Working Horses

Timber extraction by horse has been a growth area in the UK over the last 20 years. Where damage to the forest floor is unacceptable for environmental reasons, or where steep slopes are involved, horses have proven to be a successful alternative to mechanised extraction. The National Trust, amongst others, regularly employs horse loggers. There are about 15 full time horse loggers in the UK, and demand for their service is so high that the British Horse Loggers Society is running an apprenticeship scheme to train younger horse loggers. In France too, horse logging is growing, and there are a few horse loggers in Ireland too.