[Plowboy]

It takes a while to train horses enough to safely be used in public. There are many variables depending on the disposition of the animal and time spent actually training. Anything you do to positively get your horse educated without freaking them out will help. Don’t take any chances as it will cause alot more time to be spent retraining. I have tried to advise a few people verbally on how to train their horses but they are afraid of actually working them. A tired horse at the end of a successful lesson is a good thing as long as long as you don’t over do it. It is a hard thing to explain verbally or in text form. I am in Central N.Y. so still far from being much help. If you remember how to properly harness it wouldn’t hurt to fit the harness and accustom him to it. Good luck finding a mentor. I have many in this area but it will be harder for you in an urban settiing to find a good teamster to help. Good luck to you and let me know if I can be of assistance somehow via email or phone.

[Plowboy]

James I wasn’t implieing anything about you or anyone else on this sight. Just sharing a little story about a certain person that rubs most of us around here the wrong way. As successful I mean actually using, breaking and training good horses in actual farming applications. I was fortunate that when I got into horses at 12 many seasoned teamsters took me under their wings and moulded me into what I am as a teamster today. Nobody knows everything so open ears are a must while rubbing elbows with good old timers. You have to listen well because the one’s that actually know the most aren’t usually as bold as the overconfident. It’s best to take in all you can and weed out the chaff so to speak. Many times there is more than one way to do things so you have to decide which method to use and if it doesn’t work well for you you can try something else. No two horses are exactly the same either which keeps things interesting. The best teamsters are always learning as they work. An open mind and a firm , gentle, patient hand will help also.

[Plowboy]

When skidding with horses we use 1/4″ grade 70 with a choker hook on one end. The lighter gauge chain is much easier to work with unless you are skidding monster timber. We were skidding out logs to build a new 4-H barn at the fair grounds about 10 years ago. A know it all showed up with his ton belgians and a half inch chain, He hooked to a big stick and couldn’t hardly move it much less pull it up over the hill. I was driving a pair of 1400#Belgian/Quarter horses that belonged to my Dad’s buddy JR. Jr noticed this guys failed attempt and said “Would you go fetch that stick for him it seems he’s had some trouble”. I slipped the chain on the log and let old Prince and Annie feel it a little and asked them to “GIT”. They went up the hill just a scratchin’ and took that big hemlock to the landing. Truth is JR wouldn’t have sent me if he didn’t think they could do it. The next time Mr know it all came by Jr said I don’t know why you’ve got such a big chain there’s no chance of that team breaking a little one. Mr know it all deserved to be made a fool of as he looked down at us successful horse farmers because he had a certificate from some weekend class he took. He really didn’t need help as he usually did and still does make a fool of himself each time he goes out in public. Seems to think his animals are well trained but they usually turn around and look at him while he’s trying to adjust his equipment. It takes all kinds I guess. Sorry to get off topic just a little story that makes me smile every time I think about it.

[Plowboy]

We are trying to preserve the 16h 16-1800lb percheron. They are hard workers, intelligent, responsive, and agile. It is discouraging to see that the majority of the breed is being ruined by show breeding and ever changing breed standards that take away from it’s intended purpose. The worst effect of show breeding on their quest for the “perfect hitch horse” is the number of horses that don’t make the grade. There is only a certain number being used in hitches leaving the rest for hobby teams or pasture ornaments.
If breed standards were chiseled in stone their wouldn’t be such a broad spectrum of animals in a certain breed. Still our family treasures our traditional Percherons until we lose good stallions to continue our bloodlines.
I’ve had this discussion in person with The Biological Woodsman who is lucky his breed of choice isn’t subjected to changing standards. For this reason the Suffolk although not readily available around here would be my second choice. Tempting me to want to take Rube home with me, a fine example of a Suffolk stud colt but far from home and our full barn. Maybe someday if faced with a lack of good work stallions I would make the trip again and bring back a Suffolk colt to crossbreed our mares to maintain their work horse traits.

[Plowboy]

Right now the market for horses is definately in favor of the buyer. While I don’t want to be negative the buyers aren’t always skilled enough to handle even well trained horses. All it takes is an error in judgement or lack of know how to ruin a good team. This is why I neglect to train horses for people even though the offers come in when they see how well our horses perform on the farm and in public. We also don’t have time to train folks formally in teamstership while we do take newcomers under our wing and help them along their way. A teamsters lifestyle is definately one of commitment and hard work to become proficient in the craft and be good caretakers of their stock and equipment.
All too often the romantic notion of living off the land appeals to people and then becomes too much physical work or a passing fad. The horses then get turned out in the back forty and become a burden more than a useful source of power.
Decent horses are readily available but real good horses still command a good price and rightfully so. Feed and training time is worth very little when a real good 3 yr old broke to all equipment will usually bring less than $2000. Even at $4000 for a team the seller is losing money making it economically impossible to flood the market with these excellent young horses.
Mostly as Jason said the good ones are already working and getting better by the day.
The best advice I can give is to first seek the training to learn how to handle a good team proficiently and then you can get by with whats available or what you can afford. I am an advocate of mentor training and listening to anyone that knows more than I do with open ears absorbing all information and then sort out the chaff so to speak.
When it comes down to buying a team buy the best trained available and they will teach you their limitations. Until the prices go up the “Work Horse” business of raising and training will remain stagnant. In the day and age of the declining dollar everything goes up except for agricultural products wether it be horses,beef, milk,produce or grain crops we are all slaves to the market.
If networking will help I am all for it. Occassionally I find good horses being sold for health or economic reasons or as I said earlier the passing of a fad. I would be glad to help anyone in my area of Central New York that is GENUINELY interested in the craft and I also am fortunate enough to still have a panel of old timers to help folks also.

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