Anyone use real horse power to cultivate your garden??

springvalley · #1 05/03/12, 09:40 PM

Our rototiller is shot and we do mulch, but I was thinking of hooking up the old buggy horse to some of my small cultivators and help in the garden.They are single horse equipment that is made for that job, but I have never used them much. I have the horse and equipment, can`t afford a new roto tiller, kinda a no brainer to me. Let me know what ya think. > God Bless America. > Thanks Marc

Ravenlost · #2 05/03/12, 09:45 PM

How big is the garden? Would be a good workout for you...my Daddy used to plow with a mule and we had to walk behind to drop the seeds and cover them. Daddy hated plowing with the mule almost as much as the mule hated it (if the mule saw Daddy get the harness, he would run down into the woods and hide).

springvalley · #3 05/03/12, 10:04 PM

Garden is about 60x100, I have it worked up, just thinking cultivating is all. I use to do that much all by hand, but I`m getting older. hehe > Thanks Marc

Ravenlost · #4 05/03/12, 11:29 PM

That shouldn't be a problem then.

FarmboyBill · #5 05/03/12, 11:45 PM

I have a walking 5 schovel, a double schovel, a schovel plow, a walking expandable harrow, a lister, a wood beam walking plow, a walking 1 row planter, a 5 hole walking grain drill 1876. Problem is, I dont like walking anymore lol

jwal10 · #6 05/03/12, 11:58 PM

You will need wide rows and maybe a muzzle unless you like to share. lol....James

springvalley · #7 05/04/12, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwal10

You will need wide rows and maybe a muzzle unless you like to share. lol....James

Yes, that is the only problem, I like Farmboybill, I have an expandable cultivator, so they adjust to differant row sizes. And I do have muzzles for horses. Not much I don`t have when it comes to horses. I even have a John blue one horse fertilizer applicator, that goes right down between the rows. I could have a horse powered tater farm, have the planter, hiller, and digger. Also have a one horse vinyard cultivator, not many of them around, took me a long time to figure out what it was. > Thanks Marc

uncle Will in In. · #8 05/04/12, 08:21 AM

Does your old buggy horse know how to walk the center of a pair of rows? Might need someone to lead her until she gets the idea. Is your horse a trotter? You might need a cart to ride on behind the cultivater just to keep up. Sure would beat walking. (OR RUNNING)
My 7 year old sister used to ride an old white work horse while my 10 year old brother handled the one row 5 shovel cultivater in our 3 acre pickle patch. That horse was so old that he couldn't get up if he layed down. I was only 3 then but I can remember my dad and 23 year old brother with a board under his chest helping him get on his feet.

jwal10 · #9 05/04/12, 08:23 AM

When I was a kid I spent a lot of hours cultivating corn and melons behind a horse. We had a riding cultivator that took 2 horses also. I left home at 12 and farmed 60 acres, I didn't have much cash money so didn't have money for gasoline for 2-3 years and used my 2 ponies to do everything but plow, I had a Farmall B for that. The ponies were 1/2 belgiun and 1/2 appaloosa, 14.5 hands but about 1000 lbs. Small but willing. I really enjoyed working with horses. Rows need to be 36" wide for a horse, many were 40"....James

sandsuncritters · #10 05/04/12, 10:34 AM

I took a turn at it back when I still thought I was immortal LOL
Discovered a new respect for my ancestors!
And the riding implements not only left my butt and legs numb, but I was so sore everywhere else (and sunburned) that I was non-functional for several weeks.

The implements are over at my cousin's farm now. They do still keep a few horses trained to the traces, but they're mostly only used for Farm Days exposition and Harvest Festival.

My ole farmin' hat is tipped to you who still do this.

In His Love
Mich

springvalley · #11 05/04/12, 10:38 PM

I use to plow with a team and walking plow, but I have been having problems with my knees the last couple months so don`t think I could do a whole lot of walking behind a team any more. Hopefully the knee problems will get better, but I`m not sure they will. > Thanks Marc

FarmboyBill · #12 05/05/12, 07:05 PM

TODAY, SAT 5th, at the sale I go to, I bought a 16in JD Sulkey plow, and a 2 14 JD Gang plow. Paid $65 for the Sulkey, and $260 for the gang. Theyve both got most of their paint on them. I dont know for sure if its origional, But I do know that its OLD. Theyll be going on E bay. They look to be in perfect shape.

gone-a-milkin · #13 05/05/12, 07:14 PM

Marc, I think you should try it.
Worst that happens is you end up going to buy a new rototiller sooner.