How to Plow With Haflingers

Haflingers are a breed of horse that originated in Austria. Originally mountain ponies, they are sturdy and sure-footed and make excellent draft animals. Bred for a calm, kind temperament, they are easy and biddable to work with and are extremely strong for their height. Before starting to plow, your team should be experienced draft horses able to stop, turn and walk on at voice commands. Plowing can be harder work than pulling a standard vehicle, as there is resistance from stones and roots as the plow cuts through the ground. The horses will need to learn to lean calmly into their collars and pull to overcome the resistance, rather than jerking forward at speed, which could damage the plow or cause injury.

Things You'll Need

  • Plow
  • Horse team
  • Halters
  • Harness
  • Assistant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie up both horses and harness them. Fit the collars by turning them upside down to give more space for the head and ears, and rotating into position once on the horse. Add the pad, backstrap and crupper, buckling the backstrap round the horse's belly sufficiently tightly so that you can still slip the flat of your hand underneath. Put the bridle on and run the reins through the collar pads. Tie up all the trailing straps and take your horses out to the plow.

    • 2

      Harness the horses to the plow. Have your assistant hold the second horse while you hitch up the first one. Back it up alongside the shaft and pass the shaft through the tugs of the harness. Fasten the traces and remaining harness straps before hitching up the second horse. Have the horses walk on until the have taken the slack out of the traces and then stop them. Have your assistant stand at the horses' heads to keep them still while you take up the reins.

    • 3

      Stand beside the plow and run the reins over your left shoulder from front to back and then across the back of your neck. Tuck them under your right arm to keep them in position. According to Ralph Rice of Riceland Meadows, an experienced plowman, this method will help prevent you from being dragged should the horses spook and jerk the plow. In an emergency, the plowman can allow the reins to slip over this neck by lowering his head. Once you are in position, give the "Walk on!" command to the horses.

    • 4

      Walk the horses on down the first line. When they first feel the resistance of the plow, the horses may be tempted to stop at the unaccustomed sensation. Encourage them with voice commands until they lean into the collars and overcome the resistance. Have your assistant walk calmly at the horses' heads to prevent them leaping forward. As you and your horses become more experienced, you can start to plow without an assistant. When you reach the end of the first furrow, turn the team and start a parallel furrow in the opposite direction.