[Iron Rose]

Carl

I certainly agree with your methods of getting horses to pull on heavy loads. Making more trips not only gets them used to the load , but conditions them as well.
I just wanted to add a few things that I do. The first is I never put a young horse on a heavy load. I will break the horse out at 2 1/2 to 3 (sometimes they are 4or 5 when I get to them)and use them for farm work until they at least 5 sometimes 6 when they are full grown both physically and mentally.
When I do start pulling heavy loads I’ll hook them with a good slow horse that knows how to pull. In addition my eveners are designed were I can give the new horse a more leverage if necessary. As the new horse gets the idea I can give him more of his share of the load. Again as you said pull short distances ,but I will vary the length ,that way they don’t start to anticipate the stop before I ask ( ever watch a Pulling horse go just the distance and stop like he had a tape measure in his head).
Long days on variable sized loads give the new horse a chance to built his confidence. The worst thing you can do is stick a new horse , too many times and he will quit trying. If for some reason I stick him I’ll wait a few minutes before I unhook and drive away. Then find a smaller load and start over.
Good luck
Dan

[Iron Rose]

Humble !!!! Different areas of the country have different rules for pulling. Can’t say what the rules are for those Pulls , but in the mid-west they would be disqualified on the spot. Abuse is not allowed and the puller can be banned from any other competition for it.

Pulls in the upper Mid-West are governed by an association with explicit rules about using lines, whips,or other devices on horses. Most pulls you or your hookers are not even allowed to touch your horses. There are three judges for each pull, if the judge doesn’t call an infraction other pullers will call it. If the judge continues to not enforce the rules he will be replaced.

A horse can only pull what he has heart to do and no amount of abusive tactics can make him stronger. A good horseman and puller once told me “that beating a animal never made him any stronger so why would I want to”.

The videos that you referred to are not the normal and are there to fuel some self centered agenda. Get to those who really love the sport. Don’t judge everyone by a few bad examples they are in every sport and they are the ones that get the attention.

[Iron Rose]

There are 2 types of Pullers the ones that pull horses for the love of it and the type that will do what ever just to win.
Most of the first group a good horseman (many are loggers or farm with there horses)who condition there teams and work them everyday. You can usually pick them out as they don’t need a whole crew to to get them hooked. They are more concerned with there horses than winning.
The other group are the ones that will abuse there horses with hotshots and or performance drugs, somtimes rationing water so they make wieght . Some will do anything to win.
In my area of the country we have two different groups of pullers. The farmer pullers (sometimes called the barefoot pullers as shoes are not allowed) and the professional Pullers( most of these horses are shod with Calks) Both pull by the same rules but in different classes. Most of the ones that I have pulled with are generally sincere and treat there horses well, but there are bad eggs in every bunch.
I have heard many people say that pulling horses is abusive, but these horses are well trained,conditioned,and fed the best. What I think his abusive is people that only hook there horse a couple of times a year. When they do they pile the wagon or sleigh with all there friends drive them all day with little rest.

[Iron Rose]

I’m real luckey to have “Albert Lea seed house ” near me that handles most any type of seed needed both commercial and organic. They are a third generation business and have a great agronomy dept .

[Iron Rose]

Most off the old bits as well a few of the new higher priced bits are made of what was called sweet iron. The person that thought me to shoe horses was also an excellent blacksmith. He made spurs, bits,and anything else that you needed. For the mouth pieces he used steel that was weathered(from old rusty machinery) to which he would inlay copper. He always said that stainless and chrome did nothing for the horse just for the owner.

[Iron Rose]

You talk about these people using “Old School Methods”. From what I have read in these posts sure doesn’t seem Old School to me. We had a neighbor when I was a kid that traded horses. He bought anything that was cheap(both saddle stock and work) broke them out for resale. Let me tell you he was Old School, but he got the job done. Didn’t really care if the horse liked him or not, but they respected him( I know what your thinking that it was more fear then respect but sometimes its a narrow line-between). He always said there is only one boss around hear and the sooner they realize it the better. Now these horse were not the gentle backyard horses we have today. Some of these were mean and nasty. I won’t say what he did but he got the job done.

Now I really don’t agree with using some of his methods as they are not necessary today. Today’s horses for the most part are raised around people and for the most part gentle(a lot are just plain spoiled). I’ve trained many horses over the years and have never found any two the same. Some need a lot of ground work and others not so much. You have to treat each as an individual. I’ve always found that horses or mules respond better when they have a job to do or they get bored, when they get bored they are like a kids and they don’t learn.

If your way works for you great but don’t run down everyone that doesn’t think as you do.
Dan

[Iron Rose]

The books,videos,and clinics have there place for teaching, and most are offered by qualified people. The trouble is that a lot people use these and think that they will make them trainers. It takes years of hard work and sometimes a few wrecks to develop a training program that works for you. There as many different training methods as there are trainers. Some are good and well some are not. I’ve learned something from most every trainer I’ve watched , the trick is to keep an open mind. If it works for you thats all that counts.

[Iron Rose]

In Minnesota are Governor has been saying that he will not raise taxes yet he has raised the fees on hunting and fishing license,camping fees, and ect some as much as 500%. For instance 5years ago a burning permit was free, now they charge $25. Most of the money goes into the general fund. Finally today someone brought it to public attention. Mainly because of the declining license sales. Just a way of sneak taxation. Same goes for are county goverment raise taxes and then give themselves a raise in pay.

[Iron Rose]

I have one that I used on one of my logging horses. She was very aggresive and up on the bit. I had tried everything that I could think of from checks to lever bits, the more aggressive the bit the harder she fought. The Mylar bit was a improvement ,but not a cure just made her easier to drive. Used it on a draft mule that was quite head strong and worked great. If possible see if you can borrow one and try first .

[Iron Rose]

I know that there are some people out there that use only draft power and thats great. Trouble is that it takes more help than with machinery. A number of operations that use horses are also keep tractors for heavy tillage and loader work. On some operations they have got rid of most of there harvesting equipment(just to expensive to maintain for the limited amount of use) and hire a custom custom operator when needed(less expensive in the long run)

Horses are used when ever posssible for plantiing ,cultivating, haying, feeding and anything else that is needed. A added benefit of useing horses especialy in this time of low horse prices is green broke horses are cheap but well broke horses are holding there value. So the sale of a few broke horses is added income.

As far as all the people that tell you cant do it my answer to them is to ask them HOW MUCH MONEY DO I OWE YOU if I dont dont worry about how I run my operation. Usually shuts them up.

Good Luck
Dan

[Iron Rose]

Iv’e been thinking about Pesto Powers thread on Rescueing Horses wasn’t going to voice my opinion as some people are not going to like it. But I think that it needs to be addressed.

I have no problem with you recueing the horse’s if you can afford to give them the care they need, but when you want others to help you pay the bills . Thats were I have I have the problem . With so many people out of work and lossing there homes, Food Selves running low and the general state of the economy. Asking people to help you to care for used up horses seems wrong.

Iv’e worked horses all my life both in harness and under saddle and at times had more horses then I could afford to keep but never asked anyone else to support my passion for horses. A lot of the real loyal horses lived there last days out on pasture till age or lamness was causing them to suffer then they were put down.

You people say that you rescued these horses from the kill pen. Really you did the buyers a favor because they don’t want thin horses . Enough younger fat horses that will yield better. Fact is its a common fact that many buyers laugh at the fact that they made the “Resuers pay through the nose”.

Again this is my opinion, and if you want to continue with your passion do what you will.

[Iron Rose]

Probably nothing to worry about , but if it continues you should have them checked for tape worms. Had a gelding that was real loose off and on . Had the vet take a stoul sample and tested postive for tapeworm. After treating him properly no more problems Good luck

[Iron Rose]

All horses are different and what works for one may not work for another. Some are just plain nasty but most are just plain spoiled. Most likley your horse as gotten away with taking his foot away and every time he dose it reinforces the problem. He needs to shown that his actions are not acceptable. Over the past 35 years of shoeing all types of horses there have been some real bad ones, but all left with iron on. I won’t go into details as not to start a big argument about how. My advice is to find a farrier/trainer that will handle problem horses and let him do his job. The second option is to use some trangulizer as needed (although I have never seen a horse learn anything with drugs )

[Iron Rose]

Jason

Like your way of feeding your horse as to what work there is to do. Never thought of feeding yougert to horses but it makes sense( I,ve been using it for years) Will have to try it.

Years ago I worked for a old guy that fed his pulling horses a dozen eggs a day along with a couple of gallons of milk. Never tried the milk but had a logging horse that sure loved eggs, in fact if he found a nest it would be gone shells and all.

[Iron Rose]

Neil

Thanks for posting the video of the trimming chute. Sure wish I would of had one years ago (knees and back would be in better shape). Do you put shoes on in the chute also? Heard of a guy in Montana or Wyoming useing a tip chute to shoe pack strings , but have never seen one used.

I have used many different types of shoeing stocks over the years some good some not. One problem is useing stocks is slow work and a lot of horses fight being tied down. Never had a horse expire in one ,but some do get banged up.

Thanks again for sharing if I was a little younger I would sure look into getting one.

Dan

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