Heavy loads

[Rod]

I am trying to get my team ready for sap hauling and today it was nice out and the ice mostly gone so I hooked them to the 700# sled they will be pulling for a trial. I haven’t had a lot of good experiences with this team with heavy loads and today was no exception. They took off running after I started them and mostly ignored my commands. This same thing happened last fall with a large loader tire I was trying to have them pull so I switched to the stone boat with a few concrete block on it which worked ok. My plan was to keep upping the load to train them to the heavy stuff but winter set in and I stopped working them because of the ice and other stuff (too cold out).
Anyway I now need to get them into the heavy load mode and don’t have a lot of time. They will be pulling about 2000# when my sap tank is full and some of that pull will be over mud or dry ground, flat or down hill. Should I really put a heavy load on the sled right off the bat to slow them down or do I need to go through a series of increasing loads to get them slowed down? What should I do?

[Scott G]

Hmmm, frisky team with not much time to get them going steady for work. You might try a more severe bit, especially if they’re not responding to you and a wreck is imminent. You are going to have to watch your pressure on the lines with the new headgear though or you’ll make matters worse. If you’re using a liverpool with a long shank you could just drop the lines a notch or two for more attention. They’ll eventually settle with enough sweat and a consistent hand…

[Rod]

Oops, sorry I didn’t mention this is an ox team.

[Scott G]

Oops on my part! I should’ve noticed this was in the Ox forum. Oh well, what can you expect from a dumb logger like me…:(

[Tim Harrigan]

There are two issues with this team, one is the frequency of work and the other is the load. It is hard to get them out when the weather is bad but you will have to make it a priority. With most teams, the less you ask them to do the less they want to do. If they know they will be working everyday they will settle down and work better for you. Most teams are a bit of a pain the first time you get them out after not working for a while.

The other issue is the weight. I would tend to follow the plan to ramp up the weight, but mostly ramp up the frequency and distance. If you are on snow with a sled 700 or 1000 lb is not much of a load. You might want to put some light brakes on the sled to increase the resistance a little, I like 5/16 chain just to slow my sled or stoneboat down a little on hardpack or frozen ground. You probably saw the brake discussion over the last few days so get something ready that is appropriate.

If you are hauling a sled over a snow covered surface a 1000 lb sled is only going to take about 75 lbs pulling force to keep it moving so it is not going to be a great conditioning tool. It is hard to be specific without seeing the conditions. It is mostly simple though, more time in the yoke, more distance, enough weight so running seems like a bad idea.

[Carl Russell]

Rod, it is a hard thing to really put into practice, but if you’re in a hurry with cattle, you’re about two weeks late. In other words, even if you THINK you don’t have much time, you need to take the same amount as you would if you had all the time in the world. It isn’t easy making time to work these animals, and we all have the same issues, but just be patient, and get into a rhythm. Before you know it, they will be working just fine. You have to remember they are a lot younger and stronger than you, and they will need some routine conditioning before they will settle down.

Carl

[Anonymous]

@Rod 15469 wrote:

I am trying to get my team ready for sap hauling and today it was nice out and the ice mostly gone so I hooked them to the 700# sled they will be pulling for a trial. I haven’t had a lot of good experiences with this team with heavy loads and today was no exception. They took off running after I started them and mostly ignored my commands. This same thing happened last fall with a large loader tire I was trying to have them pull so I switched to the stone boat with a few concrete block on it which worked ok. My plan was to keep upping the load to train them to the heavy stuff but winter set in and I stopped working them because of the ice and other stuff (too cold out).
Anyway I now need to get them into the heavy load mode and don’t have a lot of time. They will be pulling about 2000# when my sap tank is full and some of that pull will be over mud or dry ground, flat or down hill. Should I really put a heavy load on the sled right off the bat to slow them down or do I need to go through a series of increasing loads to get them slowed down? What should I do?

but if they are breaking and running you gotta stop that before some one gets hurt!!!! tie them to the front of a tracktor, truck, or dozer and say stepp up easy so they know you can hold them with just your voice! thats probally wrong but thats how we do it! i went on one 3 mile runaway with a pair of big blond belguns, that was enough of that for me we use a 4 wheel drive Kabota till we get them broke to drive theres no fight no fuss and no one getting killed im sure the folks on here have some better ideas thanks scott

[mitchmaine]

hey rod, one thing that used to work for me (with horses) when the wouldn’t stand, was just harnessing them up, tying them off on the cool side of the barn, and leaving them. they got used to being harnessed and standing for long periods. we all harness them up and go to work, and i noticed how their attitudes would change with harness. it meant work. so if you can break that association sometimes it will work. i had a pair of bay mares that i was going to shoot one day, i was so mad with them. and i tried that trick on them and i never saw such a change in a pair of horses. they stand alone in a field for hours when the same morning you could barely hook them alone. i don’t know nuthin about steers. never could figure out an animal that would come to ya when you was whackin it in the head with a stick. good luck mitch

[mother katherine]

Mitch, you’re so funny.
oxnun

[Vicki]

I had the same question for Howie a few years ago. Howie said, “Work them, then work them, then work some more.” We had a very icy pre-season so we missed many days in the yoke, and I was doubtful about their readiness, but when we actually got in the sugarbush, they were all heart! So I just want to encourage you.

Tim and Carl are right on. You have two objectives: one is to get the oxen’s heads into working focus; the other is to condition them physically. You accomplish both simultaneously. But just persevere past that first 10 to 20 minutes of friskiness or balkiness, and they’ll settle right in if they’re half-decently trained and handled firmly but calmly.
Tim’s advice is what I would tell you: get them out maybe twice a day to get their heads into a working mentality. You can start a little heavy to keep them from running if you must, but then let up the weight a bit to encourage them and get their blood moving. They need conditioning–time–with only moderate loads to harden them if they’ve been off awhile. Develop the hard necks and aerobic capacity and good attitude with frequency.

Good luck, Rod. Hauling sap was one of the most rewarding–and most strenuous–things I’ve ever done with oxen.

[reddox]

I’ve found over the years that a quick team that you are describing also needs a steady walk as well as a substantial load (keeping a steady pull but not too heavy)at first. Limit the amount of turns and manuvering until they get wound down a little. After a good brisk walk the should be a little more workable. It does take a steady routine to get the improvement your looking for.
Another thing I’d like to mention from my own experience is not to get caught up in the perception to yourself of your goal (pulling loads of sap). You will get to that point after a steady regimen of slowly increasing the load handling expectations of your cattle, but not overnight. There’s no better way to handy and bond with your team than a productive work situation.

[Author]

Posts