[Gooserun Farm]

What’s that said about the best laid plans? Ended up breaking a finger first thing Sat. morning. Didn’t much feel like running saw after. Did get some firewood split though. Got a phone call from a rescue place. Needed a home that day for 3 Belgian geldings. 1 they are going to keep, I’m just boarding him. Friend took another to work with. Last is a 4 year old. He will be going up for sale. 18 or so hands. Seems decent. I don’t think he’s had much training. Spent all Sunday plowing and shoveling. Have to do it all over again tonight. At least the house is getting banked well. 🙂

[Gooserun Farm]

My e-mail is hardwood@gwi.net if anyone needs questions answered. I don’t have it at home but I check it here at work. Thanks.

[Gooserun Farm]

They are a great team. Really hate to let them go. They are in their mid teens. Not sure exactly. I’ll try to post a picture. Would make a good team for someone startiing. Big babies. I thought my friend wanted to buy but he has decided on a pair of steers. If children get near them they will put their nose on the ground and not move. Not a bit jumpy.

[Gooserun Farm]

Jean, thanks for the chuckle. Glad I’m not the only one. My feed cribs have a piece of regular angle iron bolted on where a horse would chew. Works good. Don’t know about paint or stain. Always heard horse won’t chew hemlock. Not sure though. Regarding bruised egos I was showing one of my wife’s saddle horses to a customer the other day. Got gabbing, wasn’t paying attention , bailed into saddle. Went right off the other side. Forgot to check tightness of cynch. 3 women standing there. Horse never moved. Pride ran away somewhere. Worst part is they didn’t buy him.:)

[Gooserun Farm]

I have found that most of the time when I had a problem it was because of my inexperience rather than the horses or cattle. As I have worked them more I gained confidence and the ability to forsee some of the problems. When I said I assumed they were on the edge I didn’t mean I expected trouble only that I was on the lookout for it, similar to defensive driving.
Jean-did you have an audience with the mini episode? Always seems to be someone around when my ego gets bruised.
Regarding the lever bits I usually use them on the gentlest setting, however I do sometimes need to drop them a notch on one horse. Find I can use less pressure and get my message across.

[Gooserun Farm]

My first team used to do alot of exciting stuff such as run away and what not. We had a couple small wrecks before I started to catch on better. It wasn’t so much the horses as it was me. Had never worked horses before and went about it backwards. Bought them, harnessed and hooked them, then tried to figure out how to drive. Very steep learning curve. Finally muddled through and things are getting easier. Still don’t know what I don’t know.:) I find that the more people you can work with the more little tricks you can pick up to be safe. One thing I do is pretty much always assume they are on the verge of running off or acting up. Suprised alot less often. I have gone to the bits similar to what Jason described and found they make quite a difference. I have very little grip in my left hand and it’s alot easier to apply a little more force if I need it. Thankfully my team and I work much better together now. Highly recommend a mentor starting out. Much safer and hopefully less broken bones.

[Gooserun Farm]

That sounds great! Thanks alot. I will try to find the sizing guide and get in touch with you. She is doing better daily but is still tender footed. Thanks again.

[Gooserun Farm]

Thanks for the idea and congrat. That’s clever. I am not going to cut much on it for a while. Have two other lots I’m working. I do plan on trying to do a worst first method. The lot I’m starting tomorrow has been marked by the landowner and a forester. Will cut what they want. It will be the first time in the woods with this team. Should be fun.

[Gooserun Farm]

I hear you. We heat with wood and often hear about how much we burn (about 12-15 cords) until I tell people we use no oil. Used to use 1800 gallons and 5 cord. Looking to get solar next year. Wish I didn’t need tractor at all but time to do all my haying with horses isn’t available. Maybe someday…

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