Flordia Pulls
    New to pulling, never pulled on truck before can someone tell me the breakdown of the numbers compared to block sleds, for example if the results say 3200 what is that in weight, and 4200 etc

A short and simplified answer to your question ---- If we were to dig a large hole in the ground, such as a well, then place 3200 pounds at the bottom, a pulley would be at the top, and the team would pull the 3200# to the top. This is equivalent to 3200 on the truck, likewise, 4200 would be 4200# at the bottom of the well. The truck is used as simply a modified version of this system.

2500 is same as 32,500 lbs on a wagon setting on pavement or rolling load or same as 4 -14" plow in stubble ground. 3000 same as 38,000 on a wagon or 5 bottom plow.3250 same as 42,000 or 6 bottom plow-3500 same as 45,400 or 7 bottom plow-3750 same as 48,650 or 8 bottom plow-4000 same as 51,900 or 9 bottom plow-4250 same as 55,150 or 10 bottom plow. These figures came from the university of Iowa were the first pulling machine was invented to determine the Horsepower of a horse. They also came up with 27-1/2 feet for the distance to determine the power.

thats what is going to happen when only the rich can afford to own and pull horses.

Money/Money- The pony pullers got hit with that years back and look what you have now. I ,liked it better when you have the average guy out there mixing and matching, but its just natural, everybody likes to own the best and the most expensive, Maybe if you could have divisions, Example if a team wins a certain amount of pulls you step up to a different division.don,t know if that would work I am only a horse pulling fan, Wish I had the money to sponser a team, something definitely has to be done because how many times can the average guy get beat before he looses interest.

Horse pulling is in your blood. A true horse puller will not loose interest, and if he does he may stop pulling for a little while but he will always start back. as far as the money people go, if you follow them you will beat them some with an average pair. that is where the true thrill comes from!!!

I would have to say, "YES" to horse pulling is in the blood. I have seen everything sold and 5 years later be right back into it again. In Florida I would like to see them mix up the pulls a bit. Use the machine and the sled. It is real hard to attract the interest of new fans if they don't see the excitement of the pull. The machine is BORING! I can not count how many times I was asked by on lookers what the difference is. I would ask them in turn what they would like to see...Horses pulling a truck or horses pulling a sled loaded with concrete blocks stacked high. THEY ALL HAVE SAID SLED! I hope SDHA will consider this at some pulls in 2010. I know man power is an issue ask around and get some insight from the teamsters, families and devoted fans. They just might find some volunteers to help with loading the sled for a day. I for one would volunteer.
Remember not all the pulls, but ones that are close to Yoder’s so its not a full chore to get equipment there. I hope the Association will give this a lot of thought cause what I can see in Florida the fans are dwindling down fast. MIX it up get their attention and keep them coming back!

The Florida pulls desperately need a shot in the arm. I've noticed a serious drop off in the competition in the last few years. This year by far the worst. The same faces at each and every pull basically finishing in the same place day after day week after week. It takes the anticipation out of checking the results. I recall the one time I attended the pulls in Florida several years ago there were teams there from Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and quite a few from Kentucky. Where have they all gone? I guess you could blame the economy this year but this has been a problem for several years now. I can appreciate the work it takes to prepare to put on one pull so I'm certainly not going to question the efforts of those responsible for hosting the Florida pulls but maybe the problem lies in decisions made by those same people. I believe the decision to allow those lightweight participants who show up the first week and weigh just once for the duration of the Florida pulling circuit to be something that works against them. There aren't many who are fortunate to be able to take 4-5 weeks off in order to pull in Florida. Those running the pulls instead of hoping to attract pullers in for the whole 4-5 week circuit need to rethink things and attempt to get pullers in for a weekend or week at a time. Even if I have one of the finest 3400 teams in the country I am not going to bring them down for a weekend and pull against those who weighed the first week and now weigh 4000. Although I am a big fan of the machine I believe that mixing things up and bringing in the boat for a few pulls would help. Maybe a day of overweight pulling or distance pulling might stimulate interest? It's time for those in charge to put their thinking cap on and stir things up. Where as the Florida pulling circuit used to be an exciting escape that many of us used as a diversion from a cold and long winter it has now become rather ho-hum.