[Sue Brennan]

Hopefully the photo will upload. In a bad area for phone service.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 7 months ago by Sue Brennan.

[Sue Brennan]

Thank You Diane,
Should be a very productive weekend.
The anticipation is starting to grow!
The class is staring to fill up.
Looking forward to interacting with everyone and finding out what everyone’s ultimate goals are for the weekend.
Any one with questions please fill free to call me.
Sue Brennan four one three-441-0037

[Sue Brennan]

Hi everyone, Sad to say I need to cancel the Beginners Driving Clinic due to RAIN. Expecting a 1/2 of inch of rain on Saturday and Thundershowers on Sunday. I am willing to try to reschedule at a later date or refund your money. Will keep everyone in-formed. Thanks again. Suzie Brennan

[Sue Brennan]

Tom, My farm also had golden rod as far as the eye can see. Beautiful yellow wild flowers as my city neighbors would bass over. I brush hogged June 1st, July 1st, and August 1st before the flowers turned to seed. Again in October 1st. You would be surprise how quickly grass comes back. I had a friend that was willing to bale the golden rod taking the seed off the farm. I chose to brush hog since I had so many other projects to invest in on the farm. Also, adding lime would take the sour taste out. (Although I am not an expert on fertilizer)
Suzie

[Sue Brennan]

Beginner Clinic June 27th & 28th at Breathing Space Farm, Sue Brennan 300 New Concord Road, East Chatham, New York, 12060. 3 miles south of I90 just over the NY state line. Four One Three- 441-0037
On Hands driving for six students. Morning starting with Leading a horse, Harnessing, Line driving single, (thru an obstacle course) backing, attaching to a stone boat, how to line your horse correctly to the stone boat, timing the steps with whoa, Safety attaching the traces, driving with a stone boat, safety, balance, contact on the bit, suppleness, Gee, Haw, whoa, Choosing the command, Battery going dead….on my computer. Progress to a team…..will post again soon.

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[Sue Brennan]

Miriam, Check the DAPnet face book page. Some one also asked same question.
Linda Brown in Pa. has parts. She is a member on FaceBook.
Also White Horse in Pa.
Glad to hear your horse’s are going well.
Enjoyed the article in Town & Country on your farm.

[Sue Brennan]

Here is the Registration Form.
Thank you every one. Phone calls are starting to come in.
This course will also include,
Safety, safety, and more safety. The “big 3’s”-check the equipment, check the harness, check the lines.
Acclimating your new horse for your first drive. What to look for when buying a horse.
“Driving a straight line”. Light hands, happy horse’s.
Backing your horses with and without equipment.
I’ll try to answer all questions and if there is some thing I’m not familiar with,
I’ll investigate into it. OR ask an “expert” here on DAPnet. 🙂

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[Sue Brennan]

Hi everyone, I may be a “new” name in DAPNet, how ever driving drafts is not new to me. 35+ Years involved with training drafts to farm equipment, multiple hitches (single to 12 up), Hitch Showing Single Cart to 4 up, Combined Driving (Dressage, Cones and Marathon). My true love is to mentor the younger generation involved in our future food and low impact, sustainable farming with drafts. This course is full of valuable information and is so reasonably priced for YOU. I’m willing to facilitate the course to all students needs. Beginner to Novice (ready for the next step). So feel free to call me and pick my brain. I live in my tack room, so no space for sleeping on my floor. (38 acres with a driving arena. Yes I’m one of them!) Camping allowed or hotel down the road. (I have a 24′ horse trailer, willing to clean out if anyone interested. 3 compartments) Thank you for your interest. Suzie Brennan Registration form will be up soon.

[Sue Brennan]

Jay, So sorry for the lost of your horse and companion. Our horse’s bring us joy in so many ways even if just hearing them nibble in the morning on the hay before going off to work. Know that Lee had a good home and a compassionate caring owner and enjoyed every day with you. I too lost a favorite horse in a freak accident. Actually in rented pasture, I placed 40 acres in new fencing only to miss 4 feet of old wire in a wooded area with rambles. I awoke in the middle of the night, jumping out of bed, thinking that I must go check on the horses. Decided that I was dreaming and had just been there a few hours earlier. The next morning I found Turbo with two hind feet wrapped in fence wire. He backed into it, both feet caught, went over the wire backwards and faced down hill on his back with hooves in air. Some thing must of really scared him? I buried him and did not tell anyone for a week due to gilt and pain of the lost. Thank you for sharing your experience and it is nice to see all the support and compassion offered to you. Unfortunately horses are prey animals and their nature is to flight. I certainly have had my own and am amazed I survived with the horse’s in tack. Some one could write a book on why horse’s run away. There are a 100’s reasons. I am so glad that you and no one else got hurt. Glad that Zeke is back in the woods. You have been on my mind the last couple of days and just know…YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND WE ARE ALL THERE WITH YOU.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by Sue Brennan.

[Sue Brennan]

Ugh….I hate that I can not edit posts!!!(Or delete!) The plow photo above is a terrible plow job. I was behind a person driving 2 + 2 mules on a sulky plow and he was all over the place. I was attempting to straighten the furrow out which took twice around the field! Only to have him come back and mess it all up again. Good thing it was a “fun day” gathering off the farm!

[Sue Brennan]

My Standing Stalls are 6′ wide by 10′ deep,(5′ is typ.)
which includes a feeding manger 24″ front to back. (20″ inside measure -5′ wide)
36″ tall hitting horses chest, 42″ tall on feeding alley side.
How ever depends on breed of horse. I own Percherons, a hafflinger may be different for instance- measure to the center of your horse’s chest to the neck line and that should be a good starting range. I also raised the floor of the manger so I can get the broom under neath. 8″ + or -.

In front of the horses I have a 2′ Alley so I can walk in front to feed.

The sides are above their backs 12″+- (6′-7′ high) to prevent biting back and forth between horses.
Some times a iron grate is added here. I also placed a 2 x 4 in middle each side of wall lagged to add stregth. (some times a horse will turn around instead of backing out and pull apart the walls.

My Tie’s are centeded – approx. 34″ long. Tied with a quik release knot. Made of rope to cut.

My father (80 yrs old) has concrete for his floor. Placed a 4 x 4 in the concrete for nailing the floor above. He says elm is the best (Elm Desease? White Oak?)if you can get it. Place the grain up so when the horse paws it will not spinter into his hoof. He had a friend that a spinter went completely thru the horses foot and took a year to heal. He used 2 x 10 rough sawn Yellow pine from Penn. leave a small gap between the boards for drainage. To clean use a fire iron poker used in a wood stove. DO NOT USE SOFT PINE.

In my barn I installed compact crushed stone with a pvc drain pipe sloping 1 degrees to exit point out of barn. Works like a footing drain, behind the horse for cleaning and drainage. Covered stone with Stall Mate system from Califonia. I’m not happy with this for one of my drafts have pawed through the fabric. The Box stalls I’m pleased with. The system drains the urin and is easier to clean daily. The manure, straw, and sawdust is dryer. I can also power wash the stalls with ease. AND freshen the place up for events.

To correct the problem I will have to install 2x flooring simular to my fathers. Which we had at the last barn for 30+ years.

The 4 corners each have a 4 x 4 post tied in with 2 x 10 around perimitor at the top to prevent racking.

Will add photos of my fathers stalls tomorrow.

I also place a chain from post to post behind each horse so they can not back out into alley. This way it is saver walking behind them. (or if the rope, halter or snap breaks they don’t wonder around.)

Hope this was of some help. Sue

[Sue Brennan]

Wanted to add that we do have out of state friends traveling to Virginia with horses to stay at our farm. We do not have camping hook ups but do have extra pasture that we can separate horses or oxen. Your welcome to set up your own camp. Please make arragements first by calling my father Bob Brennan 540-672-5692 or my self Sue 413-441-0037. PS The farm consist of 220 acres.

[Sue Brennan]

Thanks Erika, Would be honored to have both yourself and Sam come to Virginia or Chatham, NY. Open invitation. Heard though Dad that Sam was finishing up the trails for the syrup run. Can’t wait to try “Maple Vanila Ice Cream” at the Maple House. Yum Yum! AND best of luck on your new adventures and so happy for the both of you. If you can use an extra team or hand please let me know.

Sue

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