Scott Stevens Horse Logging

01/28/2026

There’s nothing else like a good barn

"The barn is a wonderful part of man's architectural heritage. Through many centuries, it has evolved almost as a living, breathing thing. A barn needs to be filled with hay and occupied by animals in order to maintain the humidity of the wood.

The skill and community spirit of a barn raising is legendary. As with many other things, we are living in a "say goodbye" period on our planet. Except for a few groups such as the Amish and the Mennonites, barn-building skills have been lost. Steel and aluminum structures are replacing the traditional barn, and many more barns are disappearing than being erected each year.

The traditional barn is built into a hillside so that the hay wagon may gain easy access to the large upper part of the barn. At the same time, the stable is readily accessible to the animals down below from the barnyard. Occasionally, the lower part of the barn is designed with a breezeway effect so that animals may stay in the shelter of the barn and yet still be outside.

I recall seeing this scene during a driving blizzard. An old draft horse is patiently waiting out the storm." ~ Robert Bateman
Title: Shelter

01/21/2026

When they see you giving the old boy a treat

10/19/2025

Girls made this barn quilt at a lesson at The Rack in March. Finally got it hung up high with the help of my friend Dale Gilmour, Skyline Tree Service. Dale is another old horse logger and at 81 he’s still taking down difficult trees for people. He’s been busted up in the woods, battled cancer and spent a lot of his life helping others. He’s got more plans and ambition than people a third of his age. Quite the Pilgrim

08/28/2025

Nobody enjoys chokecherries more than Slim

05/26/2025

05/26/2025

04/07/2025

Teeth all good for another year

03/14/2025

Babe didn’t show up at the barn at dinner time. Had to go find him. He had gone into this little low spot and it was too steep and slippery for him to get up out of there barefooted. He was hemmed in by a fence on one side and blown down trees on each end. I had to go get a saw and cut the fallen tree to let him out and he walked right over to the barn. He just stood there patiently until I came to get him

01/18/2025

When the horse bell is the loudest part of the operation, that’s different. The first winter they were on the farm, my grandfather and uncle Joe did this all winter. Then hauled it all down to the river bank on sleds, for the drive. On one landing alone they had 75 cords of four foot pulpwood.

10/06/2024

27 - 28 years behind him, Babe still enjoying life, feeling good

09/22/2024

My friend Dave Fish plowing with Clay and Charlie

08/15/2024

A little trim and reset shoes on The Hulk this morning which happens to be my birthday. When I got my first horse, my grandfather showed up with this shoeing box with his old shoeing tools in it. He said “You better learn to shoe your own.” My farrier/teacher Arnold Lake said “I ain’t gonna be around forever, you better learn to do this yourself.” Luckily I paid attention.
So today I am grateful for the support and encouragement of the people who set me on the path. And for real good horses.