New oxen team

[Andy Carson]

I made a trip up to Michigan to pick up a team of oxen this weekend. They are named Abbot and Costello (or maybe Costello and Abbot as Costello is the nigh ox). They are 4 years old (almost 5) and are 3/4 shorthorn and 1/4 jersey. They were a 4-H team and the teamster was happy they could find a good working home as he is out of his parents house now and not as able to work with them. I am happy to get a team that I can use right away. Well, maybe not right away, as I think these boys are going to need to put on some muscle.

The seller gave me a lesson in how to direct them and it was very interesting. I will have to practice alot more and we will all have to get used to each other. The nigh ox (Costello) is very sensitive to my body position and I need to learn to be very aware of where I am in ralation to him all the time. I ended up touching him alot in the shoulder area so I could remind myself (and maybe him) that I am in the “come” postition (as opposed to Gee, Haw, or Back). I didn’t end up using the goad or voice commands on the nigh ox as much, because he was so responsive to body launguage. Good thing too, because I personally think “Costello” is a mouthful to say over and over. I did have to use quite a few taps with the goad and alot of voice commands on the off ox (Abbot), though. He’s more forward on the ground than the nigh ox. Haw is super easy and super tight. I got excited at just how tight they spin this turn. Could be very useful in the field… Gee is more of a struggle as the less forward ox has to go in front of the more forward boy. Is this usually a more difficult direction to turn? They both backed great. I found little movements to be the most challenging. It was pretty easy to get them to circle my truck one way or the other or make a serpine (for example), but getting them to move 1 foot to the right to unyoke them took a long time and alot of backlign up and going forward. We all need some practice. I am excited to work with these boys and feel good about how this is all going to work out.

Oh, three more possibly interesting observations from someone just getting into oxen.

1. I was working really close to horns that look very dangerous. You get used to this really fast.
2. They drink ALOT!
3. An ox that weighs as much as a draft horse doesn’t “look” nearly as big (until you start towing them)

PS. I will get some better pics when I get to working them more. It was dark by the time I get them set up and ate dinner myself.

[Droverone]

very nice! good luck, how tall are they?

[Anonymous]

What part of Michigan ? I didn’t know they had 4H oxen in the Midwest.

[Andy Carson]

They are a little over 5 feet tall at the shoulder. Not as big as some of the oxen I have seen, but big enough for what I want to do (I think). They are from south central michigan, between Lansing and Jackson. The guy I bought them from said they have some growing left to do. This is interesting to me as they certainly look young to me, and I would have never guessed they were almost 5 years old. I guess shorthorns grow slowly. The guy I bought them from had said he had had them at Tillers, and spent time down there with other teams as well. I suspect that Tillers exerts a local influence in encouraging young people to try oxen. They were very sad to see them go and very happy to find someone who wanted to work them rather than eat them. They said the whole time they had advertized them (at least 2 months) they only got one other call about them, but the person never showed up. It is sad that there doesn’t seem to be a strong market for an older trainer team, even though I benefit from this.

[Kevin Cunningham]

That is a nice looking pair, good color from the shorthorn. It would be neat to see them in the yoke. I hope your time working oxen is fun and successful keep us posted on how the training goes.

[Howie]

Good for you Andy. They should make you a good pair. They have a lot of growing to do yet.
I should get down to see them, I was in your neighborhood just the other day.
I hope you take them to the MODA gathering this summer.

[Tim Harrigan]

@oxspan 32483 wrote:

I didn’t know they had 4H oxen in the Midwest.

Abby Richmond (now Johnson) worked hard to get a 4H program in working steers going in Ingham County about 10 years ago or so and several teams got started. They also worked with the Ingham County fair and were able to show their teams and do some competitions, etc. Abby is now living in northern MI and no longer involved with the county program, I guess I don’t know for sure if it is still active. It takes a lot of effort to keep those programs going and bringing new young folks into the craft.

Looks like a nice team, Andy. Sorry I missed you on Saturday.

[dominiquer60]

Best of luck with the new team, they look sharp. Enjoy and have fun.

[Oxhill]

They are a striking team! Congratulations! The gee turn is a little more difficult to teach than haw. As a result you turn haw more often because you default to it whenever it doesn’t mater what direction you turn. If you force yourself to always turn gee in those situations you can sharpen them up.

[Robin]

Good Luck with your oxen team. “What’s old”? I bought my Jed & Grey when they were 8 years, now they are 16years old. I had them in a yoke a few days ago, they are still doing OK. My Frank & Jesse, which I got from Howie, were 1 1/2 years, now they are going on 13 or 14 years. That make me going on 70 this year. I never thought I would be doing such wonderful things with my “guys”. We have met so many nice folks when we take them to our local events. Usually, we don’t travel more than 50 miles with them.
Enjoy your new boys.
Robin

[Andy Carson]

thanks for the good wishes all, I will certainly keep everyone updated

[Baystatetom]

Very cool indeed! Good luck.
~Tom

[Vicki]

Congratulations on your new ox team. Yes, they were from Abby Richmond’s 4H club in Ingham Co. if my recollection is correct. I saw those steers a few times when they were smaller, at the MODA Gatherings and their young trainer. It’s great when steers can find a new home where they will continue as oxen. It sounds like they are well trained and you will do well with them.

[Vicki]

Abbott & Costello may be a little rusty, and they will have to get used to the nuances of your movements. They should get better quickly as you spend time together. Not unusual that the small precise movements are the sloppiest right now, because they are trying to figure out exactly what you want, and what you are doing may be signalling something else to them that you are not aware of. You all should improve quickly.

Gee will be more difficult as long as the off wants to go faster. You may have to stop them, gee them, then move ahead for awhile. Practice…

If you were merely walking in the yoke or with very light load when the off was always ahead, he might settle in well under a load. I’ve found it common for one to try to be ahead when just walking, but work together under a load. Let us know.

[Doug]

Congrats on the new team Andy! What’s that white stuff on the ground? we don’t have any of that on my side of PA. this year!

[Author]

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