[jen judkins]

There have been many, many incidences where that type of flip over in a western saddle has killed people. The horn crushes the aorta…death is fast…you, my friend were lucky!

[jen judkins]

Chestnut mare, I posted a rebttal that I sent to several state reps and senators last week. You are welcome to share it. It is in the ‘off topic’ section under NH House bill 427. Are you going to attend the hearing?

[jen judkins]

Matt, I’m curious as to why you started with 2 pair? And did you plan to get a ‘pail fed’ pair as well as a ‘pasture fed’ pair? and why? Its an interesting situation and you are in a perfect position to answer Sanhestar’s question. I’d be interested to hear how you decided upon these 4 oxen.

And I’ve enjoyed hearing about your progress with them…

[jen judkins]

Hey all, the 2009 Skijoring season is about to start. First race is Sat Jan 31st at Coleby Sawyer College in New London as part of the New London Winter Festival.

Details at http://www.nesja.com. I found a nice overview of the sport with a slide show at: http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_sports/skijoring/index.html .

There was an AP journalist at one of our events last year interviewing and taking photographs and this was a result of that visit. The woman’s voice early on talking about the history fo the sport is mine.

Come and check it out if you live nearby. Races all start at noon.

[jen judkins]

Very Nice, Dave. Confratulations.

[jen judkins]

@Robert MoonShadow 5277 wrote:

{Um, I prefer Robert, please}

Correction made:rolleyes:

[jen judkins]

Matt, I agree with Simon. People with this amount of ignorance, need to be piled up on a stake (sorry, my people were vikings) and put on display. On a night like tonight, your cattle should be enjoying the great outdoors, not shut in the barn.

Is there any way for you to set it up so your young devons could have access to the barn when they want? I have had alot of success educating my neighbors (mostly retired wall-streeters and ex-military), by pointing out that my horses can go in the barn ANYTIME THEY WANT, so when they don’t, its pretty clear what their preference is. Its a hard experiment to refute and I live in blissful peace here.’

I’m sorry for your troubles. Stick to your guns.

[jen judkins]

Here is a copy of the letter I emailed to the sponsors of this bill here in NH. For anyone in NH, please feel free to share with anyone you think might be able to help prevent this bill from passing. If this bill passes, other states will fall in behind us and NAIS is right there with them.

“I’ve been made aware of this bill to be presented on Tuesday. I have some thoughts about the bill, I’d like you to consider…

1. A tax on horseowners will not reduce the number of unwanted horses in the state, in fact, my prediction based on the current economy and the marginal economic status most horseowners live in constantly, is that abandoned or unwanted animals will increase drastically at least in the short term.

2. Taxing responsible horseowners for unwanted horses is unfair and mis-directed. If you want to crack down on inappropriate breeding, tax those that are breeding horses.

3. The anti-slaughter act has removed a very sustainable way to alleviate the excess of unwanted and sick horses. The truth is, very few people can afford to humanely euthanize, then dispose of an unwanted horse. If there were a humane way to get a horse to slaughter, alot of this pressure to abandon horses would be alleviated. I don’t want to eat horses, but I don’t feel the arrogance to assume that my aged horse couldn’t feed a family somewhere. More energy needs to be directed to improving the transport and protocol for slaughter, not in dictating what constitutes food or taxing people who already bear the burden of handling the eventual death of a trusted friend or farm-worker.

4. This bill stinks of being a precursor to the big NAIS plot to plug all animals into a GPS grid, putting undue stress on small famers and families raising their own food or food for their community. First there is a tax, then a registration, then big government gets to watch where I ride my horse. That’s about as anti-New Hampshire as it gets….’Live free, but big government gets to watch your every move’

5. Requiring Rabies in horses annually. Horses are not high risk carriors of rabies and the increased risk is borne nearly solely by the horseowner, not the general public (unless your horses roam the neighborhood on their own). Moreover, there is no evidence that horses require rabies vaccines yearly to maintain immunity for several years. Its seems incredibly ridiculous to require that a farm horse that never leaves home be required to be annually vaccinated. Even my pro-vaccine vet is opposed to this part of the bill (well she is opposed to all of it, but…) and agrees that vaccination protocols are best decided upon between horse owners and their vets, not the town clerk or state.

6. I can appreciate the need to solve the problem of unwanted horses in this state and others, but I believe the best way to spend our energy is in how to alleviate the difficulties horse owners have in disposal of unwanted horses. I, myself, rescue a horse or two every year and I contribute to local rescues….why should I pay your tax? I’m already doing ‘the right thing’. Truly if I thought your tax had value in relieving horse abuse and neglect in this state, I would be behind it all the way, but you are putting a bandaid on a hemorrhaging wound that will not get better by ignoring the true source of the problem.

Thank you for your consideration.”

[jen judkins]

Andrew, there was a discussion about tying in the ‘Training Babies’ thread. You might find some helpful hints there. Its a tough problem. Good Luck.

[jen judkins]

That one left me feeling alittle queasy, Robert….:o

[jen judkins]

I use rope halters alot for training purposes and with youngsters. The thinness of the line makes any contact bite alittle and it releases faster compared to the broad web or leather halters, so they are very helpful in making a point. That said, once I have an animal that is giving softly and does not brace against pressure, I rarely use the rope halter and go to a standard leather halter (or better yet, I work with the horse at liberty)for the horses comfort. Although that is entirely a personal preference. I do have one horse..a sensitive arab cross that just doesn’t tolerate the rope halter. But he is also the softest of horses and there is really no need for him to wear one at this point.

I agree that the major flaw with these halters is that they do not break…so hauling in them or turn out is simply not an option with them on.

Robert, I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘trainer’ either…but like it or not, I’ve managed to ‘train’ a few horses…even train myself along the way:rolleyes:. I suspect that ‘Fat Mattie’ is a goat;)…and the technique you describe is widely published…make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy. Herd animals understand comfort and discomfort. Its a simple equation really. I mean there are some more complicated horses out there who require some extra sensitive timing and feel, but your approach works and if it didn’t, I’m sure you would think of something else to get the job done;). Anyone who can train a goat, can train a donkey or a horse, as far I can tell.

[jen judkins]

I guess I should have added my approach to sweaty horses in the winter here in the northeast. The issue is really two-fold. First, a wet horse cannot use his coat the way it is intended to keep warm. Second, a working horse pumps more blood through their muscles during work which creates heat and subsequently sweat. When you take away the work, these vasodilated muscles get cold, fast unless gradually cooled down with lower level excercise (ie. walking). So the approach to a sweaty, working horse should address those two issues. I like fleece as a sweat wicking layer, though wool has been used for eons, just to get the moisture off the horse. I also allow them to move around out in the pasture so they can cool down on their own. Standing…even in the barn can allow them to cool down too quickly. If you are workig in the woods and have a fair walk back to the barn, that might be sufficient as a cool down. The goal is to have a dry, vaso-constricted (blood flow to the big muscles are down to normal) horse to turn back out to their paddock.

[jen judkins]

Amanda, I’m not sure where you live, but clipping a horse in the Northeast during winter, IMHO, is just cruel. I know people do it…but I believe it is generally done for the convenience of the horse owner, not the horse.

You may be far enough south where the issue is entirely a different matter:o so please don’t take offense…it just matters where you live. I believe George lives in northern Vermont.

[jen judkins]

@bivol 4682 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVfo3X4gTuQ&feature=related

I had to bring this back to the front. I’ve watched this vid sooo many times, I feel like I might be part of this family. To me this is the epidome of draft power..its a way of life that we partake in. I’m just totally impressed with it…

[jen judkins]

In general, I’m not a nazi when it comes to grazing:D…if my horse can get a nibble in here and there when we are resting, that’s fine. But, I’ve been told by more than one teamster to use them with any youngster…loose enough so they can use their head and neck for balance….but in a position to keep them from putting their head all the way down. Some people also believe they will discourage bucking as well, I guess.

My only experience with them before harness work was in the movie ‘Black Beauty’ when they used the overcheck reins to artificially raise the headset….driving that pretty redhead crazy:(

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