[kiryandil]

ping

[fso301]

I know of small parcel loggers profitably using mule teams.

[BradyLS]

Saw a video on youtube a few months back where they used a team of two horses to clear logs and pull stumps.

[canuck_conservative]

Interesting, thx

don’t usually think of Ohio as logging country

[Larry Lucido]

LOGGING WITH HORSES

I use quarter horses to log stuff. They are better at math and proficient on Excel.

[allendale]

Interesting sidenote: Had the privlidge to know a man who enlisted in the US Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. Somehow he was assigned to a transport unit that was sent to Guadalcanal. The means of transport were army mules that were able to transport food, ammunition and fresh water over the trackless jungle. He had grown up in an urban area, knew nothing of horses and mules but served honorably and well. He said the Marines were always happy to see him and the mules.

[the_daug]

Wisconsin they have OX. The Ox would drag timbers out snaking through a bog forest. Horses weren’t as good and get stuck.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That's a great article. Thanks for posting that, George. That's why I like FR -- you get the most interesting articles like this that I would never find on my own.

I'm in North Idaho and the forests here are well maintained which helps keep forest fires down (especially compared to California). But forest maintenance requires a lot of tree thinning and removal of underbrush. The machines used really make a mess out of the forest floor. I figured horses would do less damage and, sure enough...

“Although we prefer logging in the winter months, horses are suitable to work throughout the year. They are less harmful to the forest floor as compared to mechanical equipment. Skid loaders will often cut trenches causing erosion. And horses can work in tighter spaces. I enjoy working horses in the woods. It takes longer to complete a job compared to mechanical equipment. And additional time translates into a little more cost. But forest conservation is a critical benefit achieved with horses. An added value for us is being able to break our colts in a logging team. With 8 million forested acres in Ohio, logging thrives with our family involvement.”

Yes, the skid loaders really tear up the forest floor.

The article traces the growth of draft horses to their peak of 26 million in 1920. My Great-Granduncle contributed to that peak in a small way. He was a partner in a farm implement business in Red Deer, Alberta from 1902 to 1909 and he and his partner brought the very first gasoline powered tractor in Western Canada to Red Deer.

First Tractor Sale in Alberta
Motor in Canada Magazine, November 1940.

In 1899, James Bower came out from Orangeville, Ontario and settled in the Red Deer district. He was one of the few farmers in those days who were mechanically inclined. After settling in the Red Deer district which was then heavily wooded, he soon came to realize that clearing and breaking the land by means of hand and horse labor was an almost insurmountable task.

The local Harvester dealer, Mr. Botterill, informed him of efforts by the International Harvester Company towards the development of a practical gasoline farm tractor.

The order dated May 14, 1907 bears this clause:
"If engine meets reasonable requirements in pulling 2 - 14 inch plows after 2 days trial, same to be accepted, otherwise engine to be returned to Calgary, freight prepaid by purchaser."

Two days later on May 16, 1907, the historic demonstration took place on Bower's farm at Red Deer. The tractor successfully pulled 3 - 14 inch Sulky Plows and so the first sale of an International gasoline tractor in Western Canada was made.

The photo was taken on the demonstration day. My Gr-Granduncle is the big guy, third from right.

[stickandrudder]

I had a team of Belgians in the 80s and 90s. Mainly did parades and trail rides. They were a lot of fun. All in greener pastures now.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Interesting article. I remember a horse-logger on the Mt. Hood National Forest when I worked there in 1980.

My father raised Belgian horses after he retired from medical practice. Huge animals, but fortunately pretty easygoing.

[Redcitizen]

We stopped using horse logging in New Mexico. Too effective. Turned the place into a desert.

[gloryblaze]

Memories ...

[Glad2bnuts]

My grandad whom I never met, raised draft horses to sell. I can’t remember what kind, but Dad told me they were like Clydesdales only stronger and cheaper.

[GunHoardingCapitalist]

In the 90’s my neighbor was a retired horse logger. Logging was my first job, I started at 16 as a saw filer because minors were not allowed to work the site. After I turned 18, was moved up to a chaser on the landing. Then a shovel and skidder operator. Went into the Navy, when I got out, went back to logging as a tree feller, falling large coastal cedar, redwood, sequoia and fur’s in southern Oregon. Then the government started shutting down the industry, both federal contracts and private lands.

It killed the industry, I would still be logging today had the government not put so many restrictions on the industry. Logging was one of my most enjoyable jobs and experiances.

[PLMerite]

Horse logging. My mind makes straaaange connections:

[weezel]

There used to be an older man in my area who logged using mules, and I mean he had some fine mules! He worked them both in the woods and pulling equipment and wagons, for parades and such. When spielberg made the color purple in Marshville, they contacted this man about being in the movie driving a wagon thru town pulled by his mules, he told them he’d get back to them.

He studied the movie and found that there was a rape scene in it at which point he called back and told them, NO, neither he nor his mules would be involved in a porn movie!