good day with new goad

Tried a couple different goads today and settled on a long stick. The boys worked WONDERFULLY with it, we had one period of quiet obedience of about 30 minutes long without any harsh corrections, which is a personal best. I tried to keep the load light today, because it was over 70 degrees and my oxen still have their winter coats. As quiet and well behaved as they were, they were naughty and very bad when I headed back to the barn to unhitch. I had to work them quiet a bit after I unhitched so i could make sure they weren’t getting away with being bad and we also end on a good note.

In my limited experience, I have found the training and working with oxen and horse to be more similar than different. One important difference that I am being to appreciate is the greater “situational awareness” or “situational disobedience” of oxen (or at least my boys). Teaching a “whoa” with no load is a good example. I taught my horse “whoa” in all situation by pulling a heavy sled (or something else) and occasionally saying and enforcing a stop. After many repetitions, the “whoa” became automatic and she would stop immediately whenever the signal was given, regardless of the load, situation, or where she was. My oxen also had a rough “whoa” without a load or sled to slow or tire them. I have practiced “whoa” in the field with the sled alot now, and am very happy with it in the field, but without any improvement in the “whoa” when not on the sled. It took me a while to figure out, but I now know the boys thought that when they are not hitched, they do not have to pay attention. I came to the conclusion that no amount of repetition in the field with a stoneboat was going to teach them to behave unhitched, where they think they have an advantage and have gotten away with misbehavior in the past. So, I spent a good bit of time whaoing and turning and backing in the yard without a load. Lo and behold, they actually got alot better. There were several heavy whaps with my new goad that were required to convince them that the rules apply here too. I think I have learned to make sure to address any issues directly and immediately in the context that these issues occure in. My boys are smart and they remember anything getting them out of work very very well. I know it’s a subtle difference, but I find it interesting none-the-less.