Making A Homemade Donkey Straddle For The Wicker Pannier Baskets

Tim steam-bent two spruce boards for this, and then attached them to elm-wood cross-pieces. Marie hand-sewed the harness too. So the work of Martin the basket-maker, Marie the saddler, and Tim the carpenter all come together to make this fine pair of panniers for Nell, our donkey. And doesn’t she look smart?
See the other part of this video here..
kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXbVgXd6Z8eHnsU
Ok, here are some important website links. Please check them out..
Here's Tim's amazing guitar machine..
www.chordelia.com
here's our online store where you can see some of the craft things we make and sell..
www.wayoutwestemporium.com/
and here's our Patreon page where you can see more of our plans and dreams..
www.patreon.com/user?u=2761318&ty=h
Thanks!
Copyright WayOutWest. All rights reserved. Please share if you like, but don’t copy or use without permission. Just get in touch via email blowinblog @ gmail.com
Don’t steal our stuff!

[@dontpanicatthehorseshow521]

its amazing how well the donkeys behave you did an amazing job training them

[@graceaxisa4213]

Your kitchen table is amazing! It is used for so many projects, including Sandra's wonderful meals (and Tim's too!). It is heartwarming to see a dining table actually used and not just left 'on show' (as some people do), whilst the family balance dinner plates on their laps in front of the television! Your videos are always beautiful!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks, Grace. I made that table top out of a lintel I found in an old house we once lived in. It has so many tales to tell : - )

[@janap148]

what a star you are Nell! and so helpful of eeyore to be keeping you company! great work everyone x

[@pjd2709]

Those donkey's are so precious, Nel is very patient and Eeyor is a character!

[@lulielawry]

amazing man who can whip up all this handmade stuff! What talent!

[@mariacortez5931]

Love the way English people talk. I live in the US but I'm just a resident and I have noticed that here people have a different accent. But still beautiful. 😊😊

[@CaptainLumpyDog]

How fabulously beautiful! Nell must be so happy to be helping :)

[@scarletpeate]

Love this. You just reminded me that anything is possible. Well done. I'm going to try making one for our ponies.

[@Texascarnivore]

I love our videos. That donkey has the patience of Job.

[@stepheimers]

Seems Eyore has appointed himself Project Manager ;)

[@RollerPigg]

I think I'll make one of those for my cat.

[@shadowfox6438]

omg xD

[@dontpanicatthehorseshow521]

Joe Stubbernubbensteingenson omg yesss

[@muhammetozbek5833]

Joe Stubbernubbensteingens

[@cprgreaves]

8m 58s "We feel like we are on a fashion walk". Need I say "way-out vest", again? Nell is so docile, she is effectively as much a part of your equipment as your sheds, workbench, bandsaw, chipper, railway etc. On the other hand, I think that even I would stand patiently under the command of Sandra's dulcet tones! Chris

[@TomStedham]

That is some amazing craftsmanship!

[@HHeirloomIA]

This is so cool. I love the whole idea of a harvest donkey!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thank you - I hope she agrees!

[@redrockasrama7215]

Wow! I just got a pair of small standard donkeys.

[@1975Jdonov]

Looking forward to your potato harvest to see those baskets in action. Thanks for the video!

[@WayOutWestx2]

They'll be washed out by the rain at this rate..!

[@tripplehelix]

Those donkeys are inseparable!

[@MrRightturn]

Just earned yourself a new subscriber! 😊

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks - welcome aboard!

[@miamia298]

so far so good

[@markc1234golf]

Ahhh that's lovely :) what a nice story thanks for sharing

[@Greensarenature]

You guys are absolutely amazing !!! Learning a lot from you =)) Thank you very much !

[@johncourtneidge]

Thank-you all!

[@rajendrababu2448]

Excellent skills in working with wood, metal & leather. Only shortcoming I noticed is not showing fully how wood is bent.

[@tommywalker742]

Very nice you are both so skillful.

[@rebekahbridges-tervydis5054]

How inventive you guys are. I only wish you had shown Nell what you were putting on her.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Oh, but we did! Perhaps not in the video but we always would in reality

[@rebekahbridges-tervydis5054]

Way Out West Blow-in blog ah, how could I ever doubted you! 😊. After all, the animals are as much a part of the working community, as we are, right?

[@survivor4998]

Good idea but it looks like the blanket needs to be longer or the rig will rub on the donkeys side when loaded.

[@WayOutWestx2]

you may be right, we'll be watching carefully

[@texanthom]

Living the life!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Every day! (Except Fridays, of course. Just kidding!)

[@BlackSeranna]

I'm inspired!

[@TeaandFiona]

i love donkeys!

[@CaptainLumpyDog]

TeaandFiona They're the best!

[@francoissheil9355]

Aswome! Really enjoy your content Please keepem coming🙏

[@markgimotea6556]

thanks for that enouvative yet such inspirational ldea you deserve my complements you doing great keep it up and what a nice lovely voice in your accent you remimber me of nanny plum on the little kingdon tv show in nick jr. channel

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thank you so much!

[@marksparkplug7758]

Looks good!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks, Mark : - )

[@TheJohn8765]

In case someone else hasn't mentioned it, I would say those baskets are *far* too high and will not just make her top-heavy, but also unnecessarily worry her. Donkeys are mostly the same as horses as far as loading goes, except you generally put the mass a bit farther back from the withers. However, too high of a load makes them top heavy and prone to "sway". Drop the centre-of-mass nearer to their mid-line, and I guarantee they'll be happier and can carry more to boot.

[@WayOutWestx2]

You may be right, but we'll have to experiment. I left lots of room for adjustment, anyway, if they need to be lowered. There are many examples of them fitted higher than these, and lower too. We're just learning what works best.

[@PreferMetal1]

Hi there west Ireland. Just come across your blog. Its very interesting. I am here in Oregon, US for the last 18 years. I'm from Yorkshire though. You have a lot of skills. Bet you wouldn't swop your lived for all 'the tea in China'. Not got your names yet. My wife is American and was very much into horses. They are very big in the US. She had to give them up now because of advancing years and health issues. Mr man you have such a great voice. Good luck in all you do and keep the blogs coming!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks very much Dennis. Welcome aboard! Sandra and Tim

[@theTORTUGAZUL]

It almost seems like you live in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

[@walterbond3628]

the square things is actually loaded latches and that's what they are like your videos

[@mysticshining]

Wow, so great! Love watching the process and it coming together. Also, yes, as someone else mentioned, it seems too high though? ;) If you google "How to Pack a Mule to Cross the Andes in 9 Easy Steps" , it has a good example, if you feel like looking. :D Look forward to updates.

[@sugarcookie572]

Ow. It does not take into account the dip in the donkey's back. So the ends of the boards will dig into her in the front and back. Probably ok with a thick pad so long as the load is not heavy. Love your blogs! Cheers.

[@WayOutWestx2]

There is no dip when she's standing straight on level ground. If there was I would have accommodated it of course.

[@colmseoighe]

I think eyore was going to try to eat that wood on nells back.my donkeys ate our fence all in one week just like your horses did one time.they also recently took a notion and dug up all nettles and ate the roots soil and all.do your donkeys do that? nell is so patient. I also have a palm like that for sewing sails it belonged to my great grandfather.

[@tripplehelix]

I'm no expert but isn't wood eating a sign that they are missing out on some nutrition?

[@colmseoighe]

It sometimes can be a sign of vitamin deficiency. But our donkeys get a well balanced diet all year around including a salt lick.Also we consulted our veterinarian. We came to the conclusion that our foal does it out of teething and it could also be put down to boredom. Thankfully they are both very healthy.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Ours haven't tried eating anything particularly strange. Yet. Does anyone use creels still, in your area? No one seems to here nowadys. Or maybe they do but we never see them.

[@CaptainLumpyDog]

I know when I get bored, I start munching on fences. You'd be amazed at the looks people give me ;)

[@colmseoighe]

I have seen people use creels on there own backs to bring turf in for the fire or to bring seaweed from the shore.I havent seen anyone use them on donkeys . My dad says he used to use them on their donkey .For seaweed and potatoes and especially on the bog.

[@wilhelmina7331]

It's amazing what a woman can get a man to do

[@rfldss89]

It looks like its tipping towards one side ^^

[@WayOutWestx2]

It wasn't quite tight enough

[@BethBananaHammock]

I'm a student from Venezuela living in IT, can I go to live with you? I'm a hard worker loving the donkeys

[@WayOutWestx2]

Ha! Thanks, Beth. We'll think about it : - )

[@WayOutWestx2]

IT = Italy?

[@BethBananaHammock]

+WayOutWest Blowinblog haha Yes, Italy...omg yesterday I got so exited watching your videos. You have a very interesting life

[@thaliahelene]

You have the sweetest donkey! At least, Nell. (My grandmother was a Nell) Eeyore seems a bit impertinent, probably just curious concern. I wonder what weight your creels will bear? And will they have to be unloaded both sides at once? I suppose you could make a gravity defying jig to help in the shed after.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Yes, there's lots to learn and experiment with. Still waiting for the rain to stop!

[@stevebonte2294]

Very interesting. You explain the process very well. Any chance you will be finishing your doughnut machine soon?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Love to, but I'm still too caught up with the guitar machine project. One day!

[@Alex-ui8xp]

omg Irish have a fish kettle!

[@benmatthews3732]

Haven't seen Flora since her fall - is she doing ok? (Bonnie)

[@WayOutWestx2]

She's bored because she's not being ridden as much. We both have to be patient a while longer.

[@sethmcmahon9074]

What’s the angle of the straddle

[@arctain1]

Just a quick question... nothing looks like it actually was bent after steaming. The boards look flat when the are screwed into the lash carriage ( the frame for mounting the panniers...) and when mounted on the donkey. So, what was the purpose of steaming the boards if they were just going to be attached flat?

[@WayOutWestx2]

They're not flat at all! Watch it again?

[@MrSanteeclaus]

Is this your first pack saddle “straddle” experience?

[@WayOutWestx2]

For the donkeys? Yes. But we've learned a lot since this video..

[@walterbond3628]

it's a poem of symbol is it sad I love that you call it the palm thimble Palm symbol you know the thing you use on your fingertip when your son hand sewing with symbol instead it's for your phone

[@walterbond3628]

put a pin in it like a hinge either leather Orem make a fork and your your wood with a slot and I don't want it and drove through and put a pin and that would work too and I'll be easily replaced or the pen but that's what I would do and I fix a lot of stuff and you would want to put some cloth on underside if you're going to put a hinge and only on one side so slip and slide with your hands guitar that's what I would do I have done it with a lot of projects that was somewhere works really good with backpacks and camping gear if you need a hand and some padding

[@josiahhezekiah5505]

50,000th viewer.

[@tadooable]

Does your friends have KZbin channels as well? Would love to watch their videos too :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

No, they don't. Yet!

[@Corrupted3rrr]

its crooked?

[@Scranny]

What is the name of the scraping tool you use at 3:23?

[@peternolan6885]

it's called a spoke shave

[@WayOutWestx2]

Spoke shave

[@yasminmukerjee4607]

the pad is backwards ;)

[@goatlps]

The narration is a German-Irish accent?

[@avrilcrisp30]

My husband used my fish kettle to catch the old oil when he did an oil change on his car:(

[@ahsanbari2892]

Ithink

[@judithwalker3600]

You are asking too much of the crupper/tail ring! Donkeys have no withers, the hump where the neck meets the back. Thus nothing in front of a load to keep it from sliding or shifting forward at the slightest decline or even a pothole in the trail.

[@WayOutWestx2]

You're right, Judith. we were following traditional designs. But we agree and new we're experimenting with britchen/breetching straps. Have you any good drawings/photos?

[@judithwalker3600]

I will see what I can find.

[@cherrysure2373]

Poor helpless animals 😖😖

[@minkymandy6065]

Sorry but why do these poor donkeys have to carry these surplus weights?!