Harrowing

The spike tooth harrow is a devilish looking tool. It is made up of rows of sharp spikes about 3 feet long set 6 or 8 inches from one another in about 8 or 10 rows. Two of these square boxes of joined together by a long bar which also holds a set of chains that connects to a double tree which in turn connects to the horse. Recently I got my first try on this tool. Any lesson that begins with "now be careful this thing can take your leg off it is catches you" grabs one attention. It also adds a bit of nervousness  to the equation of driving. David explained to be what to do and what to be careful for and then I made my first pass. The harrow worked great breaking up the clogs of dirt and making the cultivated soil into a fine seed bed. Then however it was time to turn. It is important when turning a tool such as a harrow which does not have tongue that keeps at distance with horse to not step the horses over to quickly as they can step into the sharp teeth of the tool. I made just such a mistake at my first turn. lucky everything was alright, with Davids help I was able to step Sunny out of the harrow without injuring her. I figured at this point my lesson was over but David had me go again. This time I got the turn right and made another pass. I made many more passes that day and at the end I felt that I had learn a critical piece of driving skill and a large piece of respect for the tool.