Getting Started, again

Well, its been sometime since I really contributed anything and a couple of things came together today that made we want to add some of my recent experiences. Got to thinking about the,”oversteering thread” along with getting my new little guy into harness today. Seems this epistle is more appropriate in the member diaries thread so he it is. I should back up a bit. Most of those who know me know I’m pretty just a logger coming out of the skidder experience and into horses with the attitude that I just traded types of skidders. So it has been a real learning time for these least 5 to 7 years.
The first horse didn’t have much work history, a few cords of wood each year with never more than a few hours a day at work then turned out with the mares. Well that was a trip! Of course I just turned the key so to speak and went logging. We both suffered a bit that’s for sure. A year later I got Rusty (some pictures of him in the gallery) and that was much better. He knew how to work but I sure was in all honesty, way out of my range in terms of horse knowledge. Well, some good help from Mitch Mitchell, John Plowden and others at the Low Impact Forestry Group (LIF) helped me keep going and I learned a good bit. We got a lot of wood out together. Then came along DAP and wow did I certainly have a lot of help. Hardly needed to ask the questions as the discussion was some super. Lynn Miller should be acknowledged for all his written help. Help and support from a reasonable community all available for this old maniac!
Then Rusty got old and retired a year ago and I got Zeb a 10 year old Perch/standardbred. He knows how to work but don’t think in the woods. Well, again with the help of the community I now had enough knowledge to get some stuff done. And it should be said I felt a lot more confident getting a new horse and going into the woods with him. Still always using this community for help and direction.
Well, one the first of March I had to put Rusty down. He rests just below the new barn some of whose timbers he help get out of the woods. Zeb really suffered for a while then loneliness set in and I went looking for a barn buddy. I have been getting ready to downsize a bit as it has become harder and harder to sling the big saw all day so thought about getting an inexpensive pony to get buy until I could figure which way to go. And wouldn’t you know the vet called one day about 6 weeks ago saying she had just gelded a four year old haflinger/quarter horse and he was looking for a home. I just went ahead and brought him home. Named him Ben and he is 14.2 and about 950 lbs right now. Never even been tied up, never in a tie stall and never led or put into a trailer. I realized that I was in way over my head and needed some severe help. Lucky for me, just down the road lives Wendy Harvey (equineconnections.com) who I had worked in the woods with. She has done a lot of the training at the LIF workshops as well as the Common Ground Fair. So Ben went down there and I went everyday and worked with her. Ben was leading within a week, standing for the bridle and then on to ground driving. I spent time re-reading every thread regarding foundation training here on DAP and it has been an incredible learning experience. I really didn’t understand the meaning of foundation training nor did I have the skill to start a green horse.
Today, we got him into the harness for the first time. Took about 40 minuets to get him used to the collar and then the small “D” ring. What a thrill. Now comes my making sure that I patiently work with him on leading, ground driving and at some time in the future with some light weight on the single tree and maybe if he and I am ready we will start here at home with getting some of next winters wood out.
So I guess I want to say thanks to all of you who have shared your knowledge, feelings and experience on this website and in person. For those just starting out there could hardly be a better place than here at DAP and as far as my horses are concerned I am now ready to start out. Thanks to all…Jimbojim, Appleton Maine
Wow, forgot to add that all the foundation training is with one of Dr. Cooks bitless bridles and I will continue with that without blinders. Seems a reasonable thing to try from the get go, eh?