[blue80]

I like the 3 hot with ground as described, also because you can grab the ground and get through the fence-carefully-at any section of the perimeter…

Kevin

[blue80]

It looks to me like the mares are fitted with leverage bits, but not set to the extreme setting. So my question is, what methods/success have you all used to “soften” a horses mouth?

Thanks, Kevin

[blue80]

actually st. ignatius, mt. Different place altogether…

[blue80]

These mares are in St. Ignacious (sp?) and were trained by Marvin Brisk in Idaho.
We may be interested, but in the meantime, would appreciate experts’ thoughts.

Thanks, Kevin

[blue80]

Joshua:

You may also look at a yurt as an option. Pretty versatile and may be easily portable, smaller dimension materials and lots of flexibility.

Integrating a cupula on top makes a great deer stand…

Kevin

[blue80]

right on!
Reminds me of S. Indiana where the karst topography made for plenty of sinkholes er, handy dump sites.
I think the guys in the story above were my neighbours.:eek:

[blue80]

When we bought our place in N. Wyoming, the seller told us we were in the “banana belt” of Wyoming. Apparently the wind doesn’t blow as much, it’s not quite as cold as long, not huge amounts of snow etc. etc.
I guess he was right, as we’ve only been down to -25 so far.

First day above freezing today in two weeks, so we poured 65 yds of concrete. but now have to check the job at midnight and 3 am to make sure the heaters work and the possible wind doesn’t blow the tarps off….
The tradeoff, is no mud to deal with on a daily basis.

Thank God for Carharts!

[blue80]

I like this thread, as I’ve been asking “why” in regards to blinders for a long time. Growing up at the racetracks, (my dad is a veterinarian, not a bookie-I think:confused:) I always wondered if some competetive standardbreds would do better without blinders, due to competition coming up from the rear, helping motivate a trotter to dig down deep and push it to the finish, instead of being pushed with a whip. Growing up, my older brothers’ arabian riding horse sure never willingly allowed to be in second place and would always change pace when seeing me on my loping appy trying to steal home:mad:

Makes me continue to wonder about this specific hardwares purpose overall. Are they included in the harness package to correct a symptom, or should we be addressing other deeper causes to why the animal is reactionary? A holistic approach to blinders per se? Because we know bridleless horsemanship is an option also…

When questioning seasoned horse owners, one of the answers I have appreciated most in favor of blinders is this, paraphrased:
“Unlike riding, while driving a horse the methods of communication are limited to lines and voice. Blinders help keep the horse more focused on trusting the driver for communication at all times and being able to follow the communications immediately.”
So it becomes the teamsters’ responsibility to earn trust and send a constant message through the lines, “I got your back, no need to fear, follow my lead, I’ll take care of you, we are in this together….” and as needed by voice also…..The blinders may eliminate “white noise” and distractions so the horses can “hear” better, the first time…

Kevin

[blue80]

Taylor:

I don’t think you can ever go wrong educating the consumer. This process establishes trust, and usually differentiates you from competition, increasing your marketability.

Hypothetically, playing as one of your prospective owners, I may not want to market my own lumber, deal with an old boys network of buyers, millers and truckers who don’t want all kinds of landowners “bugging” them. I may just want to feel comfortable trusting you as an expert.
But I also may really appreciate the option of you being willing to “get” me to market my own timber, as laying out plausible options for a consumer to pursue also establishes trust. The consumer picks the option they want, its put in writing, work commences. And trust in a working relationship is great to have when there are problems/questions/issues in the future.
However possibly, when I have tried to educate people in the past, they glass over and are disinterested. Some people don’t want to learn or be involved, just want the service performed. And then it is your option to select them as a client or not, knowing that not every job is a good job.

I think it has a lot to do with how you want to run your own business model.

Wish you the best,

Kevin

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Mr. Rutledge:

In regards to deer as pests, we’ve been using http://www.electrobraid.com for years and love it. One of those rare products that pays for itself and is a pleasure to invest in. Basically its an upgraded electric fence made of parachute harness type material with copper as a conductor. High tensile so post spacing can be 50 ft apart on level ground. Their service and shipping has been impeccable and on time, even across the border.

We’ve had no injuries to any of our horses including colts, studs, and mares that were bonded then separated. And no “escapes” for my wife to deal with when I am out of town either….

They have some interesting case studies keeping deer and moose out of highways, polo grounds, airports, and cabbage fields in Canada. Wildlife link at the bottom of their home page. Hope this helps.
ps. I’m not employed by electrobraid. yet….

Kevin

[blue80]

So that’s how I get a donkey to stand still…:rolleyes:

always learning on this site, Thanks!

[blue80]

I found this to be of great interest. http://www.history.rochester.edu/appleton/a/ploughs.html

Out here in flood irrigated country, all the conventional row croppers insist that the moldboard plow is the only way to go here; “no till” just won’t work. Asking a dozen guys, the best reason I think I’ve been given is that the weed seeds last a very long time here because of lack of natural rainfall and therefore must be buried down deep to keep them from competing. But I am wondering that the following year, when the soil is inverted again, the weed seeds are brought back up again to germinate at will? I think that is what happens, as they spray the corn, barley, beets, alfalfa just as much as the “notillers” do out east.

I am hoping that germinating the weed seeds and then tilling and planting appropriately will be the best method. In a few years after microbial growth commences and our weedbed diminishes, hopefully we’d do less continuos inverted ploughing and more strip tilling where the given crop will be, allowing a rotation and rest program as well. And an excuse to have a few different plows to play ahem “work” with of course….

Then what to grow and how to grow it…and then market.

Kevin

[blue80]

Would a walking beam style cart at the rear of the log work? Kind of like the long fire trucks with separate steering and operator at the rear.

Maybe something like the Yard Hitch going backwards, as it has steering also?

Kevin

[blue80]

Also check out your local FSA, most notably the EQIP programs which encourage landowners, and specifically conventional farmers, to manage their wood lots.

I had a problem getting anyone to help me in Indiana, ended up doing the work best I could myself (with the Belgians) It is I think -and hope- my first and last try at government assistance. After applying for the program, being accepted, I did all the work but didn’t request any financial reimbursement. I had been very clear that all I wanted was “free” expertise, not a handout, but the forestry engineer never was available for even a walkthrough….

Some nice studies through the FSA show the net income off a properly maintained wood lot rounds out over the long term at $100/acre per year-generally the same as rowcropping, with far less inputs.

Kevin

[blue80]

They needed work, one that was green and yellow had a broken handle, the other was a weathered unit that looked the same model. To be honest I don’t know what a good shape plow is except what I’ve been reading here, but I’ve been seeing oodles of horse drawn farm equipment all over wondering if I should try old used or save up and get newer equipment to be more efficient for the horses if that’s the case.

I will try to get some pics when we go by.

Maybe then a willing pro can critique what should be considered rebuildable and what is a yard ornament.

Kevin

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