Time to introduce myself…

[tandmel]

Hello, I am Melinda and am relatively new to this forum. I spent several days lurking and reading to get the feel of personalities. My philosopy is “Better to keep your mouth shut than open it and show your ignorance”. So, I waited before posting.
About myself…
I am an Interpreter (for the deaf)/ Disability Advisor at a Community College in W/C Georgia. As a child, my goal in life was to become “That lady in the bubble” on Sunday morning sevices. People always ask me if I became an interpreter because of a family member. No, I just wanted to be the lady in the bubble. My parents did not take my brother and sister to church. At the time there were only three tv chanell’s to watch. I would sit in awe watching and learning. My parents owned a feed store where we (siblings and I) grew up in a hay field, sacking corn bought at the docks, and milling custom feed. Growing up, I could not wait to get out of that life. My father wanted a life where his children grew up got married, had children, and we all lived together as a big happy family under his leadership. That is not what I wanted. I could not wait to leave! Sadly, the older I get, the smarter my father became! Now, I would love to have that with my children! Alas, that is not to be. That is not the life they want either.
My father had a belgium gelding that I rode everywhere. He was trained as a logging horse and that is what he was used for. I never learned how to work him. I was to busy sitting on his back. Sadly, he (Little Foot, the Belguim) passed away last year. He was 35.
My favorite television channels are the History Channel, Natgeo, and The Learning Channel. Watching these programs has caused me great concern for the future. With the recession, pending depression, rising cost of living, horse feed, drought here in the south, lack of hay, and the melting of the polor caps, I have become very concerned with my children’s future. I have decided to go back to what my father taught me. That is the reason I have joined this group. I want to learn. I beg forgiveness for my ignorance if I ask a stupid question. Example: Chunk style draft, what is that? See, ignorance. But, if someone answers, I will know.
I have horses. I have team roped, barrel raced, and just plain trail riding. I am now in the process of searching for an older horse to help train me to learn how to work. Let me clairify that. I have a 18h, five year old Clydesdale. I have worked him with a shirshingle (ms). I think he is laughing at me. Neither one of us knows what we are doing. My thinking is that if I find an older horse, he will know if I give the wrong que. It should be easier for me to learn on one that already knows what is going on.
I have searched online for harnesses and other driving equipment. WOW… I think I can buy a tractor for that price;however, a tractor will only help destroy the rapidly depleting ozone layer. That would defeat my purpose of going “green”.
I guess I have rambled on enough. Sometimes, I never know when to shut-up! I welcome any constructive criticism, advice, knowledge, and ideas. Let me know what you think!
Melinda

[Carl Russell]

Hi Melinda, first of all welcome. Second don’t stop rambling, you’ll be in good company here. Third, there are those who may want to be more accurate, but a “chunk” is basically a chunky horse, wide, thick barrel, not too leggy.

We welcome your input. There are a lot of folks who are feeling the same realities that you are. Check out “Depletion and Abundance” by Sharon Astyk. She is a seriously concerned parent, and has done an excellent job of putting the tasks ahead into a comprehensive model. I haven’t finished the book, but what I have read echoes many of the things you just covered.

Look forward to hearing more from you, Carl

[Gabe Ayers]

Welcome Melinda,

Glad you are here with us. This site is somewhat frequented more by folks in the Northeast, but there are some southerners here too.

I wanted to invite you to go to the “Cultural Missionary Work” post/page and click on the link about the event we worked on in Conyers, Ga. last week. You may have been able to see it on local TV channel 11, NBC, w/ Mark Pickard.

We are planning to return to this area to conduct some training sessions on Restorative Forestry and modern horse logging at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. We would like to invite anyone interested to attend. The end goal is to establish more biological woodsmen in that area and specifically to help the monastery with the future management and restorative forestry on their 2000 acre property. These were great folks to work with.

Let me know what you think.

There are no ignorant questions, just lots of people to dumb to ask anyone anything…. We are all here (DAP) to learn and share.

My understanding is that a chunk is a draft cross that has all the characteristics of any other draft horse, just not color specific or size specific or of registered ancestry. There may be other descriptions better than that.

[Carl Russell]

Biological Woodsman;4954 wrote:

…..This site is somewhat frequented more by folks in the Northeast, but there are some southerners here too. ……

Aw come on Jason;), haven’t you noticed the international contributors lately???:D We’re tapping into some awesome cultural trading going on here these days. As always, I truly appreciate your involvement, Carl

[Robert MoonShadow]

Melinda ~ Maybe as a newcomer myself, I shouldn’t ‘welcome’ you (kinda like a neighbor standing on the porch, inviting strangers in), but just so you know: my Granny always told me that “Ignorance just means you don’t know; stupid means you won’t learn”
By the way, I, too, am not from the Northeast -> I’m out west (though originally fron Chicago)… but these people sure are friendly, anyways! If you just ignore their funny “accent” when they “talk”, you’ll find out that they have lots of good information – and aren’t shy about sharing it!! 😀

[HeeHawHaven]

Robert, too funny – we’re from Chicago originally too and now in Idaho for keeps! Arlington Hts. for me and Des Plaines for my wife!

Dave

[Robert MoonShadow]

Dave ~ Arlington Heights, Mt Prospect, Des Plaines… “Hamburger University” {AKA Mac U}… Ooops! We’re hitchhiking on Melinda’s intro… [ Sorry, Melinda]

[Jean]

Hey Melinda, Welcome to the group.

You have come to a good place. For those of you worried about our funny accents, you will be happy to know “they” have just done a study and found that the Vermont accent is fading fast. Guess “they” have not spent much time in my cousins neck of the woods. I can not understand a word he says and I am related to him.

Anyway, here are some tips that I have learned the hard way when it comes to buying equipment. Measure your horse the correct way before ordering collars, harness, carts, etc. I have spent more on stuff that is too small or just looks silly sitting on top of my huge horse. I currently have a lovely driving harness that is about 3 inches too small all around. (anybody have a morgan that needs a show harness) I have a cart in the basement that is too big for the minis, but I won’t be able to see over the butt of my Canadian Chunk if he is hooked to it with his too small harness. Lucky for me we have the draft horse auction coming up and I can unload some of it.

Keep your eyes open for some auctions it can be a good place to pickup equipment, just look it over carefully before you buy.

See what happens when I over sleep, I get rambling.

Welcome to DAP!

Jean

[Anonymous]

i’ve never been really clear on what exactly a chunk is either, probably have one and don’t even know it. after i start using more than one finger to type, i’ll be able to learn how to post a picture. sounds like you’ve got plenty of horse experience, just need some driving time. seek someone out local and buy some instruction. even an older trained horse needs to be driven correctly. maybe the horse your looking for will come with a harness, maybe even a forecart. will you keep the clyde?, find a trainer for him? have fun. bob h.

[Anonymous]

hello guys i am new here in your forum.. came from california i am here cause i want to learn everything while i am staying here in your forum thank you guys,

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