Horse
Drawn Hay Mower Conversion
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How do you get this mower...
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... to mow between these rows?
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Horse
drawn mowers were once found on every farm where they were
used to cut hay and clip pastures. They began to be phased out
in the 1940's as tractors largely replaced draft animals. The
mower is composed of a wheeled carriage with a seat that
trails behind the horses, while the hedge-trimmer-like blade
cuts to the side, powered by the rotation of the wheels. These
mowers are a pillar of engineering efficiency, when power was
limited by the finite strength of the horse, and a balance had
to be struck between durability, weight, and friction. These
mowers have been used continuously by the Amish, up to the
present day, and are becoming increasingly popular as
hobbyists and farmers recognize the wisdom of the past and
incorporate this proven tool with modern knowledge about
farming. These mowers are, however, limited when it comes to
tight spaces and small fields because the mower blade
protrudes up to 9 ft to the side of the horses, resulting in a
total width of 15 ft or more. For fruit and vegetable farmers
with narrow rows and lanes, there are few options for
draft-powered mowing. A couple of custom built mowers have
been marketed, but they can cost upwards of $1800, and don't
have a 100 year record of service like the original mowers.
Looking at the old mower in a new way provided a solution that
is inexpensive, based on a proven platform, and allows
reversible conversion, back and forth between center-cut and
side-cut modes. A simple adapter was created to allow the
blade to be mounted directly behind the horses at a cost of
less than $100. This opens up a vast array of additional uses
for this fine machine. A full instructional article on
modifying this mower can be found here.
