Horse Logging: An Intro at Rugged Ridge Forest - Harvesting for Wood-Fired Maple Syrup

Skip to 18:33 - to just see Hilde working! Support Hilde and our efforts by sourcing your wood-fired maple syrup from ruggedridgeforest.com/ This video also offers a more in depth explanation of working a horse in the woods.
Hilde, our percheron Standard Bred cross expertly twitches out some firewood while we go over the harness, tacking up your horse, a bit on horse training philosophy, and an intro to the commands at play in logging with horses.
We preserve the tradition of Horse Logging while crafting our wood-fired, organic, pure Vermont maple syrup. Support our efforts while sweetening your flapjacks at www.ruggedridgeforest.com and on facebook/insta @ruggedridgeforest
We are trying to grow our channel to create more farm related content, please like and subscribe to follow our journey : )
Skip around if you just want to catch the action!
VIDEO INDEX:
00:00 - Disclaimer
00:05 - Introduction
00:33 - Meet Hilde (and Josh)
01:25 - Tacking Her Out
10:25 - Logging Specific Implements
13:30 - A bit of Logging Philosophy
14:33 - A demo in the field
18:33 - Hilde at work

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

I like it that Hilde is working without blinders. When horses are trained to that early enough, so tend to become more reliable than with blinders.

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Hopin to ditch the reins before too long : )

[@biddydibdab9180]

This is probably the best intro to horse harness and I really appreciate that you are considerate of Hilde when you are harnessing her. My Dad used to log with horses and he taught me when I was a young girl.

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Thank you kindly

[@melissahilbrand]

I love her. She has a fan for life.

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Shes the best : )

[@mrshane5101]

I appreciate how you explained everything

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Thanks very much : ) Glad you enjoyed!

[@emmonstrex65]

A lot of trust there, both ways. Great video!

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Thank ya kindlu

[@andrei.vb1989]

congratulations! you do a very good job! I appreciate the way you explain all aspects of working with horses! I look forward to other videos! success!

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

thank ya kindly!

[@kathyeller1621]

Love it! Great job, thanks for sharing

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Thank you

[@pidgon08]

Nice

[@PrueHarrison]

I wish I had the chance to work with such an amazing animal! I'm sure it's hard work for person and horse, but it is beautiful as well.

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

There are other ways to move logs, but none are as rewarding : )

[@jamessparks2691]

Enjoyed your video. Just wondering why you don't use work bridle with blinders?

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

In the woods it directs the sticks right into the horses eyes. Also cuts down on the animals situational awareness. If a horse works well without them why bother?

[@samgould9930]

Your bit looks a little high (you want just 1 tiny wrinkle in the corner of the lip) try letting the cheek pieces down 1 hole. What stops the log from running into her legs on the downhill parts

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

Ive heard two wrinkles. When its too loose it has rolled around out of her mouth which is more dangerous as youve lost all control. Ive ordered a new bridle with a curb strap to hopefully eliminate that from ever happening again (which was only once). Friction and steering the horse in a safe manner stops the log from running her over. You have to constantly be one your game. Notice when the big log slid towards her she had been steered out of its path to the left.

[@fabiancanada8876]

I really enjoyed the video + the information. My daughter is into horses (riding) and we are hoping to soon get a horse (maybe a Norwegian) and start using it a little in our own woodlot (mostly for firewood). That metal thing in its mouth (a bit?)- is that really necessary or is it possible to do it without it? Greetings from Nova Scotia

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

it is possible to do it without, however that is expert level horsemanship. With horses they say, "green and green makes black and blue" (Ie green, meaning unseasoned, or in this application, novice, horseman and green horse leads to injuries for both). You could buy an impeccably trained horse and follow it up with some impeccable training for yourself and potentially achieve that goal. With a reasonable budget and realistic expectation of your own abilities, I don't think this is a good goal out of the gate. Horses are extremely sensitive (especially in their mouth), and strong, and so a good horseman will convey the subtlest touch through the reins. I like to run a loose rein myself, allowing the horses to relax and release. Hilde actually likes the confidence of a pound of pressure on the reins. It lets her know her head is facing the right direction so she can trot confidently. When I am very loose reined (especially when I first started working loose reins with her), she would wander, look back at me, almost to say, hey dad, you back there, am I going the right way? From her background, she liked the confidence that she was facing the right way so she could charge ahead confidently. Hugo doesn't know any different, as I trained him from scratch he just waits for his queues. The long and short is horses are unbelievably big and strong, and a mild bit in their mouth does not bother them, if there is a good horseperson on the other end. It takes a very soft touch and the softer you are, the softer you can be (ie getting a horse used to the soft touch). Once your horse is used to the softest touch, you can go bitless with special bridles, but that takes supreme trust in your animals because if they spook they could pull you at a gallop by the bridle (they could by the bit as well, but they wouldnt enjoy it). hope that helps

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

in another video there is a section on my friend paul running his horse babe without reins in his hand, all verbal. It is a small clip at the end of another horse logging video, but it is impressive : )

[@fabiancanada8876]

@@ruggedridgeforest7775 Thanks so much for your answer! My daughter read it as well and we will se how things go! I hope everything works out and we can let you know how/if we made it work! I am looking for the other video now. Keep up the good work!

[@ruggedridgeforest7775]

@@fabiancanada8876 where there is a will there is a way. It won't be easy, but if your daughter is dedicated i am sure she can do it!