[Does’ Leap]

We have thinned out a lot of trees and created pastures in the shade, and they are a great resource for us in hot weather, our dairy goats will do very little grazing if sitting in a hot paddock all day. I like the system and the grass doesn’t seem to head out as readily as our open fields, but I am wondering about sugar content in the grass -am I exacerbating the energy imbalance on pasture as we continue develop these comfortable shady pastures? Donn, you must have this problem if you aren’t supplementing your dairy sheep?
Kristan

[Does’ Leap]

@Jean 602 wrote:

My only concern with round pens, is are they large enough for the bigger horses?

Jean

Our pen is 50 feet in diameter made with 8 posts, two strands of poly tape, and lots of electricity. I didn’t have the time to construct a true woden round pen and this is working well (our horses were already well trained, but young). This size has worked well altough seemed a little small when a horse gets agressive.

[Does’ Leap]

@goodcompanion 601 wrote:

I don’t have stocks, so I decided to try an old-timey trick of tying up his foot.

Our horses were also worked in stocks and I don’t have any. I also want to be able to pick up my horses feet. Our dominant horse accepted us picking up his feet pretty readily. The other horse did not. I work this horse in the round pen, make him stop, approach and praise him, and proceed to pick up his feet. If he moves away I trot him around for a couple of laps and try again. It worked! We can pick up all his feet now, untied, without him moving. The next step is out of the pen.

[Does’ Leap]

I am wondering how folks have incorporated round pen training (or not) in their efforts to have safer, more reliable horses. By way of introduction, my wife and I run a small goat dairy and process all of our milk into cheese. We started with horses approximately 6 months ago with a team of Percheron mares – horses who were not a good match for our limited (non existant?) skill set. Run aways (yes, plural but with no one hurt) and me being severely kicked twice (one incident) led us to return the team (purchased on a trial basis) and look for another. We ended up with a great team of 5 year old geldings perch/belgian crosses who were worked daily on a farm in Wisconson. Three months of working with our fiesty mares combined with a 3 day workshop and lots of reading havenow put in a better position (yes, still very green) to have success with these great horses who presesnt a night and day differnce with our previous team.

Because of our lack of experience and the advice of other teamsters, we have set up a round pen and have been working our horses with the aid of a Clinton Anderson dvd (recommended). Our submisive horse has done wonderfully while the dominant horse, who is completely well behaved and calm in harness, has challanged us directly by trying to kick and even charging. Despite this, he is making great progress and is slowly and grudgingly accepting us directing some basic movements in the round pen. I am interested reading about others’ experience in the round pen. Specifically I would like to know how others have adapted this technique to drafts (I have read some work by both Lynn Miller and Doc Hammil). I would like to know if anyone has worked on “Whoa” and getting horses to stop on verbal command and other training techniques that lead to safer more predictable horeses.

George van Vlaanderen
Does’ Leap Farm
Bakersfield, Vermont

[Does’ Leap]

Kirk:

We are looking for someone to start in March on our organic goat dairy. I have included a description of our farm and the apprenticeship position below. Although draft horses have become an integral part of our farming operation, I consider ourselves novices. Therefore the apprenticeship we offer is focused on the farm activities described below not on becoming a better teamster as we are not qualified to offer that type of instruction.

Good luck with your endeavor.

Farm Description

Does’ Leap is an innovative, diversified organic farm specializing in a variety of fresh and aged goat cheeses. We also raise organic beef, pork, and chicken. In an effort toward greater sustainability and self-reliance, much of our farm work – including plowing, harrowing, spreading manure, and firewood collection – is accomplished with two draft horses. The farm is located in northern Vermont in the heart of the beautiful green mountains with close proximity to Lake Champlain. Our goats and other livestock have the luxury of feeding on the wild vegetation of our region as they spend all but the winter months outside. We are one of the few goat dairies in the country that rely on a mixture of pasture and browse as the primary feed source for our goats and have conducted a 2 year, USDA-funded study on this farming practice. As a result or our reliance on browse and grass, our cheeses and meats are of exceptionally high quality and take on the flavor of our varied vegetation and Vermont’s changing seasons. We believe in a diversified farm ecosystem where each aspect of our farm complements the other.

Apprenticeship Description

Farm apprentices learn the art of making fresh and aged organic goat cheeses, general goat care (including homeopathy), using herding dogs, grazing management, product marketing, building trades (carpentry, plumbing, and electrical), and working with cows, pigs, and chickens. Apprentices work 4 days a week and our compensated with training, access to farm products (organic beef, pork, eggs, vegetables, and milk), and free housing in a wood cabin with ample living space, kitchen, and loft with plenty of natural light. Phone, electricity, and wood heat are included. Couples welcome. College credit possible. Reviews from past interns can be viewed at organicvolunteers.org. Click on Vermont and scroll down to Does’ Leap. Interested applicants should send a resume and three work-related recommendations to doesleap@verizon.net.

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