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["Lynda" <lurine AT com-pair.net>]

We jerry-rigged all kinds of things to be carts.  As far as pulling, I'd say 
probably the same as a pony, at least his weight and some easily pull twice 
their weight.  We used to have gaited ponies and ponies we raced (an exhibit 
type racing that used to take place at California fairs).  Peacock's Cock 
Robin was one of our Shetland/Hackney crosses that we both raced and showed 
in the gaited (fine harness) classes and we put him to work in the winter 
pulling a cart loaded with a bale or two of hay and a couple of sacks of 
grain.  That would total well over 400 pounds.  And you'd have to count the 
weight as even more since he was pulling it through axle deep mud.

Your problem will be adjusting shafts by length and height to fit the 
critter who is doing the pulling.  Just be sure you cap the ends of the 
pipes you use AND that you grind down any sharp points where you do the 
welding!

Lynda
Members of Congress should be compelled to wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers 
so we can identify their corporate sponsors.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "EarthNSky" <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>

> Another keeper...thanks

> I know what that is...
>
> I think she has one of those, too.
>
> I would not describe Jack as loosey goosey.  He is a great conserver of
> energy.<G> I think I would be walking behind him
>
> I have a lawnmower and cart.  The cart is 4x6, two wheeled.  I can never
> crank the lawnmower.  Would I somehow be able to adapt that cart, maybe
> weld on some metal, to adapt it for Jack?  Is a two wheeled cart like
> this large enough?
>
> I've been watering my Paulownias by hand.  My friend came down and we
> put the barrel on the back of her golf cart and filled it.  We drove the
> water to the trees and then bucketed the water to the trees from the
> barrel.  If I had a donkey,  could I have put water and fertilizer in
> that 2 wheeled cart and hauled it down to the trees?  I've read
> guidelines that a donkey should only pack 20-30% of his own weight, but
> how much can they safely pull in a wheeled cart?
>
> How hard would it be to train him to pull a moldboard plow?
> I honestly doubt I would try to plow.  Mostly, Jack would be a guardian
> and a pulling animal that would help move things-move the chicken
> tractor, move rocks, move logs, firewood, etc.
> I'm just wondering if I could adapt a cart I have or if I would have to
> make or get something else.