Horses and Donkeys the ultimate downsizer tool ?

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Horses and Donkeys the ultimate downsizer tool ?
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Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 7:10 am Post subject: Horses and Donkeys the ultimate downsizer tool ?

Probaby not, but still an interesting proposition for those who are lucky enough to have sufficient land to consider having one.
Stating the obvious I know , but they obviously don't use petrol and they produce a rather usefull by-product.
I know very little about horses but have been blessed ( or is that cursed) with a horse nut daughter. My experience with horses apart from chauffering her around is as follows.
I did a three day shire horse management course in the late eighties and then bought a lovely 13.2 black and white gypsy horse for my then young daughter, which was an experienced ride and drive. She was an expert and very placid and she almost showed us what to do. We did the hay making with her and took the kids out on the roads with a governess cart. Forgot to say that the horses name was Bridget.

Bridget shortly after she first came to us with my then young daughter and my now 6ft 1" son

Daddy Bodger and kids

A much younger and slimmer Bodger than you would see today.

Having seen the sight of Menanite people in the States using horses in every day life as a matter of course, it would be nice if not a little idealistic if people would consider using the above a bit more.
They are not too expensive money wise but are heavy on time.
I'm sure that my mate CKR will add a bit more to this post. He'd better do and this goes for any other ride and drivers out there.

Going back donkeys years and back to donkeys, I remember my dear old long departed Grandma telling me of her experiences.
She was in service at a large house in the Midlands employed as a gardener and one of her duties was to take the family children out in the donkey cart and she did actually have to use the carrot and stick method to get the beast to go forward.

Sorry. I couldn't resist showing this one. Bridget at Christmas.

boisdevie1

Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 3897
Location: Lancaster

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 3:54 pm Post subject:
I have to agree. Look at the way horses are used (in a very small way) in forestry where they can go where vehicles can't. Personally I'd love to see more horses being used. Perhaps that's the way things'll go when the petrol runs out. So buy a horse now whilst they're cheap.

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 6:49 pm Post subject:

i fully agree

om yo get nowhere fast but the journey on horseback or behind one is a more interesting one

it is our intention to make use of millie when we get to wales to shift some trees and as a pack animal..........she's certianly big enough (14.2) and loves to work, and there is an area of woodland in the farm tht hasn't been touched for years

here she is last winter with daddy in situ..........

and we think she's grown again............scarey really

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 7:38 pm Post subject:
Is the donkey the one on the bottom of the photo ? 14.2 is a big donkey. Great photo Nanny

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 7:38 pm Post subject:
umm equines i know nice ones but ive had to babysit ones with a very wicked sense of humour they are strong and some have nice personalities

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 7:43 pm Post subject:

bodger wrote:

Is the donkey the one on the bottom of the photo ?

14.2 is a big donkey. Great photo Nanny

millie is the one with the big ears

rolf is wearing the chaps

strong willied, strong body, big donkey, daddy's little girl

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 8:30 pm Post subject:
I've often wondered if it is possible to use a couple of donkeys to help out when we get our smallholding, yes seriously. As we both don't have any donkey/horse experience would we be able to pick it up? We would have the land to feed a couple of donkeys and certainly have the use for their dung but would they be happy being lightly worked?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 9:39 pm Post subject:
how many dogs to pull a small plough ?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 06 11:09 pm Post subject:
I know one spaniel can pull a pram Love to have some horse power but know little about their care. & a good horse broken to harness is almost as rare as rocking horse poo & generaly not cheap.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 06 11:16 am Post subject:

I did a course with my mare with an australian/american coyboy. He had us pulling logs across the arena (and I had an ordinary english saddle) I was expecting to be thrown off or carted out - but my horse was brilliant and you could see she clearly enjoyed having a purpose. I would love to be able to afford a harrow and a grass topper for her or the tiny horse we have - it wouldn't take much extra work to teach them to be really useful.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 06 11:21 am Post subject:
ruby A good chunk of thorn bush bush dragged behind can work really well as a harrow.

percypony

Joined: 06 Jan 2005
Posts: 146
Location: Hants

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 06 12:34 pm Post subject:
My 5 (Yeah I know we are mad!) certainly take up a lot more time and money than they save us! Must mention to them again that swear word 'work' and see them do very good impressions of Red Rum's offspring!!!

Nanny

Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 4520
Location: carms in wales

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 06 7:48 pm Post subject:

donkeys are the original beast of burden don't forget so light work shouldn't bother them and i knowmillie wnjoys working however

beware

donekys are not horses and don't think like them

a horse is a flight animal and wants to run

a donkey will stand and fight...................so they think for themselves is what i mean and don't always do what you want them to but i think they enjoy a bit of a challenge

i will let you know how it all goes when we start with millie in wales but rolf is a better one to ask donkey questions of....

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 06 9:33 pm Post subject:
one cant make salami with a broken tractor

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 06 9:45 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

one cant make salami with a broken tractor

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