threshing

I learned what a thresher was this weekend. I had no idea, but Terry and I went with Beth to a National Threshers Reunion down in Ohio.

Turns out threshers are old style ways of farming, I think. The event brought a ton of people, more than I ever thought was possible, to look at old style farming equipment, steam engine farming equipment, and horse drawn farming equipment. Obviously, we went for the horses.

Beth brought Art and Curly. She wanted Curly to get exposure and experience the commotion of the golf carts, farming equipment, and steam. Curly was not a fan of the steam engines. Art could have cared less, but he was raised with all that stuff.

There was a ton of mules, Belgians, and Haflingers that were plowing a field. There was a 6 hitch (that ran 3 across in two rows) of Belgians, and and 8 hitch (4 across in two rows) of mules. There was also a couple teams that ran three across. It was all pretty cool to see.

Six Belgians

Eight mules

Neal and three of his Haflingers

Three mules

Bethany's two mules,Millie and Katie (Bethany shows Millie at our NWODC shows)

Beth drove Art and Curly in her forecart and worked on getting Curly to walk in the furrow. Curly did really good with all of the activity going on. Luckily, when the steam engines came by, Curly was tied to the trailer. Curly also decided it was a good idea to kick at the trailer tire and rip the air stem off. Oops. Good thing Beth had a spare and it was quickly changed out. 

We had a good day just hanging out with horses and draft folk. I got to share some of my Haflinger knowledge with a guy that was very interested in the horses. And then Terry and I spent a long time chatting with Beth and walking around her property. She has all kinds of things that grow there on their own: raspberries and apples, plus her garden with strawberries and a bunch of other vegetables. I want my land to produce food I can eat for free! Terry eats grass and other weird things, so she can get food just about anywhere. But those raspberries were so delicious, much better than store raspberries. 

Anyway, I now know what a thresher is. And I had a fun time with horses and friends. 

monday musings by shyloh #107

We got to spend yesterday in Ohio. I love Ohio because it has the best grass. But yesterday, there was no grass to be found. . .only cornstalks. But hey, cornstalks are just as good!

Reba kept doing this to me, but I was not budging!

Me and Reba went down there to be with the horses that do actual work. . . Belgians and Percherons and mules, and even some Haflingers! Silly, silly Haflingers. I did no actual work. . .just saying. . .

Working Percherons. . .

Working Belgians. . .

Working mules

Working Haflinger butts

Working Haflingers from the front

Lots of working mules!

More working

I did go round and round the fields though, walking the the plowed fields, watching the horses and mules work, and pretending to be a little scared. But I really wasn't all that scared. Well, scared that I was going to be hooked to a plow and made to work. . .but that's it. 

Walking in the plowed part.

Watching working horses from afar

Watching working horses from close up

Walking through the field

Reba made her debut with Terry driving. Terry is new to driving and Reba hasn't driven in years. It was like she never had a break! She did real good! Reba got hooked up, then drove past me when I was tied to the trailer and I faked acting scared until she passed. Then I smiled all around! I am so good at pretending to be scared to get out of work. Reba needs some lessons from me because when she got back to the trailer she was all sweaty from all that work.

Taking the kids for a ride

Terry's first time driving Reba in the fields

I think Reba really likes work though. To go down to Ohio, she hopped right on the trailer after me. But to go home. . .well, she didn't want to go home and gave the two leggers some trouble getting on the trailer. I tried to tell her that we get hay on the trailer (even though we didn't this time!) and hay back at home. Shy finally listened to me and got on though. She is too big to pick up to put on the trailer!

Terry and Haley had to pick up Freckles, the new Haflinger of Becky's, because he didn't want to get in the trailer to go home either. I guess he was having too much fun at Plow Days giving wagon rides with Stinky. So, Terry and Haley locked arms, scooped him under his butt, and lifted him up on the trailer. Now that is team work! 

At the end of the day was a log skid, which I took no part in at all. But it was fun to watch. I do enjoy a day on the farm, especially when I am not working it!

~Shyloh

plow days

Another day and I was back in Ohio. This time me, Jaime, and Kyle took their horses to Plow Days. Basically, it was a lot of Haflingers, some mules, a couple Belgians, one Perchereon, and one Clydesdale plowing some guys field. We actually didn't plow since we didn't have a farm implement. It was cold, but it was fun.

The Belgians, they worked hard and plowed a lot of land!

Mulies!

Jaime took me for a spin with Notch around the cut down cornfield, then I got to drive him! It was really cool. I even trotted for a short bit. Jaime trained Notch all by herself and did an awesome job. He is such a good boy. 

Percheron butt!

Smiles!

Kyle rode Clutch. The Gypsys were there, too, being ridden. 

And this kid is a nut! He pretty much just scurried right up on top of Clutch to ride him.

Monkey boy!

I also got to go for a ride in a team Haflinger hitch. Becky trained her mares, Allie and Stinky, too. Their ride was so smooth, it was very nice. Makes me itching to get Shyloh going!

Becky and her mares, Stinky and Allie

Pretty Stinky!! Her eyes and face are just so soft!

A couple teams of Haflingers were hooked up three across. Beth's team had a newbie on the end. Moe was learning to drive and was his first time hooked up with other horses. He did a great job! Beth trained her Haflingers, too.

Beth driving her three with the farm equipment. Rambo is in the middle.

They did good! Even the new guy (with lead rope attached, just in case)

The other set of three

There were a few wagons. . .

And an eight hitch team of mules all hooked up!

Could you imagine driving eight??

At the end, they held a log skid contest. The point is to stop the log at certain points between the cones.  It was different. . .

Whew, what a horsey weekend! I am exhausted!

monday musings by shyloh #51

Well folks, I lucked out. No show for me. It was bittersweet. See, I did not have to do any work and I got to stay home with my buddy Robbie and graze, but I missed all my horse show friends. . .and that delicious Ohio grass.

Picking at the teeny bit of grass

Allie shared some photos with me of the great time that she had at the show. Good for her, I say. 

Jaime and Kyle in the riding class. Jaime took first!

Art and Sierra. Art can do this funny lip thing. And Sierra took first!

Kyle and Clutch

A mule! But sadly, no donkeys at the show.

Terry's first time driving! Notch was a champ!

A mini!

Notch and Terry again. Notch is taller than the van!

Kyle and Clutch in reinsmanship

Jaime and Notch in cart class

Beth and my show love Rambo. Isn't he handsome?

All my draft buddies!

I am sure I will be perfectly sound from here on out. . .ha!

~Shyloh