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Is there an update on the mare or have you tried anything new?

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I missed this because I have been away from all computers for over a week but I want to say thank you as well. Support for this forum is the primary reason I became a member of DAPNet.

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Jim, how do you like the D-Ring conversion compared to the regular D-Ring harness? Has anyone used and compared a D-Ring, D-Ring conversion and a Swedish harness?

Daniel, until you get some hames in hand look at these links and maybe make one at 1/2 scale out of a soft material and post pictures. Then people who own them could take a look and tell you what they think. How do they determine the shape of the hames and can the shape weaken them? If I recall correctly Simon uses the collar type we are used to in the USA instead of the swedish type on his thick necked horses. Does anyone know the reason for that?

http://www.sadelmakare.biz/sele.html The hames are wrapped in leather and padded, but give you a good idea. Right click on a picture and select “View Image” or similar language that your browser brings up.

http://www.tarnsjogarveri.se/arbetsselar.php Bottom of the page, “Information om Selar (2,2 MB)” Page 2 shows the Hame/Collar combo: the hardware and padding that go with the hame. Page 3 is just the wooden hame with basic hardware and the cutout for the strap/collar tug. It would be nice to have an English translation of the PDF documents on this page.

http://www.celtichorselogging.com/?Gallery Simon Lenihan’s website. Several large Hi-Def pictures of the collars in use. Can help with overall shape and type of hardware used. We can ask him if he would upload pictures that are taken from all angles while they are off the horses to make duplication easier.

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In my first statement I didn’t mean to say that we should block video posts from individual members, we should keep those coming, they add a lot. When I mentioned the DAPNet stamp of approval I meant it covering videos that may or may not be directly sponsored or made by DAPNet. Just something that has been reviewed by and the content has been approved, DAPNet stands behind the information contained in the video. At the NEAPFD is DAPNet vouching for presenters or just saying “Here is a group of people with information”? Carl you do make a very good point, something like this could take us down the path of “We know best” and possibly cut down on the number of submissions to the site.

A way to have a panel with a discussion including people asking questions is using a live broadcasting service which includes a live text chat. UStream.tv and Justin.tv provide this service, I have a lead on few others that may provide the same . My wife and I use this for a 24 hour foaling camera and we put on small educational classes 2 times a week during this time. Viewers can ask us questions in the chat which we then answer and interact with them. The limitation is all the people on camera have to be in the same place and the video is broadcast to anyone in the world, I have to look at the situation regarding the service’s display of advertisements as well. It is nice in that you use only one internet connection to upload the video and it can also be recorded for those who missed the live broadcast. The viewer and chat can also be embedded on the DAP.com site so that they don’t have to leave to go anywhere else to view it.

What other options would you like for a webinar, what do you envision or think of when you say webinar? I may be able to find something simple that would work for us.

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I will try and compose my thoughts more and come back and edit this but off the top of my head I would get a halter on her even at night and work her with a lead, just back her up have her side step walk forward. Do this for 15 min. a night until she will move any direction you want with little to no pressure from you. I work with my horses even when feeding, I “move” them when I walk in to the paddock and I back them up or have them sidestep away from their feed before I give them access to it. I am always interacting with them in some way and getting them to follow my lead with the least amount of effort on my part.

When did she go from dead broke to behaving like this? Have you checked the fit of the harness, headstall and the bit? How long have you had her? I am not very experienced in training for driving, I have done it once and am working on 2 right now so I am not much help here. As a last ditch effort after you have tried absolutely everything else you could always try out the tractor method that was used on some mules, you would have to do a search for the thread that covers the method. Since she was dead broke before I doubt it is something that would have to be used though.

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Thanks, that’s about all I am good at right now. Lots of book knowledge and a little bit of experience.

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Just an idea here, more bang for your buck as far as videos: Make videos that cover threads with high post and view counts. We know there is interest in those areas and for a lot of people being able to read it and then having the chance to see it put into practice in a video would help immensely. Sometimes you get confused by the description or there is not enough info to make the connection or leap. As a personal example I was searching for info on D-Ring harness and came across one that Donn Hewes had started where he was converting old harness into D-Ring, it covered parts, sizing, attachment and fitting. The photos in the thread are gone now, but I would pay to see a video that contained the information involved in that process.

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Donn, do you still have those photos? If so would you be willing to add them to your posts again? Thanks

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This is my favorite feed calculating program, it’s based on the National Research Council – Nutrient Requirements of Horses. The most common minerals are always at the bottom no matter what page you are on, the rest are under “Other Nutrients.” The “Dietary Supply” has an in-depth list of different types of feed.

http://www.agmodels.com/Demos/NRC_Equine89/Equine_Model_2006.asp#

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I like the idea, something that essentially has the DAP Net stamp of approval or recommendation on it instead of a link from a single member. I really like having so many subjects being covered, especially ones with limited educational availability. I am fairly isolated where I live and a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth so much more.
It is simple enough to embed the video here so that it can be viewed without taking anyone away from the DAP.com site. We can also look into other hosting services and video players that will not link to other videos the way youtube does.

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My most sincere condolences. Know that you are not alone when it comes to the loss of someone so close. When you are ready you can find strength with friends and family. I wish it were possible to say something to change the situation, I will keep you in my thoughts.

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Easiest way for me to start would be the ocean or a lake and resources there. The largest part we have to worry about in that area is how much we remove, if we take more in a year than is added it is not able to sustain that harvest rate. We have pollution to worry about and other factors that go into the environment that enables the yearly addition to stocks, balancing those so that we don’t harvest more than is added or taking a break for a year to let it recover allows it to sustain it’s production capability.

As far as livestock it is more complex. We are in control of the entire “ocean” environment, we manage the waste, the population density, types of animals, feed used, quality of water, natural resources consumed in raising the livestock. So if we use more water than goes back into the aquifers it’s probably not sustainable (more than livestock and their food use water though). So much feed for animals there is not enough for people – one of the two populations has to drop, both are not sustainable. So to me a “pure” definition of sustainable would be: Can the existing input rate (Z) of available resources maintain the output rate (Y) of livestock (X). X doesn’t have to be livestock, it can be water or grain or whatever.

What does Z have to be to get Y of X? I don’t think it’s sustainable if you want 7 billion people eating 3lbs. of beef and 3lbs. of chicken a day. But I don’t think raising animals for meat production is unsustainable.

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I know there is a sickle bar mower brand called Jari, like a walk behind mower, it wouldn’t work for you in this case but some of their models used in heavy brush use serrated blades instead of the standard smooth. Do they make serrated blades for standard sickle bar mowers?

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I will try to keep this short, I can provide links if people ask. Our rise in oil production comes mainly from shale and it’s financially sustainable if the price of oil is at or above $86/barrel. We are supposed to produce more than Saudi Arabia by 2020, our oil use has been declining and it is predicted to continue.

The coal factories are shutting down for several reasons: They need to install scrubbers to remove mercury, they are past their 30 year lifespan, it’s cheaper to run the newer natural gas plants than the older coal plants.

There is a nuclear option called a LFTR that has passive safety features, no radioactive steam or high pressure systems and the radioactive fluid used turns to slag if it spills, it is in a closed loop system and does not form plutonium like existing reactors. Great for electrical production but does not fix the bigger problem of no oil: we have no synthetic rubber or gaskets or plastics or lubricants, and an even longer list of things that we require to function everyday that we get from oil. Some of them can be replaced with plant based materials and they are working on carbon sequestration, but so far that is mainly for fuel, not to replace the other uses of oil. For me efficient use of energy and a reduction in the use of energy, plus saving oil for the parts it’s used for or finding replacement materials for them is really important.

Obviously I am torn, here I am on the DAP Net forum trying to work with my horses, and yet I have thought so much about how to keep as much of the current semi-suburban lifestyle I live. Like everyone is saying, it’s easy with all the oil we have right now but it will be painful when the supply is limited.

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I’m going to show my absolute lack of knowledge here, I don’t know who goes to these or who it is advertised to or even what is taught or shown there. I have experience with salt water and reptile conferences where they have several small ones a year and one giant one, the large one usually has a day for people who have little to no experience with them but wants to know more. Each day gets more and more in depth with subjects and exotic displays/species. The small ones are more focused on a single or a few subjects that would interest the smaller group. Anything from beginner info to the optimum light spectrum of different species of clams.

“Even small events such as the logging and plowing workshops, or the annual gathering should be sponsored by equipment dealers whose items will be used, or by other organization that may support the broader mission represented by the event, because the greater mission is to increase following and commitment from people who will find DAPNet to be important in their lives.”
Do people who benefit from produce or meat from farms get invited to these? Businesses or individuals? People who own wood lots? There are people who can benefit from incorporating animal power directly on their farms, but there are also people who want to purchase and encourage sustainability. If they knew more about animal power they could encourage farmers to come to DAPNet or come to your farms directly for what they want.

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