[Carl Russell]

@Does’ Leap 30810 wrote:

My neighbor with the trailer is in Florida so that is a no-go for transporting the scoot. I will make it work with my small truck and drive slowly but will not be able to fit my pole. Does anyone have a scoot pole they can bring along? My front ring which is chained between the runners is 5″ ID and my back ring, fixed under the bunk, is 4″ ID. I will also need a neck yoke as all my yokes are plug yokes and don’t fit standard pole set-ups. Also, I am not planning on bringing my double tree figuring that whoever is driving the scoot will have their own to use. If that is not the case, let me know and I will bring mine.

George

George, I’ve had luck with long loads by attaching a ratchet strap to the end of the runners and back up to the sidewalls of the truck bed….. gives a little lift….

If you get here by 6am Saturday:eek:, we could probably slide them into my trailer between my critters .

Also, I think we can cut a pole from a sapling on the job….. I’ll have neck-yoke and doubletree.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Donn Hewes 30802 wrote:

Regarding working a little farther back; eventually you will learn to step over a log when it is safe to do it. You never want to step over a chain or in front of the log. Too hard to see and easy to trip. All ways step over the log. You should be comfortable with your driving and your footing before trying that.

I would add that when trying to step over a log, step on it.

However, I learned to never step over a moving log…… yes, I have done it, and yes I have ridden on logs while skidding…… but it just isn’t safe. That move is just a request for a serious setback.

Furthermore it only takes a second to stop the horse and move. These little stops go a long way toward reinforcing whoa/stand, and in the long run will be much safer.

As calm as your horse is, as the loads get bigger and you get more confident in him, he will learn to try harder…. moving faster…. in challenging terrain…. this is when it becomes important that your working habits are consistent and safe. Getting long lines, practicing driving from a distance, driving while standing still, stopping the horse briefly to reposition, handling chain without reins in your hands, positioning yourself and setting up the hitch to stay out of the bight, etc….

All these things arrive in the context of the work at hand, so in some ways it is impossible to describe. What you are doing is excellent. You are working calmly and consistently, and moving both the horse and yourself steadily through the learning curve.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

George, I think from description by Brad that the working area will be more ideal for a scoot than a bobsled. I am bringing my bobsled, but it would be great to have a scoot there for me to hitch into……

Maybe there is another from VT traveling with a larger truck…. I’m not sure it could fit easily in mine with trailer and my sled, but I’d be game if there was no other way.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Mark Cowdrey 30769 wrote:

John,
….. As practical as brown & black line combo might be, I just can’t get my head around it aesthetically. ….

I would never remember which color went where, and I would still have to look up to make sure they weren’t twisted anyway. I just look up at the horse when gathering lines, and I can quickly see/feel which line goes where.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

I set the lazy straps so that the loop is at the most likely point where the trace straightens out when pulling a stem. In the video you can see that point once the traces tighten. It doesn’t matter how you set it up, your horse will always find some way to step over the traces, and then you will have another opportunity to communicate with him. They learn to step in and out of the traces.

I find that for the majority of wood I ground skid, I just set the evener close enough for easy full strides without heel strike…… and leave it like that……. a quick step on the chain can make the whiffletree “jump” if need to clear a stump etc.,…… or sometimes I will stand and ride on the whiffletree when feeling lazy (and stupid :confused:)……

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Scott G 30753 wrote:

Do any of you see any potential issues with the directions Google gave me from the Manchester Airport to Athol (& back)?

Thanks in advance for taking a look!

Link to Scott’s directions to Athol during the wee hours of Friday morning 🙂

Looks about right to me…. just make sure you ask for an SUV (:p)….. No I’m sure you’ll be fine with that route.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Jen Judkins 30743 wrote:

Carl, Do you have any intel on that route you posted? All those roads makes me nervous. Have you been down that route? No covered bridges, washed out roads or class 6 deer trails?

I’m just driving to Athol….. there can’t be any roads washed out, can there???? I used to be a log buyer in my former life, so I rarely think about those details….. I just pick a location and drive there.

Google maps give pretty good detail, so once you’ve located the Farm School, you should be able to pick the route that make the most sense to you.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Oh man, we’re getting the video bug on here!!!:cool:

Nice job Ed.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Take the exit onto I-91 S toward Brattleboro 58.3 mi
Take exit 3 for VT-9 E toward US-5 E/Brattleboro/Keene N.H. 0.4 mi
Merge onto Chesterfield Rd/State Route 9 276 ft
At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Putney Rd 2.0 mi
Turn right onto Park Pl 0.1 mi
Turn left onto Linden St 472 ft
Continue onto Main St 0.4 mi
Turn left onto Bridge St Entering New Hampshire 417 ft
Continue onto NH-119 E/Brattleboro Rd Continue to follow NH-119 E 12.5 mi
Continue onto NH-78 S/Warwick Rd Continue to follow Warwick Rd Entering Massachusetts 6.8 mi
Turn left onto Hotel Rd 397 ft
Continue onto Athol Rd 3.5 mi
Continue onto Tully Rd 2.0 mi
Turn right onto Creamery Hill Rd 1.0 mi
Turn left onto Main St 0.2 mi
Continue onto Athol Rd 1.3 mi
Slight right onto Sentinel Elm Rd 0.5 mi
Continue onto Moore Hill Rd Destination will be on the right 0.1 mi
Farm School 488 Moore Hill Road Athol, MA 01331-1032

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=341+MacIntosh+Hill+Rd.+Bethel,+VT&daddr=488+Moore+Hill+Road,+Athol,+MA+01331-1032+%28Farm+School%29&hl=en&geocode=FeCNnQIdO8mq-ympaZLJGCS1TDGRcRUf_dltkQ%3BFXYhigIdq36x-yHnzcOK-Sd2pCkL-W10vUbhiTGkKLTuwPUo8w&aq=&sll=42.700604,-72.371063&sspn=0.440029,1.087646&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=42.650627,-72.47406&spn=0.220192,0.543823&t=h&z=11&dirflg=d

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Does’ Leap 30714 wrote:

….. I am a big believer in buckling my lines together (or tying if you don’t have a buckle). I think this is especially important while ground skidding. I generally walk close to my horse and let the lines slip through my hands when I need to stop or slow down if it isn’t a good place for the horse to stop or slow. I might only have 10′ of lines to let out, but that can make a difference in the comfort and effectiveness of the horse. There have been several times where the terrain was especially challenging that I spooled out line only to be saved by the buckle. If my lines hadn’t been buckled I would have lost them.
…..

Conversely, I never tie my lines together. I will often step off to the side and let lines slide through my hands so that I don’t have to move my feet. When I do that I do not want any loop getting caught on branches etc.

Also I use long lines and stand at least 10 feet away from the horse, and often I am back enough to see log, evener, and horse conveniently. The farther away the safer.

I never worry about dropping my lines because my horses are conditioned to stop on a slack line, so there are times when I may actually drop the lines and say whoa. Which is why when Marin teases you about the horse standing still, you can tell her you taught him that on purpose ;).

One other point I might make is that if you stop your horse facing the log when you are digging under the log to hitch your choker, you may find it easier as you don’t have to hold lines etc..Then when you turn the horse around to hook, you will have hands enough.

I’m with Tristan….:rolleyes:, it is nice to watch calmly walking horses like yours and George’s. Thanks both of you for sharing the latest videos. That capability of this site represents a great educational opportunity for all of us. Maybe we can put together some clips from next weekend???

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Under Community in the Title Bar. Click it, on the Drop-down you will see Member List…… Same old format..

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Nice job John….. Geez can’t you calm that horse down????
Very cool, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Nice job George……. boy I found myself falling off the chair trying to see. Basically it showed all the high points. Well done, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Robert, I see thread after thread of these “tutorials” on DAP.com. To me that is the value of this site. It may be that you are looking for someone to sort those out from the others and post them where they can be found more easily.

I would also say that it seems like the questions have to come before some of the answering can happen. Many folks who post on here have pics, videos, and are able to convey their knowledge well in written form. When topics need clarifying, you, and others, should feel free to step up and ask for more clarification.

I know from personal experience that when I try to share something I know, I rarely have all the answers, and usually post it here with the expectation that others will question and challenge me. As I respond I can improve my presentation, but there are many times when other points of view broaden and improve the value of the thread, so that the end result is more than one person could have developed. This “organic” growth of a topic is so subtle that a sleeper topic can all of a sudden become a “tutorial”, but often the details are hidden in the exchanges……..it can require a lot of work to find the information you are looking for…..

It is difficult for volunteer Administrators to take the time to sort out the technically accurate “tutorial” threads from the everyday ones, but If this site can be a source for that kind of assistance, then maybe it is time for the membership to think of ways to financially support Administrators taking the extra time…….. just saying.

Because I too see how useful your suggestion could be, but to get this site to where it could be will take a lot of time and consistent effort, and should not be expected from volunteers.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

@Scott G 30638 wrote:

I make a motion that we have a gallon of each for consumption Sunday morning at breakfast by an unbiased panel of judges. We (notice the “we”) will then decide which State takes the prize, NH or VT. It is quite fortunate that this event will be held on neutral ground in MA 🙂

I think the Farm School makes their own syrup????

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