[Carl Russell]

I got a call a couple of weeks ago from Meg Reige because she had had a conversation with a fellow in Massachusetts who seemed to describe a small collection of drive caulk horse shoes. I followed up on it and ended up with 20 drop forged shoes in really good shape, and three boxes of caulks, sharp and blunt.

Many years ago I got several pairs of Drive Caulk Shoes and grew quite fond of using them, especially in winter, on ice. The shoes are made of hard steel, with wholes in the toes and heels for caulk plugs to be driven in. The ice caulks are shaped like chisels. When sharp shod, the chips fly. I am so looking forward to shoeing again with shoes like this.

If anybody out there has a similar stash, or knows of one please contact me.
Carl

[Carl Russell]

Time, Time, Time. Rod your cattle are young adolescents. It is a mixture of hyper energy and power. They just need work. But they need you to work them. I will tell you that the experience today can be daunting enough to dissuade you from going back tomorrow. If you want to gain ground with them, go back tomorrow. Now that you know what to expect, pace yourself. When they realize that you have more ambition than they do they will begin to pace themselves. Time, Time, Time. Good luck Carl

[Carl Russell]

Rod, I don’t know if you have access to, or have one yourself, but in the Fall 1999 issue of the Small Farmer’s Journal, I wrote an article on bobsledding logs. I think that I can find those photos any way, and I will post them in the Gallery, but there are a couple of pages of text that will help describe using a bobsled in the woods. Carl

[Carl Russell]

Mike, it is some what difficult to start assigning importance to certain threads, because we would eventually have to start taking bribes,:D.

No seriously, we do have a category for books and resources, where it is our hope that people will start reviewing and/or recommending such as you mention. We will start to concentrate on that, and we hope that others will also.
Thanks for the suggestion. Carl

[Carl Russell]

Sometimes the front bobs are not very rugged as the sled is designed to carry a load spread over both bunks. Double bob sleds that are built for logging can often be disconnected and the front sled used independently. For logging the sled should have stout runners 3-4″ thick, and a very sturdy beam and a bunk on top of that. I have some photos of my logging bobsled that will show more of those details. I have to scan ’em in then copy them to iPhoto then export them to another file so that I can down-size them, then upload them into the gallery. It may take me a day or so. Carl

I had to come back to add that I use my sled year-round. That is one of the reasons that the runners need to be wider than 2″, so they don’t cut into the soil too much.

[Carl Russell]

I’m not sure if it is obvious, but there is a green strip at the top of the forum page with white lettered titles. You can click on those headings to move to those areas on this site. Please access Members List, Calendar, and Photo Gallery through those ports.

We would love to have more photos posted by a wide variety of posters. To post effectively, files should be sized down to 200-700 KB. I have used iPhoto to export pix to another file. This function allows for down-sizing. Reduce photos to approximately 500 x 500 (600 x 400) (300 x 700) etc. for best approximation for appropriate size.

The Calendar is another function that we would love for you to utilize. Please post events that you are organizing, attending, or know about. Events are posted automatically at the bottom of the Forum Home Page on the day of the event.
Carl

[Carl Russell]

I am under the impression that Palm trees are not actually trees, rather large grass like plant. I wonder about the cellular structure? Is it actually capable of use for lumber? I may go find my wood technology text book and get back to you. Carl

[Carl Russell]

I would not spend the time required to find the materials and jointing, and gluing, but I have access to good hardwood cants. Certainly plywood would be a poor choice because the direction of the grain changes with each layer, and smoothing the baring surface would be extremely difficult.

I would think that with a little effort you could hook up with someone who could provide you with a good hunk of hardwood such as yellow birch. Even sugar maple, white oak, elm, or poplar can be strong enough. Carl

[Carl Russell]

As far as bit pressure is concerned, I feel that it is my objective to have minimal pressure, but never no pressure. By my guidance the horse will develop an understanding of the energy that she/he has to spend in learning to accept the pressure. In other words, I make it the responsibility of the horse to reduce pressure.

In my experience, it seems counter-intuitive, but when I have a horse that is resisting pressure, I go to an even softer bit. I keep rubber bits for just that purpose. I have come to understand that the horse that fights the bit is fighting pain. With the pain there is limited ability to sense the subtle pressure changes that I am conveying to their mouth. Once the horse begins to understand that the bit is the connection that transmits my guidance that she/he is desiring, then they will be much more inclined to accept pressure from a steel bit.

This all figures into safety because it is one of the foundations of the working relationship, communication. If we can’t maintain effective communication with our animals we can’t safely lead them into working situations. With that said I will have to reiterate some of what I’ve said in other threads, that knowledge of the work to be done is a significant part of communication, and therefore safety.

As we appraise risk, we need to be able to fully understand how we intend to lead our beasts into action. If we are inexperienced in the working situation, then our ability to appraise risk is compromised. This is not to acknowledge the situation such as Donn explains, or my experience where misplaced comfort led to complacency, which allowed for inadequate maintenance, and in my case resulted in a broken line, which although having the same result, is really between teamster and equipment. It is very hard to have expectations of safety from horses involved in situation where equipment breaks or fails, because the resulting stimulus is virtually uncontrollable.

Obviously we need to understand the subtleties of teaming, but as we promote draft animal education, I really believe that we need to stress knowledge of the working situation, for success and safety. This piece is difficult to find, or provide, but as we all look at the products that we produce from our enterprises, one of the most valuable has got to be experience.
Once we understand the plow, or mower, or manure spreader, or forest landscape, then we can have better ability to appraise risk.

At a certain point the ability to interpret, and respond to, the animal’s reaction to the situation also plays into the appraisal. Any thoughts on that?? Carl

[Carl Russell]

Please make a habit of visiting the calendar on this site. We will make a habit of listing events, workshops, and contact info there, but PLEASE list your own, or ones you know about. I will be presenting a class room workshop followed by one outdoors in the afternoon at the NOFA-VT winter conference in Feb. and VTC, in Randolph Ctr. Details on the Calendar. Carl

[Carl Russell]

Greetings Don, oops UNLouie, Great to have you here, we look forward to your contribution. Carl

[Carl Russell]

I always assume that my animals may run away. However, I expect them to stay still. By assuming that they are unpredictable, I remain alert. By expecting them to stand I remain the leader. Safety for me goes to the fundamental connection with the animal, communication.

I long ago switched to a plain old straight bit. It causes very little discomfort, thereby providing subtle stimulus to the mouth. My animals are conditioned to stop on release of pressure. The only run-away I ever had was the result of a broken rein, and only then because I was on the ground next to a spring tooth harrow and I had to let go, or get harrowed. Even then, when I caught up to them they were waiting for me, frightened yes, but looking for my guidance.

To get extra pressure on the bit while driving to control speed/effort, I put drop straps off the rings on my hames so that the rein comes in lower, which puts pressure directly onto the lower jaw, and not up into the mouth. This is a much more effective way to hold the horses head in, and gives a clearer message to the horse, causing the desired pressure without excess pain.

Safety is a function of the degree of risk you are willing to take. This statement is meant to make you think. Obviously risk is to be avoided. But how aware are you of the risk. Be aware, and honest about the capability of team and teamster. Remember that your willingness to encounter risk will result in a rapid escalation of reaction from the horses if they don’t share your appraisal of the situation. Safety today may be different tomorrow as you gain experience, and the risk that existed yesterday will be overcome by your degree of preparedness.

There’s no way to finish this thought, I’ll be back.

Awesome group growing here, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Great to have you on board, Michigan! Hope your future isn’t too far out, Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Biological Woodsman 518 wrote:

……..
The main point is that animals are not competitive with machines on a production basis, but are far superior from the environmental basis. It is more different than apples and oranges, it is more like the difference between prey animals and predators……..

This getting close. How about, it’s like the difference between machines and animals!??

In sustainable land management we need to promote the natural processes of accumulation of energy (read growth). Many people are talking about carbon sequestration, which is important. On a broader scale modern humans have yet to understand that in nature, growth is an accumulation of energy. The Earth absorbs solar energy. This energy is manifest in flora and fauna, and the inter-relationships. Even as some are consumed by others, most of the energy remains in the “community”.

Right now our global economy is based on production that is the result of mining the energy out of the relationships that make up the ecological communities. Our energy sources are all based on the destruction of molecular bonds, and the capture and use of the energy as it escapes.

In scientific terms this is described as entropy. There is an acceptance of entropic processes, as if entropy is “the rule”. Well, energy IS always moving, but in nature it is rarely moving into oblivion, rather it is often moving into a form that can be used again by another organism.

If we can see natural growth as “negentropic”, the opposite of entropy, we can see sustainable use of natural resources. Restorative forestry as Jason describes it, is just this, as are permaculture, ecological integrity, holistic resource management, and organic farming practices.

The internal combustion motor is integral to the entropic land-use method. Draft animals are integral to the “negentropic” land-use method.

“Oh you log the old fashioned way”?

Yeah right!!!

Keep up the great work. Carl

[Carl Russell]

Mike, just curious what keystroke was it that brought you here? Just trying to figure out how people are reaching us. Thanx, Carl

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