Uploaded December 2016 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Skidding firewood logs I will be bucking and splitting for the cordwood challenge. I've been really inspired by the many different things about the challenge that work with my other goals for myself and our farm. In this case, it is providing good repetitive work for myself and Star the ox.
To be clear, I am not an oxen expert, merely an oxen enthusiast. My ox is not well trained, and I cannot trust him off his lead rope the way a properly trained ox should be.
The logging arch we are using is a homemade (obviously) rendition of a Scandinavian single-horse logging arch. I really like this style as it is extremely narrow and maneuverable in the woods, and the shafts maintain the line of draft directly from the yoke to the axles. This enables the small wheels to be used without getting stuck in holes as there is always an vertical component pulling up on them since the axle is straight in line with the center of draft on the ox.
Star has almost outgrown the current lengths of shafts and I had to hitch many of these logs up near the peak of the arch to keep them from hitting him in the ankles. I also need to add some sort of chain grab plate or hook to speed up/simplify hitching.
For folks interested in working single oxen, I highly recommend Tim Harrigan's channel. youtube.com/channel/UC7huYY6usDzhEhFcJBDwvdQ
Tiller's International's channel has good general ox knowledge and appropriate technology, including good discussion of the draft of various equipment and types of activities. youtube.com/user/TillersInternational
Here's a link to Steven Edholm's Skillcult channel. youtube.com/channel/UCFZ-LGULm1gGhd3uOjiZr-A
More about the cordwood challenge. youtube.com/watch?v=qbQcNuID-ss
Skidding firewood logs I will be bucking and splitting for the cordwood challenge. I've been really inspired by the many different things about the challenge that work with my other goals for myself and our farm. In this case, it is providing good repetitive work for myself and Star the ox.
To be clear, I am not an oxen expert, merely an oxen enthusiast. My ox is not well trained, and I cannot trust him off his lead rope the way a properly trained ox should be.
The logging arch we are using is a homemade (obviously) rendition of a Scandinavian single-horse logging arch. I really like this style as it is extremely narrow and maneuverable in the woods, and the shafts maintain the line of draft directly from the yoke to the axles. This enables the small wheels to be used without getting stuck in holes as there is always an vertical component pulling up on them since the axle is straight in line with the center of draft on the ox.
Star has almost outgrown the current lengths of shafts and I had to hitch many of these logs up near the peak of the arch to keep them from hitting him in the ankles. I also need to add some sort of chain grab plate or hook to speed up/simplify hitching.
For folks interested in working single oxen, I highly recommend Tim Harrigan's channel. youtube.com/channel/UC7huYY6usDzhEhFcJBDwvdQ
Tiller's International's channel has good general ox knowledge and appropriate technology, including good discussion of the draft of various equipment and types of activities. youtube.com/user/TillersInternational
Here's a link to Steven Edholm's Skillcult channel. youtube.com/channel/UCFZ-LGULm1gGhd3uOjiZr-A
More about the cordwood challenge. youtube.com/watch?v=qbQcNuID-ss
