So are horses really used as work animals anymore?

[SarahFair]

On the farm does anyone use horses anymore?
Nowa days is it not easier/cheaper to get a ATV or Tractor?

What use for the horse is there anymore besides pleasure?
I know we are going through hard times right now but Im still seeing horses go for $200!
Will there ever be a market for them again? Aside from showing..

 

[aussieheelr]

well I hope there will be. We use our horses, at least the ones we have trained thus far, for working cows. You may be able to move cows via 4 wheeler but you can't tie off on to a 4 wheeler and hold a bull down or even a cow... and you'd be lucky to keep a 4 month old calf tied even!
And the Amish comunity still use horses for farming. Other than those two examples I don't know what other "work" they would be used for anymore. Tractors just work much faster, you don't "feed" them etc.

And as far as the market goes, I don't see it turning around until 2 things happen.
1. the obvious... Ecconomy needs to turn around so people can afford extra.
2. the one nobody really wants to hear but the Horse Slaughter needs to open back up.
I don't like to say it either but as a realist there is just no way to feed all the horses out there. The unwanted horses need a place to go and the rescues are over loaded with horses that can't be taken care of properly because of numerious reasons.
It's as simple as supply and demand. There is too much supply and no demand.
We have 8 horses ourselves because of people we know that can't take care of their own just giving them to us... DH is a softy for horses and a dreamer so we rarely turn one away. Funds are already so tight but we don't have kids so... horses, cows, chickens, dogs... these are our children.
I hope and pray but for now that's all I think I can do!

 

[ducks4you]

The Amish still do. I have seen them hook up 8 Belgians to do the work of one tractor, tilling, planting and harvesting.

 

[miss_jayne]

yep. mine are. i cannot ride or drive mine any longer due to my seizure disorder so i gave them to a friend who rides and drives also. he uses them all the time to work his farm.

they haul things and work things all the time. nothing moves a big honkin' piece of cement or a tree like two big honkin' Morgandales! (Morgan X Clydesdale)

 

[ducks4you]

Quote:
Go any pics?!?

 

[ozark hen]

We have several Amish communities living around us and they use horses daily. Signs around here say, "SHARE THE ROAD" with a pic of horse and buggy on it.
I am sure it depends on where you live. those with large acreage and lots of cattle are sure to use horses.

 

[SarahFair]

Quote:
I dont think we have Amish communities around here. Im sad people dont use horses for much anymore besides for pleasure..
Working with animals...theres just nothing like it.

 

[ozark hen]

You are right, Sarahfair. With the economy like it is I wouldn't mind having a horse and buggy myself ....on some days.

 

[sparkles2307]

All the amish people around our area have several teams of draft horses that they use for ALL their farmwork from plowing to threshing. They also stake their dairy cows in the road ditch to get all that nice grass, its quite funny.

 

[Vcomb]

There's a lot of stock yards around here that still use horses to work the cattle. We are starting to get some Amish now and they have their horses as well. There's not as many horse ranches out here now as there were years ago but you still see old signs that they were there.