The Dangers of Hayrides

With fall firmly upon us and Halloween just around theAnother problem of a tractor is that it has the ability to
corner, many people across the country are makinggo much faster than the horses did. Draft horses are
treks to the various orchards, pumpkin patches, and fallnot known for their speed so much as their ability to
festivals being offered up by towns and private farmspull large loads as they are massive animals. Tractors,
alike. These events are full of excellent apple picking,on the other hand, have the ability to move at a faster
pumpkin plucking, and a wide range of other activitiesclip than a team of draft horses. With speed comes
all designed to capitalize on fall. One of the mostan increased opportunity for injury in the event that
common events at any fall festival, orchard, orsomeone falls off or hits something while on the
pumpkin patch is the hayride.hayride.
In the old days, before tractors existed, and stillA problem found in both horse pulled and tractor pulled
sometimes today, horses were used to pull wagonshayrides is the manner of attaching the method of
full of hay for people to go on a hayride. The horsespropulsion to the wagon of hay and people.
were large and dependable and for the most partRegardless of the source of power, it is possible for
safe. As draft horses have been replaced by tractorsthe trailer hitch to break. This can be a serious problem
as the source of brute strength on farms, the hayrideon an incline as it could allow the wagon to surge
has undergone a similar fate and shifted from horseforward or backwards and pick up speed as it goes
power to tractor power.along.
With the change to tractors came a few previouslyFinally, there is always the chance that a reveler will
unencountered hazards of hayrides. While horses mayhave his or her toes run over by the wagon. With
be somewhat unpredictable and subject to spooking,horses, unexpected movement was much more
tractors are somewhat more unpredictable in that theyexpected than with tractors since horses are live
do not always work as they are supposed to.animals and shift and fidget to get comfortable.
Backfiring is a common problem of these machinesTractors, once the brake is applied, should not be doing
and can pose a significant hazard to those individualsa whole lot of unexpected moving.
intent on enjoying their hayride.