Meet the Experts - November 6 2018

Paul Ruta brought his two beautiful Percheron draft horses (Jesse & Babe) to demonstrate techniques  of logging in the woods and bringing out the logs with the horses

Paul, and his horses, are based at Black Horse Farm in Marshfield. They work in the woods logging for timber and firewood, and also do a lot of weddings, tours, and take people for sleigh rides and trail rides

Do get in touch: (802) 563 2066

The horses wear a complicated set of straps and chains so that the weight of the logs (or wagon) is easily distributed and does not cause them discomfort. 

Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to learn about the different straps and how to set them  up (the horses were so accepting).

Over the two days we had more than a dozen people join us for part (or all) of the workshop. 

A few people attended both days of the workshop, and a number of people came just on one. 

Paul's two beautiful horses: Jesse and Babe, very happy in the woods.

We did have to clear a trail for them to bring the logs out of the woods. 

Techniques covered included felling and bucking trees, cutting branches, setting up horses with harnesses, hitching logs to the horses, and driving the horses pulling the logs behind them. 

Not only did we learn about logging, and about working with horses, we also learned about cutting trails, and creating water bars. 

Before hitching the horses and bringing the logs down to the cabin we had to remove the side branches. It was 'all hands on deck' for this particular job!

This was our 'prize tree'. With a dbh (diameter at breast height) of 19", it was tall enough to get 3 x 23' logs. 

Paul was extremely knowledgeable and everyone learned a lot about working with horses, and about logging in general. 

The horses were eager to get going! 

The beauty of using horses to bring the logs out of the woods is that they do not require a wide, or perfectly graded skid road, and cause minimal damage.