Plowing Workshop with Sam Rich

[jen judkins]

April 21 and 22, 2012. (Raindates 28 and 29), We-Lik-It Farm, Abington, CT.

This workshop will be geared towards the beginner plowman or someone with some plowing experience but having some difficulty with their plow or team. A small number of participants will be able to come with teams and their plows for an intensive two days instruction on plow set-up, maintenance and fine tuning in the field. Auditors will be welcome and will be able to participate in a limited way. Observation of the course will be open to the public.

Camping available on the grounds.

For more info, print a flyer, or to register go to: http://www.draftanimalpowernetwork.org/dapnet-events

[jen judkins]

Apparently the farm does not have the capacity to handle the general public, as we had hoped, so please get in on the participant or auditor tickets soon, since they will be limited. We are revising the registration form as we speak.

Also, Sam has funding to give a young or starting farmer a spot in the clinic. Please contact Kevin Tucker (kevint here on the forum) if you think you might qualify. Gonna be a great event. Don’t miss this one.

[Ed Thayer]

Some pictures of the Sam Rich plow clinic. There are a lot more out there that people may upload.

https://picasaweb.google.com/107396364480794542661/SamRichPlowClinic#

Ed

[dominiquer60]

The clinic was awesome! It was great to see all the little things that can be done to a plow to get it to go better. The transformation that some of the plows and teamsters made over the weekend was wonderful, especially Megan with her new horse and borrowed plow, unbelievable progress for 2 days of work.

It was great visiting with everyone that came.

Erika

[jen judkins]

Some more photos…

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3340865478307.2139142.1168786009&type=3

[jen judkins]

Some Video, courtesy of Mary Westbrook-Geha

This was a tricky furrow with lots of rocks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWi2vMQDi1g&feature=channel&list=UL

Here Sam is triing to show me the abnormal side draft I am placing on my plow by having Reno in the Furrow and how it would be better if the horse learned to walk on the landslide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCC5Q4FNopA&feature=BFa&list=ULvWi2vMQDi1g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdxP96VYbV0&feature=autoplay&list=ULu6r6LhYr__I&playnext=1

[Tim Harrigan]

I can’t see very well. Is he walking land side in #4?

[grey]

Did you ever get your horse up on the land and adjust your plow bridle so the plow ran true?

[jen judkins]

I started out on Saturday trying to get Reno up on the land side, but he was so used to walking in the furrow that we both got pretty frustrated. So I switched back to my old ways Sunday with the plan to work on it at home. My plow, fortunately has ALOT of adjustability and its pretty easy to plow with even with the sideways draft Sam mentioned.

[grey]

My best horse is the one that I plow single with, and she walks on the land. Unfortunately, she’s the furrow horse when we plow with a team. We’ve had a lot of discussions about that, she and I, but it usually only lasts for one pass across the field. I just don’t hitch to the plow for that first pass. Open the field, roll the plow out and pull it around, unhook from the plow, show her where I want her to be (furrow or the land) and make a run down the field in that manner while having “The Discussion”. Usually “The Discussion” is over by the time we reach the end of the furrow (we typically plow small fields – 300 feet on a side, on average). Then go back for the plow and get to it. It is a little bit of a rigamarole but for me it is worth it. Once we’ve hashed out whether she’s in the furrow or on the land, she stays there. Reno strikes me as a bit of a sensitive emo boy, so you’ll probably have some Discussion as well.

[jen judkins]

You’ve read him correctly. The problem I was having was with myself. I was struggling with the plow and the rocks. Once I have some confidence with those issues, I think Reno will do whatever I want…

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