[TheForge] Hitching post

[Walter Mullett]

Rick,

Your sure right about horses strength and a lag bolt would not do if a horse
was to be tied to this post.  Several times I've made the mistake of tying a
horse to something I thought was solid.  Lost my porch post once.  If the
horse jerks his head and the large item moves that he is tied to, the horse
will often spook and when they are scared, they seem to be even stronger
than normal.

But Bob said this is a decorative item so there is some leeway here.  I
suggested the front and back plates with a through bolt because that would
work for a horse but a lag bolt with ring through a plate or band would look
the same.

Most hitching posts were utilitarian.  Cast decorative ones were usually
horse heads or servants.  Many that lined the streets were similar to these
at this site:
http://poplarbluff.org/history/html/hitching_posts.html
These are cast iron, stone or concrete and the decoration is mostly in the
post.  But I think a decorative "door knocker" type design would be nice.

Walt

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 8:00 AM
To: Bob Ehrenberger; Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Hitching post

Hi Guys  -

    I know not all of you guys have much horse related experience, but I do
and will share.  Have been around horses now for over 30 years, and they are
STRONG.

    I dont think a lag bolt will do too much against a horse.  Think about
the strength they have in their neck and head.  I have seen pictures of
people who left their horse's bridle on while out in the pasture.  BAD
practice.  i saw a pic of a horse whose owners used an old bathtub for a
watering trough.  They left the faucet and handles on and the horse caught
his bridle on it and couldnnt get loose.  This horse picked up a cast iron
bathtub full of water andwalked around with it.  LOTS of strength there. 
Straps over connections are for further strength against a rearing horse. 
They are needed, and a lag bolt in shear has a lot more strength than in
tension.  I have straps over my hitching rails even though they are made out
of 6x6 lumber with 1" wooden dowels at angles holding them.

Rick Crawford at Rafter Lazy C
  Home of Smoky Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
   In the middle of Northern Illinois

    http://www.smokyforge.com
     rick at smokyforge.com



----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Ehrenberger" <eforge at centurytel.net>
To: "theforge" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 10:06 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Hitching post


>I have a customer that wants me to make the hardware for a hitching post to
> decorate the front of his shop in a historic village.
>
> I don't know anything about such things, but my idea was to have a metal
> band to go around the top of the post and steel ring hanging from it.  I'm
> thinking I can attach the ring either with a "U" bolt or an eye bolt using

> a
> fluch rivot in the inside of the band.
>
> Anyone have experience with such things or access to original pieces.
>
> I thought maybe a lawn jocky sculpture, but that was way out of his 
> budget.
>
> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> eforge at centurytel.net
>



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