[Jean]

Where are the pictures? Sounds like someone is going to have a nice team.

[Jean]

Welcome Scyther, Good to see another hand mower on the site. Plan a trip to Addison County Field Days next August and compete in the hand mowing competition. Good place to meet and talk to other hand mowers.

[Jean]

I spent a week in McCall a couple of summers ago. I was a tag along, while my husband was on a business trip. That was where I took my last trail ride before getting my own horse. Had some great hikes and fun bike rides around the lake. I think the ranch hand that I rode out with was surprised to see me show up on a bike instead of a mercedes. Seemed to be a big money town. Hopefully they are willing to pay good prices for your produce and truthful stories.

[Jean]

http://www.fezziwigfarm.com/

This farm mentions that they bought some of their early stock from Ann Harper in VT. I met Ann at our last draft horse meeting and she has a number of horses still. I can’t remember how many she said, but I remember that I was impressed.

This farm and Ann has Brabants.

[Jean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z384x3kskwM&feature=related

This may have been on here before, I had not seen it. Pat Bacon plowing at 2008 NEAPFD.

[Jean]

She looks like she is saying “finally, where I was meant to be”.

[Jean]

Rod, didn’t you just buy this wagonette? I thought you loved it!

[Jean]

@Carl Russell 11544 wrote:

The biggest bulls in town are found on the golf course.
Carl

That is funny, since that is where you usually find the most BS too.

[Jean]

I use a Downunder brand saddle for my percheron. I love it. I have the cheapest, less then $300.

[Jean]

You all are so lucky! How does Grandpa feel this morning?

[Jean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcBOcwgb4OA

Off topic, but a good sing along!

[Jean]

@drybranchfarm 11146 wrote:

Jean, if you don’t mind me asking, how often does this horse get worked? And I don’t mean driven around the ring, I mean until he has sweat dripping off his belly.

DBF – NEVER would be the answer. He would get driven 1 or 2 times a week. Never very hard. Maybe in the winter when he was pulling the sleigh, but with the wheels on the cart he has had a simple work load with me. I did not trot him more then a couple of yards at any given time.

I know what you are thinking and I am not going to say you are anything but right. He needs to turn the color of sweat and if he was somewhere with someone that could make that happen he would not be a problem horse. However he is with me and I have been learning as I go and I was not ready myself to get that out of him. We may be the classic green with green.

Jean

[Jean]

Kruiser has been a pretty mellow guy recently. I have changed his feed and I have opened back up to him. He has stopped chewing the barn and tormenting the older horse.

I have harnessed him and ground drove him. He was not fantastic, but he also was not really bad. Had some moments of thinking about doing something, but came down to a nice walk with a simple “easy” or “walk”. I was pretty nervous and stopped the work when I felt myself freezing up. I know how fast that can translate down the lines. Ground driving him has never been easy. He tends to get bored or something.

He also is being unusually friendly when I go out to feed or work around the barn. Not in my face too bad, but just around to accept a rub or scratch.

Does all of this make it easier to figure out what to do with him? Nope, it sure as heck does not!

Karl, you have it bad it sounds. That alpha mare sounds like a nightmare (bad pun). Here is a link that I have read over a couple of times. http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/senior/eqeuthan2466/

Jean

[Jean]

@Joel 10224 wrote:

What caused the wreck? Has the horse had issues before? Are you ready to quit?

Sorry Joel, I was not able to answer your question when it was first asked. Had not had enough time to reflect on the issue.

What caused the wreck? The wreck started when the driver asked Kruiser (K) to come down to a walk from a trot. Instead K went into a canter, then started bucking. No shying, no spook, no bee, no bad driving. He was in my ring, so he had nowhere to go but around. He hit a barrel we had set up and that flipped him, the cart and threw the driver out.

Has the horse had issues before? YES. He is a tester. He will work in the role of second for only so long, then he has to try to move his way to the top. He does it with me by moving into my space, striking with his feet, and general pushy horse stuff. I have been working with this for a long time. We can get to the point that he will follow me around nicely and be polite for a while, then he tries again. He does the same thing with my mare. He will be satisfied with her role for only so long, then goes in and tries again to work his way to the top. I have had professionals help me with him and he does come around, but once he gets comfortable he will try something new to get his way. This is not new behavior with me, this is how he has been for years and other owners. This was the first time that he pulled something like this driving where he was not willing to come down. He would often break into a canter, but after a couple of steps I could pull him down.

Am I ready to quit? That is the toughy isn’t it? I am not ready to quit with horses, but I maybe ready to quit with him. I have spent the last 3 weeks working this in my mind from every angle and what I need here is a calm horse that can do some of the chores without making a fuss about it. That is not what I have.

Sorry for the long answer, but there it is.

Jean

[Jean]

Bess – do you know my horse? You sure pinned him with your description. I could not have done a better job.

I appreciate the conversation that this thread has had. I know what I have to do and I am waiting for the vet to visit in a couple of days to rule out health issues. Once that is done we will move on and finally make a decision. Knowing what I should do and doing it are two different things.

Jean

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