logging with oxen at sanborn mills farm

[mother katherine]

Just got back from New Hampshire and the “Logging With Oxen” weekend in Loudon at Sanborn Mills farm.
Ultracool.
Ratio was one participant to one team and instructor(the team’s owner). The forester knocked down trees ahead of us and we twitched out and yarded about 5 and a half cord of wood. Teams were various breeds and ages. The instructors were all active teamsters from the area and some were young 4 H teamsters with their current competition pulling teams. Names like Tasker, Huppe, Conroy, Winslow, Farnham, Courser, Ken Barton were there.
I talked up the Draft Animal Forum in hopes some of these guys will add to it.
I heard Carl Russell’s name mentioned.
Can’t wait to get back to my calves and get going on dragging limbs.
oxnun

[Robin]

It would be great to have more oxen folks at the Animal Power days next year. I haven’t seen Drew in several years. He must have many stories about his trip to Africa. Perhap he could do a talk about his travels at next years event.
I have been pulling logs with my oxen for several weeks now, trying to get all our firewood in before any real heavy rain/snow hits the area. I just pull a few a day to our “landing” where hubby cuts/splits for the fireplace. It’s very enjoyable.
The Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association is planning their spring plow. Most likely it will be at the Tilly-Foster Farm in Brewster, NY. Check out the place on their web. This could be interesting! All welcome.
So far, I will be the only one there with oxen. Robin

[LStone]

Though I am mainly interested in the horses. I couldn’t get to this, I am buried with things around home to do. I feel fortunate that I have a place like that so close to the house.

LStone

[Vicki]

How I would love to come to these events! But it is pretty far for me. I have not seen Drew for years either, except at Williamsburg last year. I was at Tillers for a small Ox Driving Clinic last week which was terrific. But I love the New England drovers and miss you ladies too.

[Carl Russell]

I’m glad this event went so well. We were there a few years ago doing a horse-logging weekend. What a special location.

We have been in contact with many of these ox teamsters, and several of them were committed to something else, and couldn’t make it to NEAPFD this year. Any encouragement from interested parties is welcome in trying to get them to our event. There just aren’t that many working ox teamsters to choose from in order to get a few.

These types of events are made valuable when the teamsters are actually aware of the details of performing the work at hand. To many, a team is a team, and a driver, a driver, but the names mentioned above can take the discussion and demonstration to the level of practicality that makes the workshop important.

Hats off to Tim and Colin for knowing the truth about this, and working to create such a good event.

Carl

[jen judkins]

I have it on good authority (his wife) that we could have had Brian Patten this year with his oxen. I guess the later dates works better for him. We should consider inviting him next year.

[Patrick]

@mother katherine 12362 wrote:

Just got back from New Hampshire and the “Logging With Oxen” weekend in Loudon at Sanborn Mills farm.
Ultracool.
Ratio was one participant to one team and instructor(the team’s owner). The forester knocked down trees ahead of us and we twitched out and yarded about 5 and a half cord of wood. Teams were various breeds and ages. The instructors were all active teamsters from the area and some were young 4 H teamsters with their current competition pulling teams. Names like Tasker, Huppe, Conroy, Winslow, Farnham, Courser, Ken Barton were there.
I talked up the Draft Animal Forum in hopes some of these guys will add to it.
I heard Carl Russell’s name mentioned.
Can’t wait to get back to my calves and get going on dragging limbs.
oxnun

Don’t forget Mark and David from Sanborn Mills Farm, Jake the chopper and of course the hosts of the event, Colin and Paula Cabot. There is no way that this workshop is a money making venture. I’d be surprised if they broke even. The Cabots’ generosity in educating people about some of these almost forgotten rural skills is something to be appreciated, and the restoration work that they’re doing on the farm complex is awe inspiring. It must have taken some kind of alignment of the heavens to bring together the philanthropy and historical preservation ideals of the Cabots with Drew and Tim’s knowledge and contacts to complete the work that they’re doing there. Oh, and the food, can’t forget the food. Most of it raised or grown right there on the farm, and all homemade. The food alone was almost worth taking the workshop for.

[Patrick]

I talked up the Draft Animal Forum in hopes some of these guys will add to it.

If we could get even half those guys to drop in here occasionally it would be great.

These types of events are made valuable when the teamsters are actually aware of the details of performing the work at hand. To many, a team is a team, and a driver, a driver, but the names mentioned above can take the discussion and demonstration to the level of practicality that makes the workshop important.

Hats off to Tim and Colin for knowing the truth about this, and working to create such a good event.

It was the icing on the cake. Not only the experience level of all of the instructors, but their patience and professionalism too. You don’t know humble until you can learn from a 12 or 18 year old kid who really does know what he’s talking about. I’m very appreciative of those instructors who all allowed the greenest novices among us to take and make mistakes with their teams.

I also heard rumors of some mean cider going round the barn at night after dinner, but I don’t know too much about that.

[bradley]

On Sunday we did this 4 ox hitch just for fun and got a little wood out too.

[Author]

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