Have a second driver handy?

[Baystatetom]

I have seen a few discussions on here about safety equipment, but I ran into a bit of trouble today where I really needed somebody else who could drive my team. I keep my steers at my inlaws about 3/4 of a mile from my place. I drove over there and walked the steers back here to skid logs. Having a blast at it, both me and the team are getting better and more efficient. But then I slipped on a wet branch and it felt like I ripped my hip off my pelvis. I got the log we were pulling unhooked and hobbled to the yard but knew it was going to be a really long walk back to the barn. I realized how important it is to have somebody else who could drive the steers. My kids do okay at it but I couldn’t expect my 6 year old daughter to walk them 3/4 mile down the road. I ended up getting my wife to take her car over and drive my truck back so I could trailer them to the barn. All worked out in the end, but it could have been worse. My wife starts her lessons tomorrow.
A handful of advil, a Sam Adams, and an hour on the couch and I am feeling much better. I must be getting old that never would have happened a couple of years ago. Anyway just to reiterate I think you should be sure there is somebody you can call on to unharness your team no matter what they are and put them in the barn for the night. If your really hurt at least you need the piece of mind knowing your co-workers are taken care of.
~Tom

[Carl Russell]

@Baystatetom 31398 wrote:

….. Anyway just to reiterate I think you should be sure there is somebody you can call on to unharness your team no matter what they are and put them in the barn for the night. If your really hurt at least you need the piece of mind knowing your co-workers are taken care of.
~Tom

Hate to even think of it…..

Hope you recover.

Carl

[Cameron Littlejohn]

Hope you have a speedy recovery. Good luck.

[Baystatetom]

Just a little sore today, not bad at all. Probably pulled a mussel, just not a flexible as I used to be.
~Tom

[mitchmaine]

hey tom,
sorry to hear about your upset. hope you are well and mending. there must be a rash of these things going around. i just got off the phone with a logger friend of mine over in western maine. he has suffolks. seems that his feet went out quick from under him and he flipped over the twitch and hit his head on a frozen rock, which sounds harder than a regular one, and blew his hardhat to smitherines. he was complaining about his shoulder and i said pete, you just saved your brains from being scrambled eggs. i was trying to keep it positive. so he’s on pain meds too and trying to mend. but hes like my age and we ain’t so nimble either or quick to heal for that matter. he said you have to swap your hardhat in every 4-5 years, so i thought i’d give mine a look and its stamped 1983, so i’m in the market for a new hardhat. i don’t have a cell phone either but a friend gave me his old trackphone and said if it was charged, it would call 911 even if you didn’t have a plan or whatever. may use that. good idea about a second driver. easier said than done but worth a look for sure. take care and be careful out there. mitch

[Robin]

Been there, done that. Last year, November, I fell on the slippery mud with “Frank” pulling a log. I fell on my left upper arm, muscle. I could not get up off the ground. Frank stood patiently, while I screemed for my husband. Luckily, he heard me. He took Frank back to the yoking area, put him in the paddock, while I waited on the ground for help to get up.
Hubby, finally, brought a bench for me to sit on, then he had to help be onto my feet. I could walk to the house, about 200 ft. I was in agony for several days. We had an electric recliner, which I slept in for about 6 weeks.
No broken bones, but a severe trauma to the muscle. All muscles are needed for the slighest movement…not fun!
My wonderful chiropractor worked on me several times a week, until mid January when the muscle released the stress, back to normal shortly after.
That is the price we pay for working with large animals. My “boys” are very, very good, but stuff happens.
I could not blame “Frank” for my injury, the ground was very muddy, like slime.
Yes, thankfully, hubby has learned how to drive the oxen, eventho he’s a tractor guy!
I am back to normal and able to drive the oxen by myself again, I’m only 69 years young, …..keep your chin up….don’t worry, be happy!

[Rod44]

I drive my team of horses and also cut some wood by myself – but I sure like to have someone else around if possible!!!! At least having a cell phone helps some.

[LStone]

I am always alone with the Bigguns’ in the woods. It is an awful habit and probably the most unsafe thing anyone of us here do on a regular basis. My reasons are lack of interest of my family and friends. Would always love company / help with my hobby. I don’t have answers but I try to always remember my cell phone. They don’t work well when you land on them or when your unconscious though.

[Author]

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