Latest News Page
BHLCT Apprenticeship Scheme invites applications for both apprentices and placement providers. <<click here>>
British horse logger wins prize for equipment at Pferde Stark.<<click here>>
Takashi Iwama, a professional Japanese logger, with his shield and medal having won the singles competition with Ella.
Scroll down for news about;
The British Horse Loggers Charitable Trust.
The 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Horse Logging and Felling Competitions.
The 2009 BHL Woodland Management Award results.
The British Horse Loggers' Study Tour to the Czech Republic 2007.
The BHL is launching a new venture at its Progress Events and other get togethers.
A harness/equipment and other tools 'Bring and Buy'.
If you have any items of equipment you want to sell, bring them along for potential buyers to see.
Items can be notified on the web site and in the newsletter (useful for larger items).
Horse Logging Courses:
Doug Joiner is now offering his five day group introductory course as Level II certificated. For more details <<click here>>.
2009 BHL Woodland Management Award Judging was by Judith Webb on behalf of senior Judge Geraint Richards due to a conflict of interest in the entries.
Results:
1st; Kate Mobbs-Morgan for Cherry Wood.
2nd; Doug Joiner for Aconbury Woods
3rd; Chris Wadsworth for Whistle Crag
4th; Simon Lenihan for Settrington Estate Woods
Judith wrote: "A challenging task for the judge as very varied and good entries but with the winner what impressed was the quality of application - well presented with all relevant information and description of the work, issues on the site and why horses were used. From visiting the site and speaking with client it was a well conducted contract that met the owner's objectives and was conducted in a professional and efficient manner, such that the owner will use horses again. Overall a great example of effective horselogging."
BHL Ltd and Charitable Status
The Committee of the BHL, having taken advice and consulted with the members, has formalised the incorporation of the British Horse Loggers, creating the British Horse Loggers Charitable Trust in addition to the BHL.
The BHLCT is a company limited by guarantee number 5792235 and a registered charity number 1117426.
We are proud and pleased to announce that HRH The Prince of Wales has consented to be Patron of the BHLCT as well as the BHL.
The British Horse Loggers, as it now exists, will continue under the same constitution.
The objects of the BHLCT are:
to
promote and maintain the standards of the craft of Horse Logging for the
public benefit;
to advance education and training in the craft of Horse Logging and associated
skills.
It is the Committee's firm opinion that this will secure the future of the British Horse Loggers and the future of Horse logging in Britain. The Trustees of the charity are busily fund raising to pursue the objects, in particular the setting up of a fully funded apprenticeship scheme.
Follow the link from the home page to the new BHL Charitable Trust web site.
Study Tour To The Czech Republic.
Following on from our successful, enjoyable and informative study tours to France (October 2002) and to Romania (December 2004), we have just returned form a week in the Czech Republic (February 2007).
Once again we received funding from the Leonardo da Vinci II fund and a group of twelve made the journey.
British Horse Loggers and hosts in the Czech Republic
The programme was full, fascinating and hugely informative. We visited horse loggers, national studs, the national genetic resources institute, farmers, wine makers and harness makers.
Travelling through the Czech Republic by mini bus with a full time interpreter and our hosts, we were able to get a real grasp of the country and the important role working horses still play both in forestry and in farming.
Oskar and team cultivating and drilling a wheat crop
Interestingly, no mares or stallions may be used for breeding until they have passed a comprehensive test and no cross breeding is permitted. The results of this are excellent working horses and pure blood lines. The horses were, quite simply, superb and the standard of horse training and handling was extremely high.
Jan and a pair of Silesian Norik stallions. The Apaloosa is a champion weight puller.
Some of us were fortunate enough to be allowed to work the horses and we enjoyed seeing stallions working singly, in pairs and in teams and young stock being introduced to the work from a very early age.
Oskar in the vines with a Belgie Norik
Harness is simple, a collar and traces to a swingle tree. The quality of the design and build of the collars was impressive with a fully detachable pad similar to those used in Amish harness and a well built leather and wooden collar. Traces were traditionally thick leather straps although nowadays most use reinforced rubber or webbing. We have brought a pair of traces back with us to experiment with, a kind gift from Josef Svoboda, a professional horse logger, breeder and trainer.
Josef and Ba'bel, 6 year old Silesian Norik
We learnt that there is a link between equine skills, farming, forestry and education. At least two secondary schools offer academic courses as well as practical education in these skills for 14 to 18 year olds. Students learn horse care and management, riding skills and they must also work horses for at least three hours each week.
18 year old school student with young Norik
Links to Czech web sites have been added to our links page and are well worth a look.
Competitions 2010
The BHL ran three competitions over the weekend of 17th and 18th July in Childer Wood
Members only events (it only costs £25 to join) the competitions have been expanded in both style and substance and are described beow, after the results.
RESULTS 2010:
Horse Logging, singles:
1st; Joe Deacon 234 points 2nd; Mike Paddock 233 points 3rd; Babs Haddrill 215 points 4th; Dawn Large 202 points Babs also won the Bryan Green Memorial cup for the Best Novice.
Horse Logging, doubles
1st; Mike Paddock 262 points 2nd; Crunchie Whitby 262 points. Being a tie the faster time of 13.19 minutes won over the very close time of 13.52 minutes.
Stallion, singles;
1st; Mike Paddock 233 points
Stallion, doubles;
1st; Mike Paddock 262 points
Felling and Extraction;
1st; Crunchie Whitby and Andy White 110 points and a time of 2hrs 09.40 mins.
2nd; Mike Paddock and Richard Eames 85 points with a time of 2hrs 31.33 mins
3rd; David Roycroft and Karen Kilshaw 60 points with a time of 1hr 42.30 mins.
Horse Logging Competitions. A competition for single horses and for pairs over an extended course in preparation for 2012. All stages reflect the reality of work in the woods and test the finesse and team work of horse(s) and handler. Max points possible; 262
Stallions competition. Run over the same course as the horse logging competition for both single and paired horses; in the singles the horse must be a stallion (obvious, really) but in the pairs there must be at least one stallion, possibly a pair of stallions or a stallion hitched in with a mare or gelding (or Ox! Watch this space) Max points possible; 262
Felling and extracting Competition. A limited number of stands of similar timber will be marked and lots drawn. The exercise is to plan and execute the work in a professional and competent manner, either with a feller and a horse logger team or a single feller/horse logger. The test is to fell the stand tidily, produce a good stack of the correct specification within the time allowed. Each stand should produce around 2 cubic metres of useable timber. Good felling, low stumps, tidy brash and effectively extracted and neatly stacked produce. What we do every day. Max points possible; 200