Re: Field Trial Stake-out Rig vs. Picket Lines

[Chris Paus <paus@micoks.net>]

I'll have to pass this on to my rocket scientist husband who likes to
tinker with stuff and see if he could do this. It is over my head!
But then, I'm known around here as mechanically declined!
chris paus & star

At 09:46 PM 1/16/98 -0800, Raymond O'Donohue wrote:
>I can't stand it,and so I must type.First,the materials:One junk 
>truck axle shaft,free,from Joe,your neighborhood mechanic.One junk brake 
>disc(rotor),free,from Joe.He's going to give you this stuff for free 
>because you are so kind as to haul your loaded horse trailer around in 
>overdrive all the time.Pick out a rotor with plenty of "offset",in other 
>words,one which is "tall" when viewed from the side as if it were a man's 
>hat.									
>So much for the free parts.Now go to a real hardcore manly hardware 
>store.Get a length of coated stainless 3/16 cable 18 inches longer than 
>your finished length-13&1/2 feet will give you a 12 foot length and a 
>24foot circle.There's no rope in this rig.Get 2 "U-clamps" and 2 U-shaped 
>"ferrules",and a "double ring"galvanized steel swivel to go with the 
>cable.These items will be on display right there with thecable.Next,and 
>this is the most critical part,get 12 feet of the stiffest hose you can 
>find. This is NOT garden hose. I used automotive air conditioning 
>hose,and suggest something even stiffer.Auto heater hose is NOT stiff 
>enough.Some "commercial" water hose might be okay-maybe.Next item is a 
>piece of common mild steel rod, 1/4 or 5/16",at least a 24inch 
>piece.Next,one large bronze snap swivel,emphasis swivel,of the type 
>you're already familiar with. 						
>			Now,three pieces of simple metalworking must be 
>done,by you ,or Joe,or somebody.First,if there are any wheel studs in the 
>end of the axle,drive 'em out with a big hammer & 
>discard.Second-optional-,grind or cut a crude point onto the end of the 
>axle.Third,cut a 14" piece from your steel rod,and bend it into  a large 
>oval shape about 3" x 6",with the open ends of the rod at the end of the 
>oval. Cut a 7" piece of rod. Weld -or have welded- one end of this rod 
>into a flat junction with the open end of your oval.DO NOT allow this to 
>be done with a "Wire-Feed","MIG" welder which is probably the method your 
>average car mechanic will want to use.It must be done with any other 
>welding equipment,or it can break.Bend your "handle" up just a 
>bit.Then bend a small loop of your oval's "handle"up and around one end o 
>the double-ring swivel,and weld it shut.Go home.You're ready to lace this 
>thing together.								
>	Put one of the u-shaped ferrules on the other end of the double 
>ring swivel,loop the cable around this,and clamp it down with about six 
>inches excess length.Slide the  other end of the cable through the 
>hose,and lace up the same way to your bronze snap swivel. Rig your length 
>such that the length betwen cable clamps is about 1 inch greater than the 
>hose,with the excess cable ends tucked neatly into the 
>hose.Oops.Sorry-forgot the washers.Two big washers at each end-over each 
>two bights of cable and between the hose and the clamps.This thing's got 
>to spin along its length and swivel at both ends.			
>	Now you can try 'er out.Pound the axle into the ground after you 
>place it through the oval-"handle"  facing up and through the rotor-disc 
>side down.You only need drive it down about 12-14 inches.That's plenty of 
>hold,but can easily be removed after rocking side to side.C'est tout. Go 
>get your horse.If you give him hay,scatter the flakearound the outer edge 
>of the circle..Hay and sticks are  the only things I've seen tangle 
>'em.You can get one of those "mountaineer" looking big steel oval 
>snaps,and clip your horse safely to fences or buildings on your cable rig 
>without the axle&rotor.This is the best rig there is,but do not leave any 
>elements out.My horse has never once tangled himself up in any way,even 
>when rolling.Can your  horse roll when tied to a trailer or picket?Can he 
>walk around to ease his aches & pains?Can you put your set-up in place 
>instantly in an emergency,anywhere? Build a Field Trial Stake-out. Your 
>horse will thank you.
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