Disappointing day, plowing

Education. Lot’s of education. Hands-on. The best kind. Sometimes it hurts, but sometimes that’s the only way we learn. Something has to help clear the vision.

There are so many factors. The soil, the condition of the plow, Reno’s attitude. Some times you just have to work through it. I think you need to seriously consider the condition of the plow. It may very well be the source of your predicament. By the way, how much have you been working Reno since he got on grass full time?? My horses are pretty piped up these days, and they haven’t even gotten on grass yet.

I’d say your biggest problem was your expectations. I know it’s hard to do, but I learned long ago, when I want to accomplish something, not to go at it with an expectation that it will only require a short time. At least if you only have a short time then only work for that long.

Plowing is not an easy thing to master. As you have found out it is much more than just driving the horse, or steering the plow. I’d say that is the positive. You added to your knowledge base, and it will help you in the future. Give it another try.

Carl

100 x 100 is a quarter acre, more or less. To do that with a single is pretty ambitious in my book. I am satisfied (at least for now) when I turn down that much in a day with a team.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Think of it this way. You turned two good furrows today (or at least ones good enough that you don’t care to try them again) Make it four tomorrow. Eight the next day. Or something like that.

Walking plows offer a lot of intuitive challenges that all have to be right or none of it works. Give yourself and the horse some time.

Reminds me of our last years experience of plowing 😮
neither the oxen nor I knew what we were supposed to do; the old farmer, who at least had been plowing half a century ago was on the plowhandles and helped with his knowledge; his son helped drive the oxen; after an exhausting afternoon (remember 3!people and 2 oxen and btw. 3 different plows) we had managed to cover 6 rows ….. the size of the field used to be a days work, and we had barely touched it……nonetheless, we will practise again 😉 but my admiration for the old folks grew quite a bit

hi jen, you could try backin’ up till something worked well again, like going back to your instructor with his plow to get reno going again. or having your guy come with his plow to your place and helping you there. if its any cosolation, i was plowing night before with a plow i’ve had for years, and one side stopped plowing well. i kept adjusting it til i forgot where i started with it. so i was lost. i kept going with the one side and yesterday, by some miracle, which might just have been a nights sleep, it started going again, but i can’t tell you why and thats the aggravating part. must be the stars and planets. good luck, mitch

Hi Jenn, After 15 years as a teamster I would say plowing is one thing I am still not very good at. Here are some of the reasons why. I have only plowed an acre and a half in the last three years. Almost none for the ten years before that. Two different plows, but no really good plows. Hard rocky ground with a fair portion of clay, and I am always breaking sod. Different horses or mules each time. Since I am a dairy farmer that sells grass after it has been made into meat and cheese I don’t beat myself up about my bad plowing.

Having said all that, plowing with one horse is a unique challenge that will all ways be difficult. With a lot of experience, an excellent horse, a good plow of the right size, and reasonable ground (not sod), it might be a fun skill to master. Part of what makes it so hard is the fact that you are looking for a high degree of precision and a high physical effort at the same time. If you are trying to move a log that takes a lot of effort you can give the horse some room (loose lines) to get rolling; do that with the plow and it will be all over. Each time you try to make a slight correction, the horse is checked and soon gets confused. I like to solve these problems with more horses; but that has it’s own complications.

I am not trying to be negative, and I would encourage you to continue working at it as long as you think you can continue to improve. Just wanted to point out that what you are trying to do is hard for very specific reasons and you can think about each one. Good luck.

@jenjudkins 18077 wrote:

I meant to pull the walking plow with the tractor. At least I would get an idea of how the plow works without having to concentrate on Reno. As you said, maybe it is the plow.

A better idea would be to have someone come over and help…one person drive Reno and the other plow. I guess I’m feeling better this morning….ready to try again….at least mentally. My back is killing me!:rolleyes:

Amazing what a good nights sleep will do for you, isn’t it?

My bet is that you will figure it out. You’re one of those people that we have a saying about where I come from; “She ain’t got no quit in her”, meaning you don’t give up easily.

Let us know WHEN the patch is plowed, because I’m sure you WILL get it plowed!