[Ed Thayer]

@OldKat 8496 wrote:

I sure wish that there were enough draft horse people in my area to do something like that. Sure sounds like a good time, with good horses and good folks. “It don’t git no gooder than that!” 😉

I agree with you. That would have been a great event to go and watch and learn from those who know what they are doing.

I attended the Billings Farm plow competition on Sunday in Woodstock Vermont. It was a good time but the teamsters were preety tied up with the event to really bother with my questions.

It was neat to see the hand and sulky plows work. You can cover some ground in a day with real horsepower.

[Ed Thayer]

I am more relaxed today and reflected on the other days events. I ground drove OZ today with good sucsess. I had my wife Jane head off OZ while I backed him to the log. No cart, just single tree and chain.

He was still a little agitated but he did stand in place while I hitched the chain.

When I released him to go he flew into the load and after about 4 steps went right to walking normally. I ground drove him around the field twice and gave him a couple of breaks. Each time we moved forward after a break he walked on fine. Did not lunge at all.

So my specific question is how do I break him of this? Should I continue to hitch while someone heads him? Ideally, if I am working alone I can not have him moving on his own.

Do any of you keep the halter on the horse under the bridle to tie him up while you move a stick or cut a limb?

[Ed Thayer]

just got back with the forecart….

He was a pain today. Stood for the first hitch and after that did the whole prance move ahead routine.

When I tell him to whoa, he tried to continue to back up. I am confused and think I need some professional help. 🙁

[Ed Thayer]

I do not think it is his teeth… The vet did a cpmplete checkup on him and said they were good. The bit I am using is a common broken snaffle that just dimples the corner of his mouth.

When he head bobs it is kind of comical in that his lips slap together and make a funny noise. Again, I don’t know if he is physically uncomfortable or what. I don’t think so though.

He takes the bit easily, I slip it right on with no hesitation from him. As Carl eluded to, maybe we overthink issues or what we percieve to be issues and lose focus on getting real work done. I am probably guilty of that.

That being said, I also may be hyper sensitive to making mistakes that will come to haunt me later with OZ. There is so much information out there in books and on the web I tend to get overloaded and wonder how my Grandfather got along and worked horses without the interweb:)

[Ed Thayer]

Thanks for the responses,

He does extend his head and pull on the lines. I gently remove the slack and continue on my way. I we stand for a period of time…. He will lift his head up and down rapidly several times as if he is agitated. But he doesn’t move until told to.

You all probably have seen this and know exactly what he is doing or trying to tell me, but as a green horn, I am still trying to figure it out.

He does not bolt and is very responsive to commands, so we must be doing something right together. And I am just having a ball with him. Maybe we need more time to get used to each other.

[Ed Thayer]

Hello all,

I ground drove Oz before I put him in the cart yesterday and he did a good job. I walked him to my log pile and let him look and sniff it for a while. Then I cicled and backed him in to the pile. He did get excited but for the most part stood when told to. I would then KISS to him and relaease him and he did not lunge forward. We would take a few steps and repeat the excersise.

Then I hooked him to the cart and did the same thing up the street at the other log pile and he seemed fine. I think I will continue with this as it appears to be working.

I have noticed he extends his neck out alot when under way or standing. Could this be from a collar that is to tight on the sides of the neck? We are using a collar pad and 26″ collar. I measured the neck before I bought the collar with a framing square and thought I had the right dimension. How tight should it fit on the sides?

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

@Donn Hewes 8329 wrote:

The log is just like the first time you hitched him the cart. Give him a little time and he will figure it out. I hope you are keeping the lines in your hand while hooking the log? or someone is. Donn

Yes I am, i have a long set of lines and I take them with me when i get of the cart. I let them set on the seat within easy reach when i am hooking.

If he persists in “prancing” when i go to hook and am still on the cart is it appropriate to yank the lines and try to get my point across?

If he really is testing me, what is the proper response from me?

[Ed Thayer]

@Donn Hewes 8320 wrote:

Hi Ed, It is possible that the horse’s history tells part of the story of why he is acting the way he is. I think it is equally possible that a young horse, or a green horse with limited experience, will pick this up on their own. He is a little excited about what is about to happen. It is very easy for them to pick up a pattern like “every time we come over here and turn around we get a different log”. The fact that he stands calmly when you stop in the middle of a pull but not while you are hooking up, suggests to me that he is anticipating the next “thing” to pull.

Don’t let his anxiety make you rush to hook up. Change your routine; when you back up to a log, get off and walk up to his head. Check his harness. Is he calm and relaxed now? If you stop the cart but don’t get out right away will he relax? By all means keep hooking him to logs, but with each evolution keep looking for a little chance for him to demonstrate his ability to do it better than the time before.

We were unsure just how old he was. Beth thought about 12 and the vet last month said it was a preety good guess. If in fact he is 12 than maybe he has been doing this for a while.

It is not unmanageable, however my fear is he may try to walk off before I am ready. Safety is my greatest concern. Again, once under way and asked to woa he will do it instantly and stand as long as needed.

I will try all these suggestions and see how he does. He is a great horse and seems genuinly eager to please and work. I hope I can figure it out.

He appears to learn quick, the first time I hitched him to the forecart, he was very nervous. Repeated hitches and patience payed off. Now i can bring the forecart right up to him as one would expect, and he is fine with it.

Thanks for the help all,

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

He was an Amish work horse and was purchased from the New Holland PA Auction.

[Ed Thayer]

Jen,

Thanks for the tour. I was glad to see Reno walking around. I did not think he would be so mobile.

Nice to place a face to the threads as well.

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

@john plowden 7600 wrote:

send me a picture – I have several for parts –
John

Jon,
I need to tow this spreader to a trailer to load it. It looks complete and I think just needs paint. When I get it home I will take some pics and let you know,

Thanks,
Ed

[Ed Thayer]

I am glad my horses are not the only ones that chew on wood. :confused:

They are certainly fed well and I attributed it to boeredom. As soon as the fields opened up they went to pecking at the little tufts of grass left over from last fall.

[Ed Thayer]

Thanks for the reply. I will try to gt some pics soon and post them up. Would
This model work for a single horse? Belgian, 1600 lbs on relatively flat ground behind a forecart

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

@jenjudkins 7550 wrote:

That would be awesome, Ed! I would love it! We’re pretty close…just up route 10 from you on the Grantham side of Springfield.

Jen,

Send me a PM with your phone number and I will make arangements with you to run it up this week.

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

Peanut is a great looking Belgian.

I thought the forward traces were too long as well. The girth strap looked a little far back. You did the smart thing buying a harness a little to big. That allows the room for adjustment you spoke about.

Les Barden told me a couple of weeks ago that the forward trace need not be longer than 22″ and 19″ was more desirable. The reason I asked was I had purchased a used D-Ring harness that was like new and I was unsure about the proper fit. He was very helpfull and aproachable

I actually purchased his video on the D-ring harness that he and Tim Huppe made and would be more than happy to share it with you if you would like. I am always looking for an excuse to take a ride and talk work horse:D

Our farrier came today and put shoes on Ozzie. Said his feet looked good but thought he might have a mild case of thrush. So I will be treating that for the forseeable future. My pasture is a total mess this spring. I can’t wait till things dry out.

Ed

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