[LStone]

I am thinking that based upon several variables such as the total weight, horses conditioning, method used, and distance of the move, I can envision several scenarios where it could be done. I will defer to others with more experiance of the capabilities of the halflinger though.

[LStone]

Absolutley, I think… It isn’t a religion for me and I have a million things on my mind so it is mostly a question of priority in a busy. I subscribe to off grid living and self sustainability concepts. But yeah I am a fighter and plan to help my family survive on any terms.

[LStone]

Welcome Leslie,

I won’t speak for anyone other than myself, but my pants have been drug through the mud on more than one occasion. I find it to be a very effective teaching aid although I try not to make it a common occurance. Somehow I don’t think we are alone.

Larry

[LStone]

How about a soldering iron? Works on my nylon harness, I would think it would do well on Biothane as well.

LStone

[LStone]

I’m a big fan of lead poisoning too. Noticed in my hunting experiences that deer eventually get familiar and comfortable with dog scent and they know where humans and all threats are under normal circumstances. As a dog owner / hunter / small time garden grower I have spent a lot of time informally studying their (deer) behaviours as most hunters have. Deer are capable of working within the limitations posed by those threats the vast majority of the time. They will tend to not tempt fate but in a given section of woods the deer generally know what’s in their kitchen and bedroom. The same as you would.

LStone

[LStone]

There are too many of us to ever be alone Jen. In my opinion you are doing fine. Don’t lose hope and don’t give in. Seems like you had just another training day with Reno. One down and many, many to go. I don’t claim to know much about plowing but I do know that the more repetitions you do with him the more familiar with the task you both will get and the smoother it will go. The more you loosen up that good old NH topsoil by pulling out the rocks the easier it will get eventually. BTW why do you think they call it the Granite State? Go gettem’ tiger! I’m sure you will succeed.

[LStone]

Guilty too.
I hate to admit it but same with me. I guess my perspective is slightly different than thinking about the hay aspect that John mentioned. That must be awful. I hate this time of year if my local hay suppliers dry up and I just have to search a little larger radius to find someone with hay that I can buy to get me into June. Another country though. It must really hit hard. We are fortunate.

[LStone]

@Carl Russell 17772 wrote:

Oh I hear you here. We have the same issue. These items are marketed to wealthy individuals, for the warm fuzzy feeling. Other items like spend a day with Kevin working his horses, might be more attractive to some locals, and you could use that money anyway you wanted. The shade tree example is only to show how wild the ideas can get. There may be a group of locals that would like to adopt your woods roads as possible public trails, paying you to keep them in great shape. The trick is to involve big money to really support those projects that require substantial investment and represent true services that are not supported by the farm’s bottom line, and to have smaller packages that are designed to be attractive to, and affordable for locals.

Thanks for the interest, Carl

@Carl Russell 17772 wrote:

The shade tree example is only to show how wild the ideas can get.

Yeah I agree with Carl that Ideas get wild. On various the futures exchanges there are contracts that trade on weather related issues such as heating days over under / Snowfall and rain amounts in a given month along with your usual corn, wheat, and heating oil contracts etc.

…People are crazy….

[LStone]

Hi Rod,

Seems like a good thing for me to try if it is good for the horses too. I have heard about vinegar being used with horses for controlling flies too and I was thinking of trying it. Can you tell us more about the type? cider or distilled. Also what ratio vinegar / water do you use for this? Or am I totally misunderstanding the concept?

Thank you

[LStone]

Ed, I don’t think judging is why we gather here. We all do with what we can do with, and do all we can how we can. Our desire is to use the animals but sometimes it may not be practiccal for any number of reasons. I understand, respect, and admire the purist; but I for one have a tractor and use it because of a lack of time and or horse drawn implements. I am working towards an all horse power end, but at the end of the day I have my doubts. Realistically I think if I achieve it I will not have a full time job, and a windfall of adequate money to purchase the horse drawn implements I would need. Couldn’t we all use an extra couple hours in any given day? Just my thoughts. Don’t get down on yourself man.

Larry

[LStone]

Zactly. So then I am not nuts. Jen it did feel great, and what was even more gratifying to me than his moving toward me, was the actual “switching” sensation of the connection we made. It was as vivid to me as switching on a lightbulb or grabbing a lower gear while driving. Way better than calling my dog over to me, and then again very different for some reason. It seems I didn’t have to work this hard with any of my dogs.

Jen my understanding on the goal orientation and agendas is that when we gotta go and take them with us, the initial task of having them come when called, and having no need for the “bribery” or treat rewards becomes a valid goal and is a true agenda of the human. But did I let it go or simply find a way to convince him to adopt mine? I am having trouble understanding that part of it. I think when the agenda of the animal and the human merge together, a team partnership begins. Am I wrong here? Doesn’t an agenda have to exist to get anything accomplished? I will re-read the thread on that subject and post my Q’s on it.

I will say though that I never “felt” that “connection” as I did the other night. I think it was all about me having eye contact with him that particular instant the connection was made. I noticed, and it was remarkable. He got it! While driving, riding, or otherwise working with them, direct eye contact doesn’t have the opportunity to present itself very much. He was uncontrolled in the heard, where he wanted to be, and he chose being with me only because I called him over. Not because I went to him or had a peppermint or handfull of grain etc.

Thanks for the confidence guys. Carl your dam analogy is spot on. Addicting? yes. but I never thought I was doing anything artsy. I always approached this as a skill. Maybe the wrong approach and another thread entirely. But alas… Nobody came over to me when called last night. So I toil on. Practice, practice. I get a lot of practice.

have a great weekend.

Larry

[LStone]

Update. Over the winter I have persisted at getting them to come when called by name. Last night my big gelding came when I called him! I have mentioned before, that I think because of my personality I have to make an effort to “mellow” out to a horse friendly mode. Well last night I think I actually felt myself downshift to yet another gear and it worked. Am I nuts? I called as usual to the three of my biguns and Roy took a positive step toward me, so I concentrated on only him. Then I felt the switch and I think I saw it in his eyes, and he walked over to me. What a good feeling. Now on to the others!

[LStone]

Ed,

It works out that on one of my poles I hitch my heel chains to the evener on the last link too. I am sure there are adjustments to be made in my case, but I have the weight off the neck and so I think I am managing ok. I probably could use a longer pole, But I think that I’m working ok despite the last link. It seems easier to turn in tighter places with a shorter pole out front. I have a longer pole on my “arch” and I am thinking of swapping them when the weather turns.

It looks like your safe and having fun out there though despite having these things to ponder. Those are the main things that I focus on in my case. So you still got it licked, it’ll just take a little more time to figure it out. I don’t know how many people do this, but I have notes that I keep on the adjustments that I make and how I put the harnesses away every time I hitch and change something I document it on a small notepad. I am basically a beginner and I have three horses I hitch so I have to keep the notes accurate so I can hitch them the way I want and it’ll work out at least as good as the last time I drove them in that configuration. My grandfather used to say “if it isn’t one thing its 10”.

LStone

[LStone]

Robert,
I had a similar problem with my filly going forward when I started her in harness. It was suggested to me by a friend to use a helper with a lead-rope up front. Harness and drive as usual but have a lead-rope on the halter and the helper to kind of encourage her to a start on your queue to go forward. Be careful that your help knows that they are there to assist only as a fall back if your “step up” command is ignored and that you are in control / driving. The helper should get progressively less assertive as time goes by, and the animal gets more responsive to you. Figure it is just one way, I did it and it seemed to work ok.

Larry

[LStone]

I have come to understand it as a heavy 4 wheeled higher set flatbed. I think they were used as a “local” city delivery vehicle. I have seen them with and without driver seats and spelled both drey and dray. Think it originated in England. I may not be totally accurate but I think I am close.

[Author]

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