Rein handling?

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Ahem, scuse me for sneaking round the corner here, but I figured you horsepeople could help me. I drive my single oxen with reins – my issue is that say I am driving him with his simple sledge on, or even just long reining, when I stop to go open a gate in front of us – where do you put the reins?

[jac]

Hi Ixy, how you doin ?.. any time i have to come off a hitch cart or machine I have the lines with me. Opening a gate and I tuck the lines under the nearside horses spider on to of his rump. Always push them in from the rear because if they do make a move you can grab the lines and they wont be tangled as they gallop past you:D . I think we all can get a bit complacant with a steady team but as the season wears on and they are in work mode they are glad to “park” as it were and it isnt so much of a problem…
John

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Thanks for that – I think our harness is lacking a ‘spider’ but something can be fashioned!

[Marshall]

I wrap them around someplace on the piece of euipment I am using. That doesn’t happen too often as I usually have my Dad with me and he holds them. I like Johns idea and I think I am going to give it a try.

This makes me think of the second time my team was ever hooked to anything. I was just getting mobile from a knee scope so I had an
Amish friend over to help. He hooked them to the manure spreader and drove them around a bit. When he stopped and got off he just threw the lines on the ground. I said arn’t you going to tie them or something? His response was “You have to start trusting them sometime.” I have never been that trusting.

[grey]

I do the same as jac. I make a bight and tuck it behind the spider on the horse closest to me. I leave the tails long so they make an easy target to snatch. The simple bight ensures the lines pop right out.

[Rod44]

I stop then back them up untill the harnes is tight and wrap the lines to whatever I’m hitched to. That way if they step ahead, they have to pull the equipment with their mouth.

[Mac]

Well Ixy, I generally do as Rod does and wrap the lines around the seat stanchion or whatever I’m hooked to. I think I might try John’s idy sometime though, as mine like to walk off sometimes. Just what ever you decide to do, be careful and good luck!
Mac

[Nat(wasIxy)]

My problem really was that if I’m pulling the sledge, it’s really low down and there’s nothing to wrap the reins around – I like the idea of tucking them in and being able to grab them, and presumably you can tuck them quite tight so the pressure is still there – he might think I’m magically holding them! 😀 lol

[jac]

Hi Ixy.. Im not so sure I would do it that way.. If Angus needs pressure to stand and you try and tuck the lines under to create that pressure and they slip… he goes.. A better idea is Rods and back him a bit then tie them off. My team will stand all day on a slack line. When im ready to move I niggle the lines to establish contact and wake them up:D.. when they hear me click them and the lines go slack they move..
John

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I’m not sure how it works with him yet – I’ve not driven him with the sledge, usually working alongside his head and when I’m ground driving, I haven’t tried standing without me holding the reins – that’s the next job!

[Mac]

Ixy, you might do as I did, and mount a line holder on your slide. I just took a 1×2 about 16 inches long and nailed it to one side of my small box slide, and it works well. Wish I had a camera so I could post pics.
Mac

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I think I see what you mean..I’ll pass it on to the technical department 😉

[Author]

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