The only parts we do
break are the slip handles. These are made of wood, and are the weak link
here, but are easy to replace. I suppose you could buy replacement
handles somewhere, but we just used scrap 2x2 oak wood, cut them down to
size, and grinded out the shape for our grip. The first year, we used
pine or fir wood for the handles, and between the softer wood and our lack
of experience, we went through a few sets of handles. By the second year,
we put in the oak handles, and haven’t had to replace one in two years.
The same homemade handles are still working great, and in fact, even
smoother to handle with time and wear.
The final piece of equipment you’ll need are reins or a
lead. Will you be driving, riding or leading the horse?
Because of our tight space working in the ditch, most of the time I lead
the horse while my husband and son operate the slip. In such cases,
all we use is a rope halter and lead rope. When the distances
between where we dig and where we unload are great, I prefer riding, so
we’ll use a standard bridle with snaffle bit and leather riding reins.
You don’t need a fancy custom driving headstall if you do choose to drive
the horse and operate from behind. Instead, you can use a heavy web
halter or thicker gage head stall for rigging up driving reins. A
one-inch or broader headstall is better to distribute the weight and
pressure of the longer lines more comfortably for your horse, and you can
use simply use longer lines for reins
Now, how it all works together
depends, again, on if you’re leading, riding or driving. I’d recommend
starting with leading. Although it takes two people to efficiently
use your horse power, it’s safer and more controlled. As you and your
horse learn and master the craft, and space providing (which we don’t have
much of, working in our ditch!), start driving. My father-in-law said
that back in the day, driving reins were rarely needed for a single-horse
hook-up like this. All you’d need was voice commands. Well, me and my
horse aren’t that good… yet.
And again, here it’s
up to the horse. Sure, one human can lead or ride or drive for direction,
and a second human can dig with plow or slip, or hook on a log to drag or
a stump to pull… but the real work is still going to be done by the
horse. They do the heavy work, the pulling, the dragging, the power
behind the digging and moving. With experience, they learn how much they
can push against a pull. And they learn when to stop – when the load
won’t budge. They learn how to step back when the load stopped to relieve
the pressure on their chest and shoulders, and how to stop when they feel
that load dumped.
Get creative. Give
the horse a chance. Give him a job to do and take the burden off
yourself, or stop thinking it can’t be done with out equipment. Relying
on horsepower is possible!
In the past few
years, we’ve had the horse help us dig, plow, pull and haul more than I
can imagine accomplishing without a back-hoe. He’s helped us
accomplish what manpower could never do (and unless we had a flock of
elves out there digging with us, we probably still couldn’t). We’ve also
come to realize that what is so hard on us is so easy on the horse. So
why not rig him up and have him help? Have him put in the horse power
that this woman sure could use!
I’m still no pro.
But I get the work done. My horse has taught me well. We’ve been
doing this for only three years now. Our equipment is nothing special –
more pieced together parts to make one working whole. But that’s the
point. It all works. Tested and true. And at the end of the day, over
the past few years, we’ve probably moved well over 100 tons of dirt and
rock. I’m pretty proud of what my horses can do!
I’m a firm believer
that we all need a purpose in life and a job to do. We feel complete when
we contribute to or accomplish a goal or task. I also believe it’s pretty
similar for our four legged companions, our horses included. Sitting
around all day is not a great life. Getting out and doing something is a
lot more fun. You can see the spring in their step, the gleam in the eye,
the softness in their mouth as they chew on and figure out what task at
hand you are asking of them, and then work out a way to accomplish this
best they can. Yes, they do take pride in their work, too.
