Timber extraction by horse ---- Film and promotional work -- Horse logging courses Practical courses, five days long, conducted on a one to one basis on a working site


Our fully insured and experienced crew ensures quality work combining a traditional skill with modern sustainable forestry management- the natural way to work woodland

The advantages of using a professional horse logger to extract timber are;


- Selective thinning is economical as no extra trees are cut down than needed

-The low impact of horses leaves the forest floor in good condition

- No need for line thinning reduces risk of windblown trees

- Ensures your remaining standing trees are undamaged

- Ideal for wet, steep, rough and small plantations

- Leaves no timber behind on the forest floor

- Minimal disturbance to wildlife

- No pollution of waterways

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For the past twenty eight years I have worked and trained heavy draught horses in all road, field and forest operations across Ireland - a trade I learned in the traditional manner where it was passed down through my family from father to son. This heavy horse heritage and the range of work we do with various breeds of these magnificent horses can be viewed in the archive below. References are available on request.
Feel free to contact me if you require any further information.

Tom Nixon, Athenry, County Galway, Ireland
mobile; 086 038 4857
email; tomnixonheavyhorses@hotmail.com

Member of
Forest Training & Education Ireland Ltd.
British Horse Loggers

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Powerful horses

Trojan Heavy Horses returned in September to Airfield in Dublin where they had not worked since 1993 to plough, harrow and set rape seed which is being grown as Spring grazing for the farm's lambs.



First the grass was ploughed over and then a harrow was used to break up the clods of earth into a fine 'tilth' which gives seeds the best chance of growing.

Many people today no longer understand the process by which ground is prepared so food crops can be grown - and very few have seen it done with heavy working horses- so we attracted a lot of attention from Airfield's visitors.



So popular were these gentle giants on the day that Airfield has decided to have our working horses come back to this urban farm on a regular basis, which we will do returning with different types of heavy horses and equipment over the coming seasons to demonstrate traditional Irish farm practices.



The pair we used in September to plough, harrow and seed were Scottish Clydesdales, a 12 year old and a 9 year old, both geldings and 18.1 hands high.


Towering above the heads of the crowd - enthralled by the size and calmness of these magnificent horses - who were delighted in getting close enough to pet their massive heads.







Just to be in the company of horses has a positive and measurable effect on peoples' well being recognised throughout the world in non - riding equine programmes.



As the sheer size of heavy horses does seem to magnify this effect it can be a useful tool for educational purposes whether in demonstrating traditional agricultural practices or modern forestry techniques.



How we relate to our environment has never been more relevant than today, so practical demonstrations of our farm and work horse tradition is one way for urban children to understand how their rich rural heritage is linked to modern sustainable farming.

As not every child will be able to visit an urban farm any school interested in having us visit them with our heavy horses can contact me, and we will tailor make a memorable demonstration to fit into their science or history curriculums.