[jen judkins]

@OldKat 6795 wrote:

Essentially, at the end of a fence line you drive T post with the face flange (the top of the T) facing back toward the fence line you are installing, then you drive one facing the opposite direction right beside the first. The bottom flanges of the two T posts are essentially side by side. The first T post is driven deeper, leaving only about 36 to 40″ above the ground. The other T post is driven to standard fence height.

The Push-A-Post is made from one T post that is cut down to probably 48″ in length with a small piece of pipe, maybe 2 &1/2 inches in diameter welded on the end, this slips over the two T posts in the fence line. This is the base of the assembly and the face flange goes face down, running the same way as the fence. Toward the other end of the base another T post is bolted through the flange to form a brace of about 45 degrees, but the angle can be adjusted as needed since the bolt is not snugged down tight. On the other end of the brace piece is a small piece of pipe, maybe 1/4″ to 3/8″ in diameter and about an inch long welded to the end of the T post. A bolt with a piece of plate steel cut into an “L” and maybe 1/4″ thick is welded to the bolt & the whole thing (bolt & metal L) pivots in the small piece of pipe. This becomes a latch that hooks over the little raised projections that run down the face of the T post. (I’ve only ever heard these called “tits”, but that is probably NOT what they are really called!).

Anyway, once you have a bunch of these made up you can build a corner assembly in probably 5 to 10 minutes and can take them back down nearly as fast.

I know that this is not enough to go on, but if anyone is interested I can get exact dimensions and maybe even post some pictures of how they are built. I probably have 40 or 50 of these made up and the only time I have ever had one fail is when the area where the fence was built flooded and stayed under water for about 2 months. Finally the ground became so saturated that the high tensile wire just pulled the T posts completely out of the ground, brace assembly and all.

Oldkat, I would like to see pictures, please. I have been offered a 5 acre old hayfield for grazing this summer about 4 miles from my place. I need to install fencing, but it needs to be temporary. I’ve heard about the ‘T-post’ corner brace, but have no idea how it works. I think I can get my sister to do the welding, if I need.

The field is roughly square and has woods and a neighboring farms perimeter fence on two sides. I think I can get by with a single strand in these areas. The concerning areas are the road frontage (luckily this is a dead end, very low traffic road) and there is a utility line that runs out from one corner. I know how horse love those straightaways. Problem is that it runs right into I-89 after about a 1/2 mile:eek:…. so I’m gonna have to do at least two strands in these areas. This will just be for the big horses (no minis) and they are all trained to electric fencing.

Any thought or ideas are welcome.

[jen judkins]

@Donn Hewes 7530 wrote:

Generally, if is an “normal” turn, like going down the lane or out in a field I just turn with out saying anything. When a sharp turn is needed or one that is not what you would ordinarily expect it can be useful to give them a heads up verbally. You didn’t mention words for passing to the left or right with out going forward. I use them far more than gee and haw.

Donn, I use gee and haw for a side step with little or no forward motion, as in a tight turn. I don’t use those cues for regular turns, as you point out. Do you have other cues for side-stepping right and left (perhaps useful in backing up)? I’m not in a position to add more words to Peanut’s vocabulary just yet…need to learn the ones we have first.

[jen judkins]

Those were awesome, Grey. Thank you. Looks like a fun event. I really like the look of those percheron mules

[jen judkins]

@Plowboy 7519 wrote:

Jen, you may want to check around some more before you buy next time.

Will do. It does sometimes seem like you need a magic password to get info about local harness makers, though. I noticed you didn’t mention yours:p. The few times I’ve asked for local info, I get a mumble something like ‘Oh, We use so and so (first name only) over in somewhere’…no offer of a phone or address. Maybe I’m being paranoid:o

[jen judkins]

@Carl Russell 7527 wrote:

I just wonder what benefit there would be to the horse. I am a firm believer in limiting myself to command. There is no doubt that a horse can be so sensitive to the driver’s voice that every time they speak the horse reacts, and that can be distracting if you want to stop and talk to your neighbor, but chatting with the horse while working is pretty unproductive, and un-necessary at best.

Carl, I didn’t mean adding ‘chatter’ to the horse.:p I agree that this is counter productive and dilutes communication. I meant stopping to speak to a neighbor or to some other person nearby. Its hard to believe there is a situation where you wouldn’t at least occasionally need to speak words that should mean nothing to your horse.

[jen judkins]

@Jean 7513 wrote:

Jen, what do you have for a driving harness? I bought one for Kruiser, for his road cart (speed/death trap), but it is too small for him. I don’t think I can use his D-ring, because the traces will not hook to silly little thing that the driving harness would have.

Anyway, I would love to see Peanut in his “driving harness”.

Jean, This is a photo of Peanut in his driving harness from last fall when he was at Ted’s place. Last month I had to let the breaching out 2 holes and the breast collar a similar amount. Luckily it barely fit him when I bought it…slightly too big…I did that on purpose, knowing he would grow more. I got it at Running Brook Farm in Brownsville, VT. Nice people. Its Beta and a draft size….really nice. Don’t have their website handy, but you can google it. The harness was a good deal at 550.00 if memory serves.

@Jean 7513 wrote:

Oh, Kruiser and I had a good day on Saturday. I went out with him and my husband. I am not sure what I was more nervous about me doing something wrong with Kruiser, or him jumping out of the cart at the slightest sign of trouble. Needless to say I gabbed at Kruiser the whole time. At one point (we have this on video, which I don’t think I will share), I actually said to him “Haw” (we really did need to take a sharp left turn), but then I said to him “good haw”! Well no kidding lady, we are still on the trail, if it had not been a good haw, we would have been in the woods! I could not believe how much chattering I was doing when I listened to the video. What a powerful tool the video camera is.

That’s an interesting and good observation. I have a tendency to chatter as well when I’m riding…either to whoever I’m riding with or to my horse if I’m alone. It wasn’t clear to me how counter productive that was till I started driving Peanut. He’s triing to learn what words mean, after all and my chatter just dilutes the meaning of those few words I want him to pay attention to. So I now have a strict ‘no talk’ rule when driving…except for a short list of acceptable words I want Peanut to respond to,…’walk on, whoa, gee, haw, easy, back up, step up….good boy’. Once he has learned these words, I suppose adding some conversation would not be wrong and might be the next step in his training…learning to distinguish between random words that aren’t directed at him, from those that are.

Its definately a sort of meditation to avoid the use of unwanted noise.

[jen judkins]

Jason, That is one goodlooking hunk of a horse! And is that you in a tie? You clean up nice:p.

[jen judkins]

@Robert MoonShadow 7502 wrote:

Jen ~ I’m so glad to see you & Peanut at it! What’s his attitude like, about “working”? Eager, indifferent?

I would say he still thinks of it as a game of sorts. He does alot of testing. I don’t mind it, just make adjustments so he knows where I want to go and how fast. Its a constant conversation though I have learned to keep the vocalization to a minimum;). I try hard to match his energy and no more…and relax when he settles into the gait and direction I had in mind. It appears to be working, as he is better with every outing, but he is pretty far from being a steady, walking work horse. I wish I had the schedule to get him out everyday…its would make a difference I’m sure. Meanwhile his antics are making me a more confident driver/teamster. Can you call yourself a ‘team’ster if you only drive one horse?:)

[jen judkins]

Nice, Larry. You and your horses DO look like you are having some fun!

[jen judkins]

@Biological Woodsman 7489 wrote:

Jen,
Invent your pasture drag to be made of something besides old tires. I have read that when tires wear they leave cadmium in their paths and that is not something you want in your ground or environment in any amount.

Heavens no I don’t. Glad its raining out today and I haven’t gotten to it yet. Will rethink. Thank you.

@Biological Woodsman 7489 wrote:

Glad you are having some fun working Peanut….he looks like a pretty good sized goober to me…..

Oh man, ‘goober’ is such a good word to describe Peanut:D Big body, child’s mind…

@Carl Russell 7491 wrote:

Jen, Awesome. I hope you’re documenting this to be part of a workshop at NEAPFD about “starting out”.

I can and will. Perhaps a panel discussion? I can think of a few locals who would be good sources of info…Larry, Ed, Julie, Jean and I’m sure there are more.

@Carl Russell 7491 wrote:

The harness looks pretty good. I especially like the wet hair. My only feed-back is that the front trace looks a little too long, which is a chronic problem with current harness makers, and not anything you did, or that you can adjust. From my perspective it should be a couple of inches shorter, more like where your shaft loop belly band is, and usually requires a custom harness maker.

I thought the same thing and that it was stupid that it wasn’t adjustable. I can’t quite get that 90% angle that supposed to be there. Peanut is still growing though. I had to let his driving harness out several holes both front and back this spring, so perhaps he will grow into the D-ring this year.

Thanks for the feedback.

[jen judkins]

@Plowboy 7458 wrote:

Jen glad your finding some real work for your youngster around your place. We had a friend with a herd of Belgians that used to invent jobs to do with his horses and invent equipment to use his horses for jobs that weren’t necessarily horse jobs.

Dennis, I can see this happening. Working with horses is quite addicting and if I might add empowering. I’ve got a pasture drag in my mind that I’d like to build (maybe today) with split tires.

@Robert MoonShadow 7462 wrote:

<<< Um, there's something wrong with my computer... I don't see any photos of you and Peanut at work!!! >>> 😡

Well, its kind of like the ‘tree falling in the woods’ story. There was no one home to witness the event, so perhaps it never really happened:eek:. I did take a photo afterwards to get some feedback from Carl or Ted about the new harness adjustment and there is evidence of recent work, sweat and a solid non-fidgety resting stance….SWEEEET:D

Thanks for the support everyone! Its great to know I have friends cheering me on even when Peanut and I are out there alone.

[jen judkins]

I, for one, hate throwing away baling twine and am always looking for things to do with it…even if I just make a ball for the barn cats or the dogs to play with. Although one of those little balls wreaks havoc with the mower if you run one over:p

I’ve been meaning to start a few projects with my twine…probably should have done over the winter, as there won’t be time now. I saw a woman making hay nets with twine at the grazing conference…looked easy to do. I’ve always wanted to make a fly net for Peanut, but need to see one up close to get the feel for how they are made.

BTW, Robert, email me your addess and I will send you all the twine you can use. I go through about 1200 bales of hay each winter….you do the math:D.

[jen judkins]

@perchhauler 7412 wrote:

bare necessities would be, good work harness and well fitted collar, singletree, tear drop, chokers, two good saws, cant hook, and off you go..

Steve, What are a tear drop and cant hook?

[jen judkins]

Rod, I’m gonna shop around this afternoon. Any idea how big your spreader is? Are you happy with its size? Go bigger, smaller? Have you pulled it behind a forecart yet? I’m thinking if I keep it on the lighter side, it could be something the mini’s could pull down the road.

Thanks for the info.

[jen judkins]

There is an update on Reno on my blog: http://restingheartfarm.blogspot.com/

Its all good!

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