DAP
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2001
- Messages
- 1,199
- Tractor
- JD LX288 and a B7800
My situation is very similar to yours.
Another point that Gary brings up ... unless you have a state of the art equestrian barn or a VERY large old barn, you will not be able to muck stalls with a 30hp tractor.
Barn configurations are key here.
A good horse stall is a least 12x12. Even getting a small boomer class (NH18) through and interior stall door would be difficult.
Some nicer barns that have indoor AND outdoor stall doors (where the latter can be opened directly into a runout or small paddock attached to the barn itself) can solve the tractor-loader-as-mucker problem very nicely. Unfortunately for me, my 160 yo english barn doesn't fit that bill at all.
Most horse owners I've seen usually muck with wheel barrels, construct a ramp to a spreader for same (as near to the barn as possible obviously), and turn the spreader loose when it gets full. This assumes you have or will have both a spreader and the acreage to spread over.
I've said this countless times though, if you are planning on finish mowing around your buildings with a 35hp compact utility tractor, you will be sorely dissappointed. I like my lawns and would never put more than 25hp on em (associating HP to weight here). In season, I finish mow 3 acres once a week with an 18hp heavy duty JD machine dedicated to this and other garden type chores. I also use it to finish mow another 3 acre field 6 times during summer months. If my finish lawns were flatter and smoother, no question I'd have a Zero turn machine. Nothing beats them for speed and cut quality.
A lot of folks here on TBN (more power to em I guess) love machines and tractors and would have Caterpillar 3 belly earthmovers on their 1.4 acres if they could afford it. Is it sensible? naw Is it frugal? naw. Is it any of my business? naw UNLESS they start recommending the same for less experienced people here seeking sensible, frugal and sage information. You will encounter some of those here also. Be prepared to watch a size and color campaign break out, if not in your thread, well, pick a topic! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Another point that Gary brings up ... unless you have a state of the art equestrian barn or a VERY large old barn, you will not be able to muck stalls with a 30hp tractor.
Barn configurations are key here.
A good horse stall is a least 12x12. Even getting a small boomer class (NH18) through and interior stall door would be difficult.
Some nicer barns that have indoor AND outdoor stall doors (where the latter can be opened directly into a runout or small paddock attached to the barn itself) can solve the tractor-loader-as-mucker problem very nicely. Unfortunately for me, my 160 yo english barn doesn't fit that bill at all.
Most horse owners I've seen usually muck with wheel barrels, construct a ramp to a spreader for same (as near to the barn as possible obviously), and turn the spreader loose when it gets full. This assumes you have or will have both a spreader and the acreage to spread over.
I've said this countless times though, if you are planning on finish mowing around your buildings with a 35hp compact utility tractor, you will be sorely dissappointed. I like my lawns and would never put more than 25hp on em (associating HP to weight here). In season, I finish mow 3 acres once a week with an 18hp heavy duty JD machine dedicated to this and other garden type chores. I also use it to finish mow another 3 acre field 6 times during summer months. If my finish lawns were flatter and smoother, no question I'd have a Zero turn machine. Nothing beats them for speed and cut quality.
A lot of folks here on TBN (more power to em I guess) love machines and tractors and would have Caterpillar 3 belly earthmovers on their 1.4 acres if they could afford it. Is it sensible? naw Is it frugal? naw. Is it any of my business? naw UNLESS they start recommending the same for less experienced people here seeking sensible, frugal and sage information. You will encounter some of those here also. Be prepared to watch a size and color campaign break out, if not in your thread, well, pick a topic! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif