Why won't my horses ever be the strongest?

We've been rained in and the job we are on right now just won't work at all when it's wet out there. So I'm trying to keep my horses somewhat conditioned so that when it dries out enough to go back to work they won't be completely out of shape.
#pasturedrag #farmingwithhorses #flycontrol #oldtires #pasturemanagement #loggersdayoff #keepinshape #conditioning #badweather #lotsofrain #workinghorses #maintainingcondition #horses #allinadayswork

[@russellhausmann8030]

Some of the best pulling horses come out of the woods

[@PapawMule]

No doubt about that..

[@downthetraillogging]

That's right. 😊👍🏻

[@buddyrobinson3514]

We used to call light work building lungs or legging them up. Just makes better horses.

[@downthetraillogging]

Yessir

[@SamDoe-zn3tu]

I have a flexible tine harrow, that I pull with small tractor. You have inspired me to hitch my horse to it.🙌

[@downthetraillogging]

That's awesome. Let me know how it goes. 😊

[@SamDoe-zn3tu]

@@downthetraillogging you got it 💯

[@gentlegiants1974]

I'm no expert, still learning every day after 37 years working horses. I tend to try to work my horses at about 80% of their capability on average. Knowing you have that extra "torque amplifier" in reserve makes me feel more confident. If a team is always maxed out then when you get in a bind, a hill, and hole, and you need another gear for a minute it's not there and they get discouraged. I like farmwork as it is so varied. Every day or two the load varies, and with the seasons. Mowing in the dead heat of a summer afternoon is a hard slog, but tooling around a few days later on the rake is a breeze, loading and hauling bales can be a slog on our hills here, many bursts of 100% along with downhill braking. I'd rather keep my horses mediocre and happily active, good lungs, decent muscle, but I'll never be into match pulling. I sometimes get a bit emotional when I see one of my teams absolutely giving it all they've got - do or die getting a loaded wagon up a grade and they would be on their knees if I asked them to, but I don't.
I have a 6 ft and a 10 ft chain harrow, and the 10 foot is a hard pull for any length of time, you might want to try and pick up one just for this sort of work, good exercise. If I'm harrowing all day in tillage work in soft ground I'll put four abreast on the 10 footer and they will be worn right out by nightfall. It is a steady pull no letup, just dead drag.
Love the way your horses stand quietly, it is the best gear ever...Park! I work alone and it sure comes in handy.

[@downthetraillogging]

Yessir. Steady farm work makes a good horse, no doubt. 😊

[@onestrongarm]

I agree entirely.

[@terrythomas7035]

Came from Zach odoms mule logging channel you have a beautiful pair what’s their names. I grew up with horses different kinds of

[@downthetraillogging]

Thanks for watching. Their names are Gus and Boom 😊

[@EHSTexas]

I'm a new subscriber. Enjoyed a couple of your videos so far. What breed are these horses?

[@downthetraillogging]

Thanks for subscribing. 😊 They are a three way cross. I don't have any papers on them but they are called American Brabants

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

It should be ok if horses do their job well, they do not have to be the best. Chasing the superlative is not necessary.

[@samwalker-fc3os]

Yep

[@downthetraillogging]

Agreed. 😊

[@samwalker-fc3os]

I guess you be getting a lot of rain?

[@downthetraillogging]

Yup. Sure have. 😊 It's been killing us here lately