Standing oxen

[Rod]

My team stands fairly well for short periods but I want to really sharpen them up in this area and remember seeing a photo recently of an ox team trained to not cross a laid down goad. This was an oxen team used to pull a sap sled, the teamster had trained them to stand as long as his goad was laying on the ground in front of them.

I am thinking of trying to train my boys to do this command using the same technique as this would be a very handy skill they could acquire and useful in my sugar bush and wood lot as well.

I wondered if anyone else does this, this way and/or what other methods folks use to get a good reliable stand with their ox teams.

[sanhestar]

Hello Rod,

this should be similar to teach a horse to “ground tie” with a rein hanging down to the ground.

If you don’t want to use aversive training methods (I remember that one way to teach horses ground tying was to have them step on the rein and get a jerk in the mouth every time until they stand still) you’ll need time and patience to gradually build up the period of time the oxen will stand and wait.

[Howie]

Rod
That is the method that I have used for many years and I like it. After a time I would generally wean them away from that and just let them stand.
It has got to be to much of a job to pick it up anymore and I haven’t been able to teach the goad to get up for me.:mad::)

Howie

[Tim Harrigan]

Rod
I have heard of putting the goad on the ground but I have never done that. Actually, I have a hard time understanding what the advantage is. If you want your team to stand, teach them to stand because you asked them to, not because there is a stick on the ground. What if they happen to be in a stream or in the mud? What if some kid comes by with his dog and starts playing fetch with your goad? How many goads will they crush before they learn to stand?

The process of teaching them to stand is basically the same as teaching them anything else: 1) introduce them to the command, 2) repeat it until you are certain they understand it, and 3) enforce the behavior you are requesting. First of all, your team has to respond to ‘whoa’ and ‘get up’. A good place to begin is where you yoke and unyoke the team. After you work them and are bringing them in, stop them about 20 feet from the hitching post. That is where they will be anxious to go all the way back. Stop them, and then tell them to stand. Repeat ‘stand’ several times, and if they move at all make them move right back to where they were when they stopped. Start with just a few minutes at first, then increase the time over serveral days until they will stand patiently for several minutes. After they stand patiently, encourage them and call on them to go the last distance and remove the yoke. Within a few days they should clearly understand and be responsive to ‘whoa’, ‘stand’ and ‘get up’.

The next step is to ask them to stand patiently as you increase the distance between you and them. They may want to follow you at first, but if they move repeat ‘stand’ and put them back where they should be. Over time they should be able to stand while you move up to the hitching post and fool around before you go back to them. Always, if they move at all, get right after them, put them back, and repeat the ‘stand’ command.

When my team would stand patiently for several minutes I challenged them by having them stand in the yard while I went into the barn where they could not see me, yet I could see them through the cracks. I watched them until they started to fidget and move, then I yelled for them to ‘stand’ and ran out and put them back where they were to stand. When they stood patiently for several minutes without seeing me I would go out and encourage them and call them up to remove the yoke. After doing that a few times, if they started to get antsy and I yelled from inside the barn they would settle down and stand nice. I think they believe that I can see them at all times when they are in the yoke, even if they can not see me.

I still test them occasionally when we are in the woods by asking them to stand and if they are not paying attention to me I quickly step behind a tree where I can see them but they can not see me (I think, they are pretty observant). If they think about moving I get right after them. My team will stand patiently even if I am not nearby.

If you do this, it requires some common sense. Your team may stand well around the farm, but respect the fact that in strange surroundings they may be easily distracted and not be as trustworthy. And it is not a good idea to leave them standing alone for long periods, particularly if there are strange people or animals around. ‘Stand’ is for your working convenience so you can get a job done when there is nowhere to tie them and without having to tend to them constantly. Early on, when working, you will be better off asking them to stand when facing away from the barn rather than toward the barn. No reason to tempt them, and you do not want them to think they can run away when you ask them to stand. Younger animals will require more patience and repetition than older animals. My team will stand for a long time in the woods or pasture and I have no qualms about asking them to do so if I am working. In strange surroundings, or if a lot of people are around I may ask them to stand, but I stand with them. Don’t get in trouble by asking too much.

[Vicki]

With the goad-on-the-ground-in-front-of-them method, there is the possibility that your team may move a step or two, pinning your goad embarrassingly under a hoof, making it impossible to use until you have them step up or back, which you will have to do without goad, and if they are young they may start off without you while you are retrieving said goad, requiring you to rush after them, which can damage your credibility with your oxen and with any onlookers, not to mention feeling very foolish in your own eyes. How do I know this. . .?

Howie and Tim are right: just teach them to stand. Often I lay the goad across the team’s necks while they stand if I need hands free.

[Tim Harrigan]

@Vicki 9781 wrote:

…there is the possibility that your team may move a step or two, pinning your goad embarrassingly under a hoof, making it impossible to use until you have them step up or back, which you will have to do without goad, and if they are young they may start off without you while you are retrieving said goad, requiring you to rush after them…

😀 Vicki: That’s pretty good, I can picture it perfectly. They know exactly where the goad is, and they know exactly where their feet are. You forgot to add that you will be rushing after them with a broken goad. And the steers will be kicking up their heels.

Like you, I prefer to lay mine across their neck, or hold it more secure with a little tension on it through the bows.

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