[Jean]

So far so good this winter with the snow load on the wood shed shelter from Tractor Supply. I was nervous early on, and cleaned the snow off, which actually is pretty easy to do from the inside. It is a dome shape, so it falls off pretty easy. I did not get a chance to clean it off with the last storm, which left us with snow and ice. It has all come off by itself now.

I think the one we have is only 4 ribs.

Jean

[Jean]

Tractor supply has horse shelters that are made out of something like tarps. They are inexpensive and you could put them up right on the snow. You would have to attach it to a fence or something until the ground is bare, but it might work. I know in Rutland VT they have them for less than $300. I bought a wood shed that is the same product, only it has flaps on the front and back so it can be closed. Took us 1/2 to set it up. The horse shelter would take less time I think because it does not have the flaps on it.

Don’t give up. My percheron is happy to be out 24/7. She has a shelter, but hardly ever uses it.

Jean

[Jean]

Can’t type through the tears.

[Jean]

I love my books by Steve Bower and refer to them often. Actually wish I had one with me today when I was struggling with the harness. Thought I had something on wrong.

I also have Dr Beth Valentine’s draft book and this time of year I use Susan McBane’s The Horse in Winter. A lot of the pictures in that book are drafts, even some of our own Carl Russell. It’s like he’s famous or something!

I had to build a book shelf just for my horse books. Guess I should stop reading about them and simply get out and do it!

[Jean]

The Green Mountain Draft Horse Assoc will have their annual draft horse auction on May 3rd this year. It is at the Addison County Fair Grounds in Addison. It is pretty close to the NY border. They usually have some good teams, that sell for reasonable prices.

You can email me your name and address and I will be sure to get you an auction catalog.

Jean

[Jean]

Hi Rod,

Do you have any pictures of it?

Jean

[Jean]

Does anybody here know where I can get a bridle fixed. I have an english bridle that the chin strap has been torn off of. I have been using it the way it is, but would like to get it fixed. The chin strap must have a purpose.

There were signs that a leather shop would open in Vergennes, but so far I have not seen any life in the shop.

Jean

[Jean]

I don’t have a round pen to work in, but I do use one of my smaller paddocks as a place to work on free lunging my percheron. She has an iffy background and I was having trouble with her trusting me. She would walk right through me to get to where she wanted to go. Didn’t matter if we were both in the door way at the same time, she would push her way through. She has never been aggressive towards me, just not respectful.

I use a 20 foot soft rope to get her to move away from me, I make her walk, trot, canter and whoa from a distant. She does not know how to lunge on a line, but we made some great progress with the free lunging. I can ground drive her with good success now, she understands voice commands and she has taught me gee and haw (I swear I need to tattoo those on the correct hands. I always get it backwards)

My only concern with round pens, is are they large enough for the bigger horses?

We have had some scary things happen while riding and being able to talk her down has been a blessing.

Jean

[Jean]

GR Farm – of course I had an audience. All of them willing to give me advice on what I did wrong. The worst part of it was my brother-in-law caught her and he does not know the front from the back end of a horse. My mother was not impressed with my lack of control of her sweet little mare, who had never ever tried anything like that with her. I say it was a learning experience for us all.

Back to safety issues – my barn just got a complete makeover. I want to put something on the wood in the spring to protect it. My sister’s WB is a chewer, my draft is not. Should I use stain or paint. I would like to trim out the windows with some kind of metal. What is the safest for the animals?

[Jean]

Can you tell us more about what you are doing on Friday at the NOFA NY conference? And where it is going to be in Saratoga. Maybe a website that we( or at least me) can look at to find out more about it. Saratoga is not that far away, I am always looking for ways to learn from the experts.

Jean

[Jean]

Jason – do you mean lever bit or level bit? You use both terms in your post.

Gooserun – I also think that my mare is always about to do something foolish. I mentioned that to a teamster I was working with and she said that I should stop thinking that way and instead assume that nothing bad was going to happen. That way I would be more relaxed and would be able to feel it better if she was about to go goofy on me.

I am looking forward to more posts on this subject. I find as I get older “safety first” brings on a whole new meaning for me.

I did have my first runaway this summer. Lucky for me, I was driving my mom’s brat of a mini. She was able to dump me from the cart. I only hurt my ego.

[Author]

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