[Scott G]

Just install a hyper link on the front page. For example,”The Map” could be the hyperlink.

[Scott G]

Bradley & Jean, Could you use an extra hand on Friday? I believe could bump up my flight a day without any extra travel cost. Would be happy to help out if needed…

[Scott G]

Roscoe & all,

Here is a link for one. They intrigue me and I’m considering trying an open bridle (no blinders) just to see how well it works in the woods. You could rig up your own just with a halter but I like the bit carrier straps and the extra d-rings on the cheek piece, more adjustment. The one pictured is nylon but they make them with beta as well.

Halter/Bridle

[Scott G]

@Carl Russell 30299 wrote:

Looking forward to seeing you and working together again, Carl

Ditto, Brother! 🙂

[Scott G]

I pulled the trigger and bought the tickets. I’ll be arriving in Manchester nonstop from Denver at ~11:00p.m. (hopefully) on Friday 12/9, grab a car and then head towards Athol. My return flight is ~8:00 a.m on Monday 12/12.

First question, is there a bunkhouse, shed, barn, etc. at the site where I can stretch out my sleeping bag in the wee hours of the a.m. and not bother anyone? The same scenario would be great for Sunday evening as well if possible as I will be leaving for the airport very early. I have an offer of a place to stop midway, but if possible I’d like to keep it on each end.

Jean & Bradley, you mentioned that you might also need a chopper. I’ll have full PPE and everything I need to fell trees/work in the woods except a saw and an axe to pound wedges. MOFGA LIF last fall I used an extra 372 that Carl had and that worked OK. The offer is there if you need it…

Looking forward to it!!

[Scott G]

You can never expose a horse to everything. Something new always rears its’ head, that is what keeps life in the woods entertaining. You can however give enough exposure to your animals, coupled with their confidence in you for guidance, to get to a point where you are approaching a “been there, done that” horse(s). Basically, the absolute best thing you can do is keep them in the woods. The more often they are worked, consistently, and systematically, the better animals they become. The best horses I’ve ever worked were ones that I used in the woods packing & riding pretty much 6 days a week from April to November. With rare exeptions, horses worked like that seldom flinch as long as they have positive assurance from you.

The worst situations I see in the woods are the hunters that grab their horses out of the pasture for 10 days that haven’t been worked since last hunting season a year ago. No only are they severely out of shape, they spend more time moving up & down and sideways than they do moving forward. They also have a tendency to spread gear far & wide throughout the woods. It makes for great a spectator sport…:rolleyes:

[Scott G]

Very nice, Carl! Great for showing the loading of your sled.

[Scott G]

Introduced many new horses to the herd in the past and it basically follows what George mentioned. I’ll seperate them with a corral fence wood or pipe where they can’t get hurt if they kick it. Make sure its low enough where they can touch noses if they wish and give it 2-3 days before I turn them out together. They are still going to be figuring out a pecking order and there probably will be some kicking and squealing for awhile but they’ll figure it out. One word of caution, Bradley. If your horses are sporting caulks on their shoes you may want to do something to mitigate that. A normally harmless kick isn’t harmless if caulks are involved. Liking the new horse you’ve decribed. I’m a big fan of belgian/brabant chunks.

[Scott G]

The take home on the previous statement is to always be heads up. I’ve had bad situations/wrecks throughout my life and there will be more in the future – it comes with working horses in the woods, riding, packing, or logging. The trick is being heads up enough to see it coming and being able to get it shut down before it gets out of hand. Jumping sideways due to a flushed grouse isn’t out of hand, being in a position to not get out of the way is…

None of what I said applies to discipline training, only the prey instincts. As Carl so aptly put it, he doesn’t hitch horses that won’t stand still.

It takes alot more time to work horses. Way beyond the normal care is the patience and the training. By far, that is often my greatest fault-needing to get the job done and not taking the time to concentrate on working with the horse …not necessarily working the horse.

[Scott G]

I too have hesitated on responding to this and the response comes from my own personal experience, my peers through the years, and the old sage mentors that tried to keep me on track. Spooks are everywhere in the woods, both what is already there and what we bring with us. By far, the majority of my horse background comes from many years of packing everything imaginable into the backcountry with the associated pannier covers, tarps , & gear. Wildlife, alien backpakers, llamas, and killer stumps around every corner. I have a different take on “desensitizing”…

First off, I’m not quite on board with the term as it somewhat infers that a horse becomes “numb” to the specific perceived threat. I think nothing could be further from the truth. It would be better phrased as them “getting used to it”. They are around the object enough (duration of time and circumstances) that they just don’t care about it anymore-it’s not a threat. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be perceived as a threat if it was presented rapidly in a different way. Once the object/situation is recognized, everything is well with the world again. A tarp, chaps, pannier cover, etc are great examples. The horse has been around all of these for some time, acknowledges them as non-threatening, until…. that gust of wind picks up and hurls the tarp and sends it flying or flapping about. The horse is going to react, probably undesirably, unless it has been exposed to that situation before. Once it recognizes it as a previous non-issue, everything is OK. First rule, not to get eaten…

I know that this is rudimentary for most folks out there but it’s easy to forget; once we get “connected & comfortable” with our horses, that their grand purpose on earth for millennia was to be food, …not twitching our wood. Conversely, the horses grand mission was to not be food. That’s a hard instinct to overcome. Even with the herd leader, either you or the bell mare, is going to get a reaction regardless of the level of trust. Swinging around real quick, short bolt, etc. is going to happen if the horse doesn’t have time to evaluate the situation. Once it does all is well, but the horse needs to be able to check it out.

Out west we routinely “sack” our horses out. Many people have an incorrect vision of this being a violent, neurotic method and unfortunately some folks take it to that level. In reality and done right, it is very slow, smooth, and calculated. A small tarp that you leave on the ground in front of the horse for a bit, then run it through it legs-slowly-over the back, over the head, under the tail, etc. all the while reassuring the horse and picking the rate up a notch. This happens multiple times over days/weeks until the horse is more interested in you scratching/rubbing him than he is in the tarp, flapping or not. It is more the norm out here to have corrals/pens connected to run-ins rather than the tie stalls you folks have back east. I’ll leave scary, flapping objects in the corral,or tied to a corner of it for days. Name the object and as long as it isn’t sharp or truly dangerous, the horse will see it in all sorts of condition, light, wind, etc and get used to it without being hurt.

All things are new and could be a threat until they aren’t or proven otherwise. A horse establishing trust with you and looking to you for the answers & guidance is absolutely paramount to a solid, safe working relationship. However, horses don’t become “bombproof” over night. It takes years and IMO they truly never are bombproof for the simple reason they are horses.

Always keep in mind that when everything goes to hell you don’t have to outrun the bear, just your partner. Your horse is on the same page…

[Scott G]

Dogs & horses are the truest friends we have, Carl. Sorry my friend, losing your dog leaves a hole thats hard to fill. Can’t go wrong with the black lab, that’s what my bud is. His name is Mick.

[Scott G]

Done. Thanks, Ethan!

[Scott G]

Logan is that much of a headache ‘eh, Mark? Currently, $40rt difference between the two…

[Scott G]

I can always talk about horses &/or forestry, Bradley. 🙂 However, with only one night it might be better to have a roundtable/panel format so that we could address the ‘burning’ issues on most folks minds. Regardless, I’ll have my laptop and everything in it if I make it out there.

[Scott G]

Jean, just checked Google Map. 1h40m…lol! I drive almost twice that long just to get to the airport on this end! I checked and can get a rental car for $13/day unlimited mileage…

Boston is the exact same driving time. Southwest Airlines $84 each way. Thats almost 10hours of flight time for $168. I don’t know how they can do it, but they do… Hope the price includes a pressurized cabin… :confused:

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