[blue80]

Side note on this thread,
I had the opportunity to watch tv a few weeks ago, kids and I watched green planet or something.
Fascinating show on feral pigs, their size, how quickly they are multiplying in the southern states, and how they have adapted to conditions. Also how they appear to have Russian genes, that somebodies have been importing big guys from Russia, originally for hunting purposes!

In s. indiana where there was a lot of karst topography, it was tough to have a pond hold water for years on end. Locals would rent pigs for a year and pen them in a leaky pond area, the hoof action would reseal the ponds….

[blue80]

sit on the lines while mowing. If you are worried about him taking off while working on the mower, then the mower is the wrong implement to be using. they call em maneaters….good exercise is to sit on the seat, play with the lines, sing a song; never should he commence until you give your preferred command. He’ll get it.

Sometimes a solid pole/stick like a broomstick is nicer than a whip. Kindof hold it a few inches directly behind his rump as you are working, as he slows down, move the stick forward to solidly jab him in the rump; not viscious, just to dimple the skin. Milt will think that when he slows, he is actually causing the jab himself. As he moves back up to pace, the pressure goes away and he is comfortable again. He also won’t see it coming, and won’t become sensitized to a whip.

Keep him going when he wants to stop on his own, but Stop him to let him rest when he is goiing good. keep him from playing while stopped, if he is restless, go again.
And if he does something you don’t want him to, give him a verbal command. Like if Milt stops on his own, give him a stern “whoa!” tell him, don’t ask him; reason being, he will actually think you told him to do it!

[blue80]

One thing I’ve had a hard time with allowing the stallion to act like he is. That is; vocal, interested, and like a teenager:)
We/I tend too want to turn them into this “perfect” gelding, though he’s not. Naughty, dominant, unyielding he is not allowed to be….

[blue80]

A couple guys I learned some breeding from usually hand bred, one of the reasons was that when they run with the mares, they tend to get a little cockyer (ier)?

It’s nice to get a visual barrier between the mares and the stallion when you are working so they don’t get as preoccupied visually. Next thing you know they are calling back and forth and that stud is wound up tight as a drum.

Also, who can blame the stallion. Those mares just smell so darn purty!;) I have had luck putting some Vicks on the inside of their nostrils and it seems to dull the excitement some for awhile, but wears out when they are sweating. Probably put a mask with vicks or other on him and see how that works?
Our older stud was ( just cut him last month; he wasn’t stud material in my book but was very manageable. It was the mares and fillies that couldn’t concentrate! So he got demoted) very vocal but manageable and very respectful of human leadership. I think we got to that point largely through a lot of the flexing, yielding exercises that the natural horsemen advocate.

It’s kind of the same as with working a mare with a new foal. Keep the foal distracted or busy and not calling for help, that mare actually enjoys her work….My wife used to go out and play with the foal, and I would get a couple hrs. to work without stress on either end…

One nice way is to get the mares hungry, then feed them just as you take your stallion out to work for a little uninterrupted work session. At least then you only have 1/2 the equation to deal with.

Yes, I would separate him from the mares if he is getting cocky….but close can be nice, then you can see who is cycling and they are all used to being in close proximity.

[blue80]

I think I learned it from millers book, but it’s nice to start in a round pen when dragging chains etc.
Horse may get a little ansy, but will go round and round and not learn it can get away from you. then can work with simple commands. then open the gate and make the horse work past the gate, normally they want to go straight out.
When you have control and everyone is settled, head for the wide open spaces.

Great looking prospect you have their!

[blue80]

Had a couple belgian mules in to “tune up” Turns out they were chronic runaways. I asked the owner when they got delivered, how do they ground drive separately?
He responded, “uh, haven’t ground driven either of them as long as I’ve had them. Just hitch them to the wagon and go”
I thought, oh boy, here we go…..

Anyways, started with scratch from them and they seemed unable to respect the commands they were getting; he had been using a straight rebar leverage bit in the most severe setting. Harness them separately and give either a kiss, they would just spin and face you, showing the whites of their eyes. Same when I went to a simple snaffle.
So called the owner, got permision to get the teeth checked. They stood excellent without a twitch for a good floating, and they immediately turned from uncomfortable head tossing slobbering chewing mules to naughty mules with bad habits; something I can work with;)

[blue80]

;)ok you win, back to the original post.

Pros of a small house include:
Less cost
Less time to build
Less time needed to clean it
Less inclination to hoard junk
Less overhead to heat and cool
Less taxes
Less insurances
Less environmental footprint

Cons:
Can’t get away from your spouse/kids as easy. but that is what the HUGE Barn/heated workshop and outdoors is for!

We have intergenderational bedroom arrangements (I think I just made up a new word) and so far they like it, though it’s hard to get them to sleep sometimes. It’s fun to see the littlest trying to learn from the older ones including how to make the bed, put away clothes, get dressed, etc. But I guess that goes for bad habits too:eek:
We have 3 bedrooms so can split them up later; Our oldest son, 6 has decided he should now be with his brother, 8 months old, because “boys with boys, and girls with girls is how it should be”
All the realtors I’ve talked to say a 3-1 even with small bedrooms will always outsell a 2-2 (and even a 2-1 with big bedrooms) for resale purposes. And bathrooms are expensive space…

We plumbed for two kitchens, two bathrooms. two laundrys, basically breaking our house it into 2 apartments with separate entrances if we have to so we can take care of the parents etc. in the future or rent out half in the meantime for some income. Maybe we will make the downstairs into a store, dunno yet.

As far as parents visiting, when they are here we try to go somewhere else or work extra hard and knock out some capital improvement projects. They have all gone crazy since becoming grandparents:confused:
If I did it again, I’d make a heated tack room in the barn/shop with W.C. and pullout couch for guests and keep the house single story and smaller….
I heard a theory of how we all miss out because in society today, kids are put with their own age group through school, and rarely spend time regular time learning and living with a mixed generation group. Theory being that 5 year olds that hang out play and learn with 12 year olds and parents and the elder generation in a regular day to day setting will be more community minded and aware of others needs. Interesting and common sense probably. Oops, got off track again their;)

[blue80]

Can also check out http://www.tinyhouseblog.com

We moved to Wyoming and lived in an army tent while we built a 34 by 34ft house, with a full attic truss (the ICF walls go past the floor system 30 inches then up on a slope so the entire upper floor is usable) We only pay property tax on whatever has 6 ft. of headroom…. We showed up with 4 helpers, some family and within a week everybody was gone. Dad broke his arm. Employee had family issues. Father in law wasn’t up to the 100 degree heat, which ended up lasting over 20 days straight…..Wife was 6 months pregnant when we showed up, and we had 2 others 3 yrs and 1 yr old….
Got the place warm and dry, but not pretty, before the baby came!
If we had to do it over again, we wouldn’t:D Sometimes is better that we don’t know everything, else we wouldn’t start anything…

We lived in the upper attic truss for over a year and downstairs was unfinished storage/animal kingdom.

I’d recommend looking at crawlspace options, especially “tall crawlspace/short basement” that is properly insulated and conditioned to eliminate mold, mildew, rising damp issues often associated with below grade living. Look at the extra expense to put in something with 4-6 ft. of headroom, which isn’t much extra expense as usually 48 inches of frost protection is responsible building methodology. This makes a non taxable living space for seasonal clothing, extra equipment, canning/food storage, and even a nice place to camp out when people visit or on the hot days. We buillt one for a doctor who rebuilt antique car engines down their, and one who put recliners and a home theatre down their also. Some put acces to the crawlspace from a closet, and usually we put a well in the garage with an insulated door to access the crawlspace area. A couple inches of concrete floor over visquine gives you a great “rat slab” and easy way to roll things around on a dolly down their. Also a great tornado shelter.
Look at using insulating concrete forms for your structure, at least below grade. No dew point within the wall cavity and a nice way to DIY a concrete foundation/structure.

At the end of the day, its your house. Nobody else HAS to like it!

Kevin

[blue80]

I’ve got an 18ft. gooseneck with 7ft height, I doubt I’d go higher for my needs. Only reason to go longer in my opinion would be to put a wagon in the trailer with the team, but here we can pull combinations anyways so a slightly shorter stock trailer is helpful, as an extra second trailer brings us a little over 50ft. I went with a used steel stock trailer, and am glad I did. That first dent on new equipment is always a hearbreaker

[blue80]

Andy:

I’ve been dumped off my disc this spring too….

A few people I’ve talked to highly recommend using a cultimulcher, specifically the Shipshe Farm Supply unit, which is very heavy and works great in heavy soils.

Kevin

[blue80]

Back to the original thread, sorry, there is a guy out of Red Lodge who purchases teams out of Wisconsin from the Amish for resale to people in Montana and a lot in Idaho. Mostly 10-14 yr old teams well broke selling $3k-$5k without harness, which are all going to wagon train owners or just for pasture ornaments. I was told “bigger the better sell the fastest to look good in the front pasture as you drive into the ranch” I find it interesting that he says that I am the only one hes talked to wanting teams for farming…. More interesting is that he said that all the yearling colts are being purchased and sent up to Canada to go in the feedlots. What an upside down society…:(

Kevin

[blue80]

John: I’ll send you a PM, but pretty interested in these guys. We went up to see them Sunday, they are Half brothers five years old, great ground training and some wagon work but no hard work all their life yet.
$2000.00 for the team.

Kevin

[blue80]

Looking good, though I think you may be prettier in pink.

Kevin

[blue80]

great thread, learned a lot, thank you all.

Kevin

[blue80]

JH:

We are looking for another team or two if you have any leads for us. Farm chunk style preferred, need training ok.

Thanks!

Kevin

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