Horses in T2K

[General Pain]

I'd guess with fuel, spare parts and mechanics beeing scarse, horses and people with experience in breeding/training would be an excellent asset.
This relates offcourse on how f**** up the world is in regards to nukes,weather etc. In HQs campaign 3 nuke-wars has resulted in allmost nothing growing.....

[Targan]

Could be some crossover here with the Entertainment Pricing thread

[kato13]

"boo" "hiss" to Targan.

One of my favorite horse documents covering encumbrance, feeding and fatigue.
http://www.thesupplybunker.net/Morrow/horses.txt

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by kato13

"boo" "hiss" to Targan.

One of my favorite horse documents covering encumbrance, feeding and fatigue.
http://www.thesupplybunker.net/Morrow/horses.txt

I second this doc at the bunker. It's quite good.

[Graebarde]

Horse numbers in the US are rising each year, however the vast majority are light 'pleasure' horses, not ones trained to harness. This does NOT mean they can't be, rather they will be less likely to work well for farming or heavier drafts. Also using a horse on a small holding is a challenge. Unlike a tractor, it requires fuel 24/7 whether it's used or not, one of the reasons for farm mechanization. Human labor with spades can do adeauate work on small holdings, and there will not be shortage of human labor, and YES they need fuel 24/7 as well, but humans are more apt to feed the human labor than the horses.

Horses require carbs to work unless you want to ruin (founder) the animal. They can NOT function for long on grass/hay alone.

WIth that said, it takes up to five years to get a replacement from conception to harness.

Yes I can see horses (mules, oxen, etc) being used, but not overly aboundant until about three years after TDM or more depending on how organized etc the are is towards recovery. Nothing we have discussed about recovery will be immediate, there will be the slide, halt and gradual climb.

Leadership... leadership.. leadership.

[General Pain]

Originally Posted by Targan

Could be some crossover here with the Entertainment Pricing thread

he he T.

[Mohoender]

Horses have been an important issue around here for month. I agree with you general, horses will quickly become important but you'll find huge differences according to regions.

Actually, this will not only be true of horses but it will be true of all kind of burden annimals: Mules, Donkeys, Camels, Oxes, Elephants, Lamas and even... dogs. Strangely, I have the feeling that the less advanced countries will find themselves in a better position. In T2K I'll rather be a peasant in Mali than one in the great plains of US or in the farmlands of France.

However, even as I have always been a supporter of horses in T2K, I can see several difficulties. Many actual mounts won't be well suited for even mild tasks and they will probably end up as food. In addition, the actual population is certainly not sufficient but several communties will probably engage themselves in a "short term" breeding process. This can help a bit in a matter of a few years but such communities will also attract attention and they will soon find themselves under attack. Their survival and success will depend on their hability to repel invaders.

[copeab]

If a horse breaks down, unlike a vehicle, you can eat it

(OTOH, you can't strip a dead horse for spare parts)

Mules are probably better than horses -- better tempered and not as stupid (a horse will let you work it to death, a mule rarely).

[kato13]

Originally Posted by copeab

(OTOH, you can't strip a dead horse for spare parts)

Unless you get 2 extremely good rolls for Medicine-Surgery

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by copeab

If a horse breaks down, unlike a vehicle, you can eat it

(OTOH, you can't strip a dead horse for spare parts)

Mules are probably better than horses -- better tempered and not as stupid (a horse will let you work it to death, a mule rarely).

Not convenced on the better tempered
The mules also know when to quit eating, where as a horse will eat themselves to death also.

Drawback on mules is you can't breed a mule, as they're hybid.

[Cdnwolf]

Originally Posted by Targan

Could be some crossover here with the Entertainment Pricing thread

Ummm thats what the dogs and sheep are for!!

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

Ummm thats what the dogs and sheep are for!!

I'm a New Zealander. Please don't talk to me about sheep.

[Mohoender]

Except if that info is wrong, mules are in use among Marines and US troops in Afghanistan. As far as I know the french army is also using pack animals again and some mountain units are currently being trained with them.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unle...erican-ta.html

In Portugal they are still used in some regions, simply because mechanization is impossible.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Mohoender

Except if that info is wrong, mules are in use among Marines and US troops in Afghanistan. As far as I know the french army is also using pack animals again and some mountain units are currently being trained with them.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unle...erican-ta.html

In Portugal they are still used in some regions, simply because mechanization is impossible.

Norway disbanded its last horse unit in 1986 - it just didnt fit the cold war tactics and equipment anymore .but as times have changed ,the horse is making a comeback in many militaries
the Austrians
the Indian military
The US military ( supposedly)
Germany

a link -in Norwegian - but it has pictures of Austrian and Norwegian troops with horses.

http://www.fofo.no/P%C3%A5+fire+bein...b7C_w7fMZc.ips



I am sure there are more .Horses aer primarily used for transportation of gear to areas where helicopter is the only other option or in a recce and patrol role -the days of the glorious charge are gone I am afraid .Also consider all the police forces using horses - against a largely poorly armed civilian mob horses in combat are used all the time .
In T2K horses would be a precious commodity - but also costly to maintain .They eat alot .