Driving oxen

I saw your question on the RH Front Porch, too. One of our MODA members, Bill in VA, drives with lines from behind. He could advise you better than I.

But you could start by having a helper drive the oxen conventionally, while you, after having attached lines to the steers’ halters, begin giving cues through those lines.

There are photos of oxen worked with lines on the Hindu folks’ website
http://www.iscowp.org/Ox%20Power/Working%20With%20Oxen.htm

Rod, I got to wondering why you want to drive them with lines anyway. This might help you decide whether it’s worth the effort. I can’t think of any time that I ever, in ten years, thought that I could use lines on my cattle. I think Vicki is right though, you should drive them traditionally until you are more comfortable. I want to say however that her comment about trusting them bothers me. I firmly believe, and practice every day (for over 20 years), that it is not the animals responsibility to be trustworthy. The team should trust the teamster, not the other way around. It is a very human trait to place the expectation of trustworthiness on another in a relationship, even on animals, but it invariably leads to trouble. If/when you drive them with voice, whip, or line from in back, don’t do it because you trust them to do what you want, but because you trust yourself for having developed the communication with them that they can count on. Once they trust you, you’ll have it in the bag. Carl

Rod, more quick bits of feed back. It sounds like you want to drive with lines because that is what you’re used to. Tractors etc. But working with oxen is different. If you are out by their heads they will respond to you in ways that you will only get if you are out there. They are very preceptive and gain a great deal by being able to follow the body language of the teamster. Any animals that are working will benefit from a break as well as the teamster. Working animals that are given breaks work harder between breaks. These cattle are trained in the basics of driving, they do not need further intellectual challenge in new ways of driving. They need purposeful work learning to use the communication system to perform that, and learning you. You will benefit, as they will, by focusing on their capabilities at this point and reaffirming them before making small steps toward your intended future uses. I know that you will be able to ride plenty once you three have a strong working relationship. Carl

Rod, in Nova Scotia they drive their cattle from the side as well. I drive my cattle while working them from in front for the very reasons you guessed. Oxen have been used by millions of individuals for thousands of years, there is no ONE way to drive them, only the way that works for you. You ought to keep with some standard expectations in terms of command response, but use your own ideas and abilities to get the cattle to perform to your needs. This is what I, and others, mean by driving/working your cattle. You take the goad, or whip. You take the initiative. You set the pace, by whatever means you deem necessary. Otherwise, they will!!!

It may be well worth your while to seek out some active experienced teamsters, such as Howie. Also Tim Huppe of Berry Brook Ox Supply and Sanborn Mills Farm is an excellent resource, as he offers oxen workshops, and knows who’s doing what as far as oxen are concerned. Also nearer to home, there is Terry Chamberlin in Pomfret. At this point I am not working my steers enough to be able to offer you much experience. Now that you have begun to put together a picture of some of the challenges, you may benefit from experiencing others working cattle. Carl

I had a single in a headyoke for a bit and taught him to walk behind me rather than beside me. Personally I was not a big fan because is seems like you are leading him more than driving him. Headyokers always have bells on for a reason. With practice you can tell what he is doing or not doing from the sound of the bell. That is fine until you get in a crowded area with a log or something. Then you have a harder time seeing if you are going to get hung up. Also it is difficult to retrain an old ox to walk up beside you like he should. Dad was hired to train a team of highlanders to drive with bits and lines once but I don’t know exactly “Howie” did it.

Andrew

if you want to learn to drive oxen from behind this topic could be

helpfulhttp://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?t=777