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Horse Logging in Southern New England

Horse logging is a sustainable, responsible way to manage forest harvesting. It is well suited for environmentally Horse Logging. Photo by Roald Kleysensitive/inaccessible areas and smaller timber lots.  It is low impact, causing little or no damage to standing timber, soil structures (minimizing compaction, disturbance and erosion), or sensitive flora and fauna.  Horses are highly maneuverable, and cope safely and efficiently with slopes and obstructions. Horse logging can work with and complement machine operations, and is not expensive to use.  

It is labor intensive, takes longer, and is best suited to low volume production, or a landowner willing to invest in the harvest for the long term. However, it also allows for fully selective thinning. It can help with public image, as it does not have the noise and pollution associated with conventional mechanical methods, and the results can be aesthetically pleasing when logged by a responsible operator with an environmental ethic.  Horse logging is a viable alternative for people who really care about their forest and the ecosystem.

 

Horse Loggers in Southern New England (11/16/06)

Name

Address

City and State Phone Certifications and Distance Willing to Travel
Rick Alger 354 French Hill Milan, NH  03580 603-449-2262 Certified professional NH logger.  Southern New England, depending on job
Alan Berman 200 Brush Valley Rd Warwick, MA  01378 413-775-4104 MA Certified Forest Products Harvester. Up to 25 miles, depending on job.
James F. Brown 10809 Davis Rd Hunt, NY  14846 585-567-8158 Teaches logging with horses.  Will travel, depending on job.
Bruce Cheney 286 Grove Street Paxton, MA  01612 508-799-0444 22 miles or stay at job if large enough
Neil Esposito Chepachet Farms
226 Tourtellot Hill Rd 		Chepachet, RI  02814 401-568-9996 30 miles
Dave Granger Old North Rd Worthington, MA  01098 413-238-0108 50 miles
Jay Hannah Jay Hannah's Horselogging
226 Woodville Rd 		Ashaway, RI  02604 401-377-8771 Eastern CT and RI
Jason Irish RR1 Box 3741 Richmond, ME  04357 207-737-4286 Eastern US
Terry Joseph Cedar Knoll Farm LLC
57 Kimball Road 		Lisbon, CT 06351 860-376-8110 Southern New England
Geoge King & Sons 255 Mendon Rd Sutton, MA  01590 508-943-9774 CT Certified Supervisor Forest Products Harvester.  Southern New England.
Ken Lane 4 Overlook Ave Charlton, MA  01507 508-248-3992 Southern New England
Paul Lawler Lawler's Logging
223 Keys Rd 		West Brookfield, MA  01585 413-436-5739
413-949-5739 		MA Certified Forest Products Harvester.  Southern New England
Timothy O'Brien 8 Bogg Lane Lebanon, CT 06249 860-423-8718 Southern New England
James Ostergard
Peregrinator Services
947 Appelton Ridge Rd. 		Appelton, ME 207-596-1648 Maine Master Logger Certified. Currently works single Belgian (great for selective thinning). Travel depends on project, housing etc., but each opportunity is welcomed for consideration.
Kip Porter Porter & Noonan Draft Horses
399 Kinnebrook Rd 		Worthington, MA  01098 413-238-5948 MA Certified Forest Products Harvester.  Southern New England
Doug Smith Ye Plain Olde Farm
493 Brooklyn Rd 		Canterbury, CT  06331 860-546-1079 Eastern CT
Randy Trudeau Rock Maple Farm
5 Moulton Hill Rd 		Stafford, CT  06076 860-684-4040 20 miles or farther if horse lodging is available
Emerson Walker 1231 Corinth Rd Queensbury, NY  12804 518-792-8359 Western MA
This list was compiled by Reva Seybolt, PO Box 49, East Woodstock, CT 06244.  If you know of any other horse loggers in Southern New England, please contact Reva or have them contact her.  This is a work in progress.
 

More Information and References:
Conservation Commission
It is not the horse that draws the cart, but the oats.
- Russian proverb