Want To Try Plowing With Horses?

Want To Try Plowing With Horses? LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules 31-1-34 Plowing with a horse is a whole lot easier soon with this new, improved version of the old foot-lift sulky plow. Pioneer Equipment is bringing back the 1950's era, single bottom plow, but with some important changes. "We've been making our standard sulky plow for 30 years, but customers have been asking for a foot-lift version," says Dan Wengerd, Pioneer Equipment Co. "This one is more user friendly than the original. It has a tongue that turns the front and rear wheel, giving you more control." Because the front and rear wheel are connected by a rod, when the horse is turned, the front wheel moves one way and the rear wheel moves the other. This results in a tighter turn radius. The tongue also ensures that when the plow is out of the ground, it will not roll forward into the horse on a downhill slope. The foot lift is what really sets this plow apart. The plow beam floats within the frame on two eccentric yokes. The operator easily lifts and lowers the plow beam with offset foot pedals. The lifting pedal mechanism holds the raised plow in place until released by tipping the foot forward. "The foot control leaves both arms free for handling the reins while turning on headlands or entering and leaving the field," says Wengerd. "Another simple improvement was making the seat adjustable for leg length." As with their current sulky plow, the new plow offers standard Oliver 12, 14, and 16-in. bottoms, and a Deere 14-in. bottom. Also available in 12, 14, and 16-in. sizes are Kverneland plowshares. "Kverneland shares are heat-treated to last longer than conventional plow bottoms," explains Wengerd. "They also have a slower twist to the moldboard, which flips the sod over instead of breaking it up and throwing the dirt. When you are plowing in sod or grass, you get complete cover and the benefit of the green manure. Plus it pulls about 10 to 15 percent easier than conventional bottoms." Pioneer built its first prototype in 2005 and a second in 2006. They are building 6 more for further testing in 2007 in different crop and soil conditions. "We will begin making plows based on these prototypes in 2008," says Wengerd. "We expect to be pricing them around $1,400." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Pioneer Equipment Inc., 16875 Jericho Road, Dalton, Ohio 44618 (ph 330 287-0386; fax 330 875-0296).

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