleds, but I do know about the method of wrapping a chain around the runner and have 2 of what I assume are brakes intended to be bolted through the rear of the runner. RJA (2004/12/26) refers to front and rear brakes. Are we talking about the same Y shaped piece? Trying to explain this to each other is difficult without photos or sketches. My phone no. is 315/ 324-5635 at 443 S. Hammond Rd., Rossie, NY 13646. Should I photograph what I have? To whom do I send the photos?

It's good to hear white men and women talking about nature and having their children hunting. It's always good to hear about white people taking pride in what they do, so here's a message from me to you: Defend it. Keep your heritage close and teach your children to take pride in it. Don't let anybody step on it, so march against those who harm you and your people. Listen and heed, for the time is where you will have to do it.

Whether white, black, polka-dotted, just keep up the interest.

TO RJA AT 2004 12-26 OR ANYONE WITH BOB SLED BRAKE PLANS OR PICTURES-PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE A SLED WITH BRAKES THAT I COULD SEE A PICTURE OF OR A PLAN TO MAKE BRAKES FROM-LEAVE A NUMBER TO CALL BACK IF I AM NOT HOME--THANK YOU