Got my 4legged ATV back…

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Since my harness is off for repairs until who knows when, I finished work on my nylon webbing alternative and tried it today. It would mean pushing with his chest rather than shoulders and I wondered how he’d react – the answer was, not at all! Even though his shoulders move under the padded chest band, it moves with him and for light weights it works really well. We took a sledgefull of silage and a new mineral bucket out to the sheep. Angus seemed to relish the work after being cooped up as comany for the bull, as per usual I had to be constantly on him to steady up….I really must get more riding done….

Tomorrow we’re going to collect out christmas tree in the same manner, I’ll try to get some pictures!

[Nat(wasIxy)]

The glamourous side of being a small oxfarmer – dark, cold and dirty.

[CharlyBonifaz]

ixy, any chance for a picture at daylight?
I’ve always been under the impression cattle can’t pull with a leather belt around their front, I’m interested in a picture of your ox because seems like you run the band at a very low level around the front and that might be the cue; it remains below the shoulder joints (no conflict there) and is low enough not to interfere with the windpipe and still high enough to settle on the breastbone…..
I started mine out with a trotters harness (myself sort of blond 😉 ), yes they can pull that way, no – as you mention – I wouldn’t try that with heavy loads…

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I will get one for you at some point – yes, it does sit very low compared to a horse, but the band quite naturally sits there; I did have some extra straps that I thought would be needed to hold it up and stop it slipping onto his legs, but actually they weren’t needed, it holds there well by itself. It’s quite easy to feel the right place by hand. Any lower down and it interferes with his legs, further up and there’s too much windpipe/dewlap in the way! Angus was fine with it, and he is my guide 😀

[Nat(wasIxy)]

This one probably doesn’t help!

[Author]

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