Lightweight Horse-Drawn Tillage Tools
Ann Siri has more than 30 years of experience with draft horses, using them for almost every kind of job around her off-grid farm and machine shop. A few years ago she decided they needed lighter, easier-to-handle horse-drawn tillage tools, so she and her partner Mike Holmberg started making them.
With a large garden that was too small for a tractor, but too big to work by hand, Siri had a personal desire for better draft tillage tools. She felt most tools on the market were too heavy and usually built for 2 and 3-horse teams.
“I wanted something that could be an asset for home gardeners like myself,” says Siri. “I made it ergonomic and light enough that it can be used with miniature horses for an hour of cultivating. At the same time, it’s tough enough it can be used with one or two full-size draft horses.”
Anny’s All-In-One is made with high grade and hardened steel. At 76 lbs., the basic body with a single ripper tooth is easily moved in and out of the field or tossed in the back of a truck.
Two wheels mounted to the front end of the frame make it even easier to move. They can be quickly adjusted for height and row width.
“When you get to the end of a row or have to travel over a path or across a road, just lift up on the handle. You don’t have to lay the tool on its side to drag it across,” says Siri.
The handlebars and the hitching point can be easily adjusted to keep operator and horse off the row. The handlebars also are height adjustable on-the-go. The offset, combined with the light weight, makes the All-In-One ideal for tilling inside hoop houses, adds Siri.
The adjustable handlebar makes it easy to work at a comfortable height. Tool angle is also adjustable. To raise the plow point at the end of a row, simply push down on the handlebars, and the point rides out of the ground.
“People plowing with horses always seem to have to bend over, pushing on the plow,” says Siri. “With the adjustable handle, you can stand up while working and get just the right pressure and angle on the tool.”
Siri uses a receiver hitch design for easy mounting of tools. They include a cultivator, hiller bar with 10 or 14-in. shanks, ripper tooth, 6 or 8-in. furrowers, a potato digger with shovel or shank, a finger weeder and 36 or 40-in. dirt rakes.
“I hope to do even more tools if I can find the design time,” says Siri.
Siri originally built the All-In-One for a client and then for her own use. When she took it to a horsepower clinic in Oregon, she discovered interest was high among those who tried it.
“After getting orders for a couple, I decided to try marketing it,” says Siri.
The All-In-One’s main body with a ripper tooth is priced at $2,250. Other tools vary from a 6-in. furrower (plow share) for $60 to a complete single row cultivator for $575.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ann Siri and Mike Holmberg, P.O. Box 369, Philo, Calif. 95466 (ph 707 895-2582; info@siriholmberg.com; www.siriholmberg.com).
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Lightweight Horse-Drawn Tillage Tools LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Ann Siri has more than 30 years of experience with draft horses using them for almost every kind of job around her off-grid farm and machine shop A few years ago she decided they needed lighter easier-to-handle horse-drawn tillage tools so she and her partner Mike Holmberg started making them With a large garden that was too small for a tractor but too big to work by hand Siri had a personal desire for better draft tillage tools She felt most tools on the market were too heavy and usually built for 2 and 3-horse teams “I wanted something that could be an asset for home gardeners like myself ” says Siri “I made it ergonomic and light enough that it can be used with miniature horses for an hour of cultivating At the same time it’s tough enough it can be used with one or two full-size draft horses ” Anny’s All-In-One is made with high grade and hardened steel At 76 lbs the basic body with a single ripper tooth is easily moved in and out of the field or tossed in the back of a truck Two wheels mounted to the front end of the frame make it even easier to move They can be quickly adjusted for height and row width “When you get to the end of a row or have to travel over a path or across a road just lift up on the handle You don’t have to lay the tool on its side to drag it across ” says Siri The handlebars and the hitching point can be easily adjusted to keep operator and horse off the row The handlebars also are height adjustable on-the-go The offset combined with the light weight makes the All-In-One ideal for tilling inside hoop houses adds Siri The adjustable handlebar makes it easy to work at a comfortable height Tool angle is also adjustable To raise the plow point at the end of a row simply push down on the handlebars and the point rides out of the ground “People plowing with horses always seem to have to bend over pushing on the plow ” says Siri “With the adjustable handle you can stand up while working and get just the right pressure and angle on the tool ” Siri uses a receiver hitch design for easy mounting of tools They include a cultivator hiller bar with 10 or 14-in shanks ripper tooth 6 or 8-in furrowers a potato digger with shovel or shank a finger weeder and 36 or 40-in dirt rakes “I hope to do even more tools if I can find the design time ” says Siri Siri originally built the All-In-One for a client and then for her own use When she took it to a horsepower clinic in Oregon she discovered interest was high among those who tried it “After getting orders for a couple I decided to try marketing it ” says Siri The All-In-One’s main body with a ripper tooth is priced at $2 250 Other tools vary from a 6-in furrower plow share for $60 to a complete single row cultivator for $575 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ann Siri and Mike Holmberg P O Box 369 Philo Calif 95466 ph 707 895-2582; info@siriholmberg com; www siriholmberg com
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