[Carl Russell]

I guess my experience is a bit different. I know that my ideas work because I put them to work for myself, and I am fine with that alone. I have never felt the need to convince anybody that what I am doing is what they should be doing, nor that they should support me in what I do.

However, I am constantly approached by people who want to know about what I do, or want me to help them by providing service or product. I don’t think that the value of a product is judged by how well it sells, in fact many times it is the opposite.

I do understand the feeling that we are on the fading edge of a life of reason, but twenty years ago I decided to let that feeling go, and to set the best example I knew that I could, just in case someone noticed, but in the doing, I knew I would be true to the cause of saving the skills and techniques of an Earth-based livelihood.

I have never advertised, but I haven’t hidden either, and I’m turning away work, and projects like NEAPFD and DAP have come together as a result of interaction with a growing number of people who “get it”. I really see the advertising we do as connecting with others waiting to be connected to, letting them know what is happening, not trying to attract them.

I just prefer not trying to convince anybody, and find much more reward from interaction with individuals who are working toward a mutual goal, even if some days it’s just a couple of horses.

The problem I see with big media is that the sale has more to do with financial return from momentary interest, than from lasting intellectual impact. If the idea doesn’t sell, it is seen as valueless. It may be worthwhile for some, I just see it as a tricky sell, and potentially damaging.

And I figure if I’m going to preach, at least I know the choir will listen, and then they’ll sing.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Rod,
Gee and Haw are definitely directional commands, they are not designated for one or another of the animals. There are situations with cattle where back-haw, or back-gee may indicate that one animal back in that direction while the other goes ahead, but those specific movements are part of the communication, either with whip or lines that the teamster adds to the guidance.

When turning a team, especially under load, the animal on the inside should actually step ahead to keep power on the load, whereas if it slacks off, the outside animal will have the whole load, and the turn will not be smooth.

If you want to give particular animal more guidance use their name. A common misunderstanding is that animals have names like humans, so we know who they are. In fact their name is only a command, to accentuate another command, or to get their attention.

It is a big help to keep commands simple, Gee, Haw, Whoa, Back, then your favorite, of Ready,”Kiss”, Step, or Come-up, and Easy, or Walk. And remember to have them stop between commands, such as “Step-up Haw. Whoa. Back. Whoa. Ready, “Kiss”.” You can turn them from side to side while working, but reinforcing with voice.

As far as their perception, it is up to the teamster to guide them to the expected response. Don’t expect an animal to know that Gee means to go to the right. They only understand that you have an expected response to the word you just spoke, and from experience it means to move away from the teamster, or the nigh animal, or whatever. If they sense that you are inconsistent in your expectation, or utterance of the command, then they will become sloppy, or pushy and self motivated.

I never worry about what anybody else taught them to do, or even what their name is (I’ve changed weird (my opinion)names to suit myself), because I will decide what I want them to do, and how to react to any command I choose.

Another aspect of commands that may not be noticeable is the intonation and enunciation that helps the animal distinguish specific instructions. Gee, from the teeth and front of the mouth, a hard EE. Haw from the throat and a soft AW. Whoa from the lips and front of the mouth, backed up by the throat and a hard O. Back From the lips, soft aa, with a kick. The problem with easy and walk is they have sounds like gee, and whoa, and can add to confusion.

As Jen said you can use “Tequila” for a command, but simple, basic sounds help to make commands consistent. The same goes for names in my mind. Ben, Dan, Duke, Rob, Peg, Bright, Lion, Star, are quick and distinctive.

I realize that everyone has preferences about their animals’ names, so I don’t mean anything negative about other personal choices, just that I was introduced to a traditional school of thought.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Having no access to network TV, I will never get to see it, but I can just say that we have been up against cultural stigma ever since the tractor manufacturers started depicting horsemen as hayseeds.

If you’re not preaching to the choir, you selling. I love preaching to a choir because it is an experience that everyone can grow from.

I guess my take-home here is don’t trust people who make their income from selling imagery.

As individual operators we are at all times the face of our community. If we keep that in mind, present ourselves thoughtfully, and with purpose, we will be doing the best we can.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Holsteins are definitely not slow, nor docile, necessarily. They tend to be pretty calm as adults, but as adolescents they can be rambunctious and rowdy.

I wonder if these are recommended because they get to working size faster?
Carl

[Carl Russell]

My comment about “investment vs. cost” was not really intended to solve marketing issues on small farms as much as a big picture statement re-framing the current cultural debate .

It was mostly as a result of comments Lisa received this weekend after a presentation as part of a panel on local food systems. After she had talked about how our farm primarily supports ourselves because of the high value we place on the food we raise, and how those who we sell to agree to pay premium prices, she was asked “What can we as consumers do to help you reduce your costs, so that you can sell your food at lower (competitive) prices?”

In my mind there are so many aspects of the biological relationship between humans and food that do not have to do with the modern economic/commercial paradigm that it is really a noble undertaking, in this day and age, to even consider taking responsibility to create a private land-base to support a local food system.

One way or another there is substantial investment going on, either by farsighted producers, saving skills, building soil, reestablishing food relationships, or by those few (but growing) aware (awake) consumers.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Just a few up dates!!!

Thank you for recent donations from Kate & Rob, Tevis, and Kevin.

According to our Webmaster the basic costs for domain and server are about $150 per year. Then considering his per hour rate of $50 plus some representation of the time I dedicate specifically to administration, and a bit of a slush fund, we figure on a round number of $600 per year.

As a result of our latest fund raising drive we have gotten $640. YEAH!!!
AWESOME JOB FOLKS.

I also want to float an idea that has been presented to me, without leading anybody on, or putting someone on the spot.

A representative of a draft animal association from the northeast has suggested that his organization may be interested in a primary sponsorship of this site, at $600/year, represented by a prominent display of the association name and link to it website. Something in line with what already exists. It sounds good to me, but it has to be not only acceptable by DAP members, but also by the members of that organization.

I’ll keep you posted, and please toss in your 2 cents.

Thanx again EVERYONE!!

Carl

[Carl Russell]

It seems to me the key to getting paid for the true value of food, is to advance the concept that food is not a cost, but an investment that pays real dividends in personal health and energy, and in the support of a vital rural community and land-based economy.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

A big benefit of forecarts is that they can be used to hitch to a variety of implements used behind motorized equipment. Carl

[Carl Russell]

Leather D-ring harness, metal hames, hames fastener in all conditions, Beta lines. Swear by all the above. I can’t say they are right for you though.
Carl

[Carl Russell]

Thanks for posting Greg’s contact info, he kinda fell off the map, at least phone # and old e-mail haven’t worked for a while. He is a great resource. It would be good if he could be talked into visiting this site.
Carl

[Carl Russell]

You can fill them with sand, which I have never tried, but I also have read, or been told it works. Or, there are pipe benders that help bend the pipe a section at a time in a controlled way to prevent squishing. I think iron rods bent are common in some parts of the world.
Carl

[Carl Russell]

Thanx, Bivol. You’re a wealth of information. I really appreciate your presence here. Carl

[Carl Russell]

I wanted to add that although it is my objective not to “hold” the foot, but to have the horse hold it where I want it, there is a point where I don’t take any more nonsense. This is definitely only after the horse has shown me that they know better, but I do have to say that this horse IS going to have to understand that I am going to work on the foot as long as I need to.

As in all aspects of working with animals, there is a balance (hence “craft” or “art”) between getting cooperation, and making expectations clear. It can become clear to some horses that because of their power, they are in control, and that is unacceptable, in my mind.

However, I don’t prescribe to overpowering the animal, I do believe that with a combination of guidance toward acceptable behavior, and correction of unacceptable behavior, a balance can be had.

At least that has been my experience, and it is entirely within the context of my own farm.

Shoeing and hoof care is just one of my chores, and I am not under time constraints of schedule, or professional expectations, so I can take more time to focus on the behavior issues of my own horses.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

My sense is that the courage of the individual is a function of the confidence, or trust that they have for their safety in a particular situation, whether it is in a herd, or in the barn, or with an accustomed work mate.

I have worked with several animals who have shown me that their inclination is to retreat, or not move into a challenging situation, but I have seen direct reaction from them toward my own courageous actions. In other words my animals learn to replace their timid inclinations with an appraisal of my reaction or expectation, then follow my lead.

In working situations I never “ask” my horses in a questioning uncertain tone if they are ready, I tell them to get ready, and encourage them to move forward in the proverbial sense of “forward into the new situation”.
This works with horses and oxen.

I have had a several horses, and oxen, who demonstrated a type of courage in terms of willingness to put every ounce of power they had into lifting and moving heavy weight. This is the type of courage that the old timers refer to around here, which is a little bit different than the general courage to work and respond comfortably. However, I think that such courage can be lost, or overlooked by a teamster who is timid, uncertain, or inexperienced themselves.

Another case of courage I have encountered is in a dangerous or compromising situation, such as an animal that hits the ground in shafts or on a pole and can’t get back up because of the restrictions of the harness, or terrain. In these situations an animal can be extremely distraught and very dangerous, IF they don’t know to trust and follow the teamster.

Working in the woods I have had several such instances, and this is where I really became aware of how much courage there is in trust. Having to get one animal still standing to remain calm, while calming the one that is down, then loosing gear, and sometimes unharnessing completely, in a completely random setting, with little or no resources, or help, to get the animal back on its feet, re-harnessed, and hitched back up, requires a calm and purposeful demeanor anyway, but within these situations I have seen my animals (Both horses and oxen) taking appraisal of my behavior, and noticeably responding positively to me because I am not distraught (at least on the outside).

This is only to say that I believe that if you want courageous animals then at the very least acting courageous yourself is the first step.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Missy,
I have been trimming and shoeing my own for 22 years and I will give you a few pointers that I have learned.
Don’t sweat it, yourself. Sure they need good feet, but don’t bring your own anxiety about “good” hoof care into it. The handler needs to be confident. Meaning if you are unsure about anything, don’t work on it. Only work on what you are comfortable. One problem may be that your husband may not work with him enough for the horse to develop a sense of trust.

Like training a gun dog, if you are nervous that the dog will be scared of the gun, then he probably will be.

Take it in small steps. Maybe the foot needs a lot of work, but only do what you can do with ease, and success.

I differ from Jen somewhat in that I never let the horse have any say in this situation. It is my initiative and I portray that to them.

In that regard I never wait for the horse to ask for its foot back. I pick the foot up, and before the horse has time to react, I set it back down comfortably. This is where I start, and I stay there for as long as I need to, each time paying attention to the horse to see if it is learning to trust my initiative to hold its foot.

When I get the sign that it is relaxing about my holding the foot, I extend the length of time, and the extent to which I fool with the foot. It may seem like a lot of extra time especially if you think the foot is in bad shape, and you only have a few minutes, but progress can be made, and eventually it will be part of the foundation communication that you will use while working the animal.

The point is to establish that you can be trusted with the foot, that you are completely comfortable with your purpose, and that this is a lesson that you are teaching your student, the horse.

Remember to quit when you have a good feeling about progress. A small successful step is way more valuable than trying to complete the whole project. There is more than one initiative going on here, one involving the foot, one involving the horse.

Also don’t take it personally if the horse won’t let you do it. There is no reason why the horse should be inclined to let you hold its foot. You have to overcome the distrust and show that you are worthy.

Good luck, Carl

[Author]

Posts