Riceland Meadows Renovations, Implement Modifications and his Bradley Sugaring Wagon

Joe visits Ralph Rice to talk about his extensive barn renovation as well as a couple of implements he is working on.

If you like our videos please 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟
https://www.youtube.com/c/RuralHerita...
AND...if you like our videos you may really like our magazine. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗲 at https://www.mischka.com/shop/home.php... or call us: 877-647-2452.

First Ralph takes us on a tour of his horse barn, shows us all of the plans changes and renovations that are in the works. He is reworking his box stalls, laying a new floor in the hay mow, changing doors and windows. His renovations are needed for replacing deteriorating areas, upgrading for more air flow and light as well as redesigning to make work easier for him and his horses.

Ralph sold his sheep to finance the projects and he explains his livestock calculation for load on his land as this:
1 cow = 5 sheep = 1 acres of pasture
1 bull = 1 horse = 7 sheep = 1.5 acres of pasture
So, in selling 40 sheep he can add 8 horses to his farm without changes. And, he enjoys the horses more than the sheep and since switching to Suffolk, wants to work hard to preserve the Suffolk breed through breeding.

Ralph talks about his hay mow and the loading process he used. Due to shortage of labor, he has had to switch to round bales which he can load with his own equipment. He has banged up the door frame around the opening. He is designing a new system which will have a rack that he can add two round bales to and push them in without damaging the barn.

Next Ralph shows us a "new" old New Idea 206 manure spreader and its modifications. He going to get it up and running to use in training his colts. The noise it makes and the flying manure are disturbances that the horses need to get used to.

Ralph shows off his "Bradley" sugaring wagon/sled. His grandfather designed such a wagon in his youth and Ralph has replicated it. It lightens the load on the horses by utilizing a sled deign in front on a single rotating wheel with two wheels at the rear. This allows for less friction as well as a zero turning radius for maximum maneuverability in the woods, which he demonstrates for us.

Lastly, Ralph shows us an important safety precaution he takes when hitching his horses to an implement. When hooking the tongue to the harness, in addition to his safety catch, he runs a strap made from hames through the ring and the tongue in case something slips and the ring comes off. This will hold things together and prevent a possible serious accident.

More from Ralph Rice's blog:
https://ricelandmeadows.com/

#ruralheritage #ricelandmeadows #farmingwithhorses #sugaringwagon #smallfarm #farmmanagement #horsebarn #suffolkhorses #horsedrawnimplements #makingmaplesyrup #sugaringwithhorses #drafthorseequipment