Side stepping

[Rod]

Any ideas about how to train a team of oxen to side step (like Howie’s do), walking sideways?

[Vicki]

Some of Howie’s other (young) proteges had steers do this at fairs we used to compete in together, and it inspired me to the challenge.

Here’s what I did:
First, each of mine learned set in and set out before anything else and they’re very responsive to that. Next, after mastering basics in the yoke, I taught them to pivot, “gee off” and “haw to.” To teach pivot, use a pole or cart and face them up against a wall or fence. I heard someone suggest putting a cart wheel into a tire to help hold them from forward movement when teaching pivot.

Practicing for a very tight course in log pull and stoneboat competitions, where we were up against Howie and other much better drovers, got the steers and I very good at pivoting with a chain. We also backed up turning and I taught them to pivot from behind using the set in/set out commands.

Those were the foundation skills that made side-stepping pretty easy for us. They were already 3 yrs. when I added it. I taught each individually before making them do it yoked. Face a wall or fence, command set out (or set in to the off) then immediately haw to. I used a lash, tapping side of tail head then side of neck–works for me. May take a while for them to figure out what you want; they’ll probably try to move forward. Correct patiently, praise for performance, don’t get them frustrated, have them perform some known commands if they act frustrated, then try again. After a few minutes my steers got it. Had to repeat often to reinforce, and they don’t do it instantly if we haven’t done it lately.
Then they’re ready to try it yoked. I use the goad to the tail head and neck to cue them for side step. To this day, side-stepping away is not as good as toward me, but we don’t practice it much.
Hope this helps. Wordy, I know. . .

[Robert MoonShadow]

Vicki ~ I wouldn’t call that ‘wordy’… I’d call that a d**n good explanation!! I’ve never even been close to a yoke of oxen, and I understood it!
Um, not that I could actually do it, but I understood what you were saying!! Thank you very much for being so concise… I love it when someone can ‘speak’ on here so others can actually picture it – not an easy task at all. I don’t know how hard it was for you, but I thank you for the successful effort.
Sorry, Rod – I didn’t mean to hijack yur thread; I just felt the urge to show appreciation for her efforts… just a one-man movement to counter the reent nagativity.

[Crabapple Farm]

There are two versions of “sidestepping,” I think. The easier is the tight pivot, in which one ox backs up. With a pole on a cart, that can morph into a more true side step, but to side step without a pole is trickier (because they want to pivot). With a cart, a tight pivot command functions like a sidestep. It’s good to use a different command when you want the turn to not involve any forward action, so that they are clear on that expectation. Add something to haw and gee, such as “haw ’round” or “back gee”
I view sidestepping without a pole as an evolution of stall manners: “step over.”
Start by making your “step over” more specific, anytime you are working around them – say the ox’s name, then tell them to step (or put) in or out.
For me, in means towards the chain/pole/other ox, out the opposite, so they mean opposite things for each ox, directionally speaking. Once each of them individually understands step in and step out, you can try it in the yoke.
As Vicki suggested, face a fence or wall (don’t use an electric fence for this, use something solid) so forward is not an option. Then step the nigh one out (towards you), then the off one in. Repeat. They will try to pivot, most likely, and turn away from the wall/fence. Don’t let them.
Once they get it, and will do it when they are up against the wall, you can graduate them to facing a long log – a visible substantial line to help them understand the concept, but now a purely psycological barrier that they could step over if you weren’t telling them not to. After they get that you can try them in the open.
-Tevis

[Rob FLory]

I have found that in the stall after they are done eating is a nice opportunity to practice this. The opportunity comes twice a day, every day, whether yoking them or not.

Rob

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