[Carl Russell]

I’ve experienced this kind of set-back with horses of mine after working with novices. I had a horse that would stand ground-tied wheel away from a wide-eyed beginner.

I have tried to keep those exposures to a minimum, but have also found that when I got anxious about ground that was lost, then I had ground to make up.

Now that I just expect the same behavior from them regardless of the experience, I rarely have any ground to make up.

From the tone of your posts you seem very concerned, or at least confused. If you are telegraphing that to him, he may be concerned and confuse too.

Just a thought.

Of course it makes sense to check out the acute onset of something serious at the same time.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

One trick I have used to get a horse to take the bit is peppermint candies. I hold the peppermint in the hand with the bit, and they have to take the bit to get the candy. I only bit straight in, attached to the bridle, just because I never have had a detachable bit.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Nice job Brad. My load chains are 15′ long.

I’m not sure that it is critical, but the riser irons on my sled are on the other direction.

It looks like it should do the job really well. I want to see picks with logs on board.

Carl
[IMG]http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/images/55/1_MOFGA_LIF_10_008.JPG[/IMG]

[Carl Russell]

Sean, glad you were finally able to get on. Nice looking fillies. I had a Brabant gelding for 15 years, although not blue roan, bay roan, looked very similar to them. Good luck with them, and enjoy yourself here.

Take care, Carl

[Carl Russell]

I’m not sure you need to worry about the hole being tight enough. You will need to be able to rotate those pins some to line up the through bolts. It is the through bolts in the roll that go through the ends of those gudgeon pins that will hold the whole thing together. don’t get too nervous, things will loosen up eventually anyway.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Sap is flowing. Operation is in full swing. Everything is a go for this weekend. Hope to see some of you there.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

She is definitely sight impaired. She has trouble finding her stall, and the water tube etc., but she remains pretty calm. She also moves around her pasture freely, and has little pissing contests with the other horse, which often involve wheeling around, bucking, and trotting. She seems to know where she is, and how to move around.

I have been working her this winter on the bobsled, pulling wood from the top of the woodlot. The land, the working conditions, and the loads have all been challenging. She is an absolute trooper. Still puts more into it than the other horse, and never misses a step.

Like I have mentioned before, I generally keep a good handle on communication, and don’t leave a lot for her to decide on anyway. Though now I am much more aware of how she is following my guidance.

I stumbled the other day in the deep snow, and fell toward her on the side with her bad eye. I threw my hands up to catch my balance on her collar, and she flinched….so I know she can see something.

I will keep working her till some other factor limits her effectiveness.

Thanks for asking, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Mitch is right. So far I have been able to reuse ones in the sled, or others I find in buckets in barns.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Welcome Fellman… from a yank with scotch in my veins…. no I mean Scottish roots.

Anyway I look forward to finding out about the Fell Pony, and how you plan to use them.

Have fun, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Where are they located?

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Tim is a lifelong friend of mine. He left college in 1980, and headed to Colorado, bought a couple of Appys and started pushing the back country. He took a training program in outfitting during the 80’s and started working for an outfitter in Durango 25 years ago.

He has done nothing else since then, and has developed skills and reputation that have put him near the top of his trade. The job with the USFS is a summer contract that keeps him doing what he wants year-round. He runs Estes Park Outfitters and leads Elk hunts from September- January.

Rob, if this is what you want to do, it will take a lot of work, and more ambition. I’m sure you can come up with it. Just don’t expect the job to be advertised somewhere…. you’ll probably have to make it happen.

If you want his contact info, let me know….

I was just reviewing a video the other day of he and I hunting Elk in the Pudre Canyon in 1995. When he sent it to me he included a clip of him running a string of 8 mules along a winding trail with straight down drop-off 100 feet to the river below. Riding hold the video camera over his head filming himself speaking into the lens and panning over the following mules snaking along behind him with the deep gorge as back-drop. He says “Don’t try this at home”.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Don’t forget to remind folks to send in memberships to support continued efforts.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Good luck with the recovery, and just take it easy. You really only want to recover once.

Take care, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Have used both. As has been stated I found the pants too hot. I also didn’t like the fact that I had to lug them around on my body all day.

I like chaps as they go on and off really easily. I can wear them while chopping and take them off when skidding. I like that I can wear my favorite work pants, and not have to wear the logging pants all day.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Larry, I’m sure Claude would be glad to speak with you. He has been doing this for many years, and is a wealth of info, and probably contacts as well. At this point I won’t post his contact publicly, but I will send it to you PM.

Carl

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