[luvmimerle]

Can you tell me what her breeding is?

[luvmimerle]

Along with going back to the basics, the loaded stone boat is also key here. It will make them think about something other than the opportunity to goof around. It will also help to tire them out. If whoa is a problem on the stone boat, then we’ll just keep on going til whoa sounds REALLY good. After a few minutes on the boat, then unhook & work them, you should see a difference in energy levels right away.
Are you feeding lots of grain? If they are in good shape, you could back off the extra feed for a bit til they settle down. I often found I didn’t give my steers enough hard things to do, we often pulled an empty wheeled cart or ground drove through obstacles. They did get mischeivous at 2 yrs old but it was settled quickly with the stone boat or a couple of logs to drag. I also found that with easy stuff to pull, they started “hauling out”. Again, this was rectified with a loaded vehicle or logs.
I also would not give them “herd time”. YOU are their herd. Period. Maybe when they are older, you could turn them out with other cattle but not now. If they learn cattle behavior & turn it on you, this could be bad.
Oxen are like raising children, always a challenge, always rewarding. Both will make you so proud or make you look like an idiot, sometimes within the same 5 minutes!!!! But you hang with it for that end result you know is there.

[luvmimerle]

We are located on the NY/VT border, about 30 miles from Rutland, VT

[luvmimerle]

We are located on the NY/VT border, 30 miles from Rutland.

[luvmimerle]

Donn, I have to take new pictures of the stud colt & with a busy weekend ahead, it may take me a couple of days to get them to you. I’ll measure the 3 yr. olds & get back to you on that.
Larry

[luvmimerle]

Jean, Where are you finding that video of the Suffolks?

[luvmimerle]

If you’re interested in owning a stud, we have a Suffolk colt for sale. He will be 1 yr old in June & has dropped already. We have his brothers & they are gorgeous! We also have his half sister for sale. Let me know if you are interested. 518-639-5534 Larry Newcombe (VT/NY border in Rutland area)

[luvmimerle]

Just a thought…. if you let the horse go on his own, and he realizes his freedom and decides to runaway/bolt , how are you ever going to retrain this horse to behave? It only takes once for a horse to become a chronic runaway.
I used to have a team of oxen that were very well behaved. Many people would ask me why they didn’t run away since they had no lines or bits. My reply was “They don’t know they can”. In their training as calves, if they ran, I ran with them & when they stopped I just resumed my position at their shoulders & continued on. They never caught on that they were on their own. Being young & yoked, it wasn’t hard to keep up with them. Can you keep up with a runaway horse? I think not! And what a shame to ruin a nice logging horse because it’s easier/faster than walking behind. Good, well trained horses are hard to come by. Runaway horses are just dog food.
Now if this horse was 20 yrs old & used in the woods all his years, he would eventually go to the gates by himself & you could feel comfortable that he still knows he’s working.

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