Ox Logging–Pulling Down Hang-Ups

[Baystatetom]

The last 4H team I had 20 years ago was calm and laid back. Like Tim said I could drive them all day and never say a word. In fact a few times I am pretty sure I did. The one I have now have much more fire in them. I can’t just talk to them I have to yell. All my neighbors are quite familiar with the phrase “Dam it Star Gee over there”.

[Vicki]

I’m convinced that cattle are primarily visually cued, with voice being secondary and taking more conditioning. No doubt voice conditioning comes from a different portion of their brains. I was told that you can watch for cattle to grind their teeth/lick their lips a little, and that is the point when they are switching over in their brains from instinctive cattle-mind to actively thinking about your commands and learning. From experience, I think there is truth in this.

I like working without talking, but it’s good to practice voice alone to keep it on the forefront of their brains.

Regarding oxen stopping when the teamster stumbles, it’s not always the case. We had shorthorns who drove very well and were good workers, but they did run a little when my husband slipped and fell in the woods; perhaps becasue they weren’t trained as calves by us.

[Author]

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