Horse and buggy??

[just me]

My dh and a friend have a pair of draft crosses that we use to pull a hay type wagon and a small people wagon. They have been joking that we could do trips to town (20 mi round trip and would take most of the day) for people from our little town. Personally, I think the new Wallyworld had better put in some hitching posts as there are a fair amount of Amish around now and I think there will be others that will rely on horses for their travels. Most every farmer around here has a couple of horses or more.

What do you all think? Are we headed back to horse and buggy? Do we invest in another set of drafts? We have 9 other head of horses for riding.

[teadrinker]

Wow justme, I wish we had some horses now. I think that in the very near future horses will be a great idea for making trips into town. I know I would use one if we had one.

After reading your post I got to wondering why you just don't train one of your riding horses to be a buggy horse. Those BIG draft horses are great for hard field work but they do eat a lot, and with the talk of more drought for the USA hay & grain will be getting a even more pricey then it is already. Plus that high price of oil.....I for one think having a horse or two is a great idea.

The Amish near us use lighter horses to pull their buggy's. And their stores all have places to tie up horses. So neat to see that.

teadrinker

[Caplock50]

"What do you all think? Are we headed back to horse and buggy?"

Well, does this answer your question? I have a 1990 F-150 Ford pickup I'm willing to trade even for a horse and small buggy. Are you game for the trade?

[momof23goats]

I go one if you can get to michigan to get it, Cappy.
I have two pairs also. and let me tell you, i am hanging on to those. they can pull plow, a disk, cart , buggy.
I am looking to build me up a sled also. and will add wheels to it for summer use. you betsya.
I have to have something that will get me around,and I have them, not going to let go now. they can haul hay, logs , you name it. plus my foats can pull the cart, for sure.

[just me]

Cappy, If I had a light horse trained for buggy and had an extra buggy, I would trade you.

I am going to train a couple of the light horses for buggy work. We have a small farm, so I do need the big guys for the farm work. DH has been collecting bits and pieces of horse drawn farm implements and fixing them up. Right now the wagons we have that are horse drawn are too heavy for a light horse, so DH is building me a small wagon for one of my horses.

[momof23goats]

that is the smart thing to do , just me. I have a plow, drag, and disk, that are pulled by a horse.
yes, I think that people that are smart enough to have horses, will use them.you can't afford the gas, well then use the horses.

[Thyme]

Our wally worlds are already set up for horses, as is alot of our roadways. To accommodate the Amish. ( A people I am proud to know)

If I were'nt in my 50's and alone, I'd do the horse and buggy thing. My barn is designed for it! / huge sigh

[momof23goats]

Thyme, don't let that stop ya none. i just came in from getting wood done. i am alone most of the time. and I am older than you are .
Age is but a number.
however, to day, my knees are screaming at me. dang, ole things. so I just stopped fpr a while. I will get back at it, in a few minutes.

[Thyme]

lol mom, I just got in from breaking up kindling and loading up wood too.

Thanks for the pep talk, I needed it, and yep, I know so well about those achey knees and shoulders. One of these days, I'll pm you my recipe for bath salts for a soak in the tub. You can make up a huge container at a time and set it next to the tub. Oooo so nice.

[momof23goats]

sounds like a good idea thyme. i just got the last wheelbarrow load of wood, in the basement, [for today, that is].

[janetn]

I live in a area with a lot of Amish, Ive thought about the horse and buggy thing a time or two. Here are the drawbacks. Horses eat a lot :D Unless you have enough land to grow your own hay factor in the cost of feed - BTWits going up with the cost of everything else. A horse might be ok for a trip to town, but for work not so good. I travel 19 miles to work, the time it would take me to get to work on horseback isnt worth it. Plua Id freeze in the winter.

[momof23goats]

I got pasture, and hay field, so i am ok.

[just me]

We have hay and pasture too.

I wonder if the lawyers get out of the way, for people to start the old time stables where you could rent a horse or buggy?

[momof23goats]

you know they do have those in some states. I saw a couple, I think in Tn.

[SheWoff]

Yep, in some places around here they (Mennonites, Amish) are still using horse and buggies. Usually around their own neighborhood though. The Menno's will use a truck or car for longer hauls though and the Amish will use a driver which is someone who will take them to town or where ever they need to go in the drivers vehicle for a fee.

I thought about getting one again but it has been many, many moons sincce I had to drive one! :D I haven't seen any place here on the NW end of the state where you could rent one though.

She

[Caplock50]

For those collecting horse drawn farm implements, there's tons(literally) down here just rusting away. Just bring a big truck and plenty of money.

[momof23goats]

thanks Cappy, I am looking for a baler. so now I know where to come too.