HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-03-16, Page 55Farm Progress '94 -Page 39
Course will introduce how to work with draft horses
The Ecological Farmers As-
sociation of Ontario (EFAO) will be
holding a draft horse workshop at
the farm of Tony McQuail on April .
2.
McQuail will be joined by Ken
Laing of Sparta to lead this one day
introductory course on' working
With -.draft horses on the farm and in
the, bush.
Both McQuail and Laing use
horse power on their farms.
"Horses are flexible. They're a
module power Source that run on
farm produced fuels that are self
producing and non-polluting,"
McQuail notes.
While both farmers, also use
tractors in their operations, they arc
continually working to further
minimize tractor use. •
"For organic farmers, horses are a
sensible source of power," Laing
says.
The workshop will include the
basics of harnessing and hitching a
team of work horses and offer
hands-on experience driving the
McQuail and Laing teams.
There will be opportunity to
see a variety of horse equipment,
including mowers, a binder, seed
drills, manure spreaders, wagons
adapted to use with their tractors or
horses, and a PTO and 3 -point
hitcher teamsters 2000 forecart.
Discussion will focus on the work
that horses are particularly suited
for.
McQuail and Laing say that diesel
power, has some advantages on the
farm. McQuail uses a tractor for
about 25 per cent of his farm work,
including plowing and baling. hay.
However both farmers say that
horses remain their first choice.
"Horses' have a great reserve of
power that they can use for short
periods of time. Tractors don't have
that," Laing says:
He said that horses are easier to
maintain than tractors, and, "they're
easier to start in the winter."
More than 18 people have
registered for the workshop which
will be held on the McQuail farm,
3. roads east of Lucknow (sideroad
21-22) and 2 miles south of High-
way 86.
For registration, or more infor-
mation about the EFAO, Contact
Tony McQuail at 519-528-2493.
A Safety tip
Preparing to cut
Before starting to cut with a
chainsaw, make certain that your
footing is firm and that you are
well balanced. Avoid making cuts
above waist level whenever pos-
sible. The saw shciuld be at full
power before you begin any cut.
Keep both hands on the saw during
the entire cutting operation. A firm
guiding grip is all that is needed
when a chainsaw - is operating
properly. (from the Farm Safety
Association) -
Draft horses are an efficient and effective source of power for farmers Tony McQuail of Lucknow
(right) and Ken Laing of Sparta. The two farmers, members of the Ecological Farmers Association
of Ontario, will lead an April 2 workshop at the McQuail farm on horse powers. (Shelley McPhee
Heist photo)
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