[Ed Thayer]

Thanks for the info,

Our Barn is a restored 35’x70′ three story new england cow barn. I have put a lot of work into the sills and supporting structure over the last 10 years or so. When I did the horse section over I had to raise the cieling to 9 feet and built 2 12’x12′ box stalls. There is an adjoining tack room and 5′ aisle with cross ties to groom and harness.

Looking back it seems to be a lot of wasted space for other critters or even more horses at a later time. I know from experiance that the show circuit seems to think that tie stalls are cruel because it does not allow free movement when in the barn.

My horse stalls have a dutch door in each stall that goes directly to a graveled paddock outside. The horses come and go as they please and only get shut in if the wind chill is a factor.

I never considered the issue of bedding for the animals. They sure use a lot of it in the box stall arrangement.

[Ed Thayer]

Don,

Great slideshow,

It has always been easier for me to understand a concept when there are pictures attached. 😀

She is a great looking horse.

ED

[Ed Thayer]

This is some of the best information I have read yet.

I realize that creating a working relationship with the horse is most important, however this does not seem to be as easy as it sounds for someone who has not spent their whole life growing up with them.

Case in point, I have had and been around hunting dogs all my life. Some people can not and never will understand them enough to train one for a specific purpose beyond sleeping on the couch. I have trained them and hunted them successfully for several years.

I am not so sure I will have that ability with horses. I hope I will as it will determine my future with them on the Farm. I have been reading books, reading these posts and recieving guidance from my wonderfull neighbor next door who has loads of experience. I even joined the Granite State draft and pony association. But I still get frustrated when I work my Haflinger for two weeks with no apparent issues and the next time I go to the pasture to put the harness on he decides to walk away from me and it becomes a game of cat and mouse.

Most people on this thread can identify whats wrong and probably give advice on how to correct that behavior. But I am new, I don’t carry my laptop to the barn to recieve and post e-mails as to why my horse is not cooperating, I walk away frustrated wondering what I did wrong.

My point is, not all of us are experienced teamsters and we learn with the best means available. That is why I enjoy reading these posts and learning form all of you.

[Ed Thayer]

I am glad she is working out. It must be a comfort when you get a horse that does what you want on the Farm.

I hitched up Franz, our Haflinger, today to the forecart and he did great.

It is the first time we have had him in the forecart since the bolting incident. I have been ground driving him and he has been responding well to me. I have also been working him in the roundpen and lunging him to release some energy before putting on the harness. I changed his bit from a snafle to a straight bit to better get his attention. He is a very strong willed horse.

I have decided to keep him for cart work and will be looking for another work horse this Spring. I will try to find a nice older horse for the wood and sap scoot.

I looked at your web albums and like the photos very much. The land looks perfect for farming and working horses.

Hope all is well and you feel better.

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

Don,
How is Connie fitting in on the Farm? Have you worked her yet?

Hope all is well,

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

My wife and I attended the NH Draft and Pony association get together yesterday in Barnstead and most said that we have a pretty good chance of stomping this Bill in Committee before it gets to a house vote. I have written my reps and voiced my opposition to this. Lets hope it is defeated.

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

I recieved the same e-mail this morning.

When will it stop? Next they will want to tax our scoots and equipment……:mad:

[Ed Thayer]

Don,

What is the purpose of raising the feet? Tolerance?

How old is Connie?

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

Don,

Good looking mare.

Hope she will work out for you. Very nice color too.

Is that the Haflinger in one of the pictures?

[Ed Thayer]

I have been spending time with the pony doing some basic ground work. Trying to establish my dominance and hopefully gaining his trust.

It appears I am making progress. I have not harnessed him since the bolting episode over a week ago. I have been lunging him in the paddock and walking him on the halter with the chain over the nose. He seems to respond quicker with that setup. He is obeying commands and seems interested in what I am doing.

Are there other basic drills I can do with him to help this process along?

Do horses process and remember bad or unpleasant situations forever or can they be worked to overcome them?

Thanks,
Ed

[Ed Thayer]

Wow……….

I am impressed wit the the feedback. Thank you all.

It probably sounds lazy, but I really do not have a desire or the knowledge to train a horse from scratch. However, I am not unfamilare with training animals.

I have succesfully trained several springer spaniels to hunt upland birds and I enjoy that. But dogs are not horses and I know that. There are several training methods that are similare but a wild dog or one that breaks can be corrected with a simple check cord. Not the same with a horse.

I want to pull a sap scoot in my sugar bush and pull wood for the house and evaporator. I do not want to nor can afford a tractor so my thought process was to use our draft pony for that. He was broke and driven by Amish in Ohio and was sold to us with no mention of bolting. That does not mean it did not happen before.

He really is a nice horse and NEVER hurt my daughter when she was riding him. The two times in the past 4 years or so he did bolt with her on his back, she held on and rode it out. She is very experianced in english saddle and he really has a connection with her. He just may be a better riding horse with someone that knows what they are doing and not a true work horse. I know all horses are not both.

That being said, he has always been head strong. We board one other horse and they are very close as well. If the mare can see him when he is being worked she is fine. When we head up the street to the ring or out of site she is not happy. I notice our horse will walk behind me on lead perfectly when we are going away from the barn, but as soon as we head back, his pace picks up and he will try to lead me. This does not seem to be a problem in the work harness.

I am willing to work with him but have no problem with getting a horse that will do what I want and leave the Haflinger for my daughter to ride. Maybe something older and Ed proof:D

Thank you all again and let me know what you think.

Ed

[Ed Thayer]

I have been ground driving him latley. He has been hooked to our pioneer forecart and I have hooked a single tree to the traces and had it connected to my dog sled. He seems to like pulling me around on that.

I would like him to pull wood and a sap scoot for our sugaring operation.

Thank’s for the tip on the VT organization.

Ed

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