[CharlyBonifaz]

ixy, any chance for a picture at daylight?
I’ve always been under the impression cattle can’t pull with a leather belt around their front, I’m interested in a picture of your ox because seems like you run the band at a very low level around the front and that might be the cue; it remains below the shoulder joints (no conflict there) and is low enough not to interfere with the windpipe and still high enough to settle on the breastbone…..
I started mine out with a trotters harness (myself sort of blond 😉 ), yes they can pull that way, no – as you mention – I wouldn’t try that with heavy loads…

[CharlyBonifaz]

@bivol 23176 wrote:

hi everyone, long time no see!

well, this one is from Germany: http://www.zugrinder.de/

hey Bivol, you don’t happen to want to go to our yearly meeting this year? I could pick you up at Munich’s airport. It will be February, 12th, 13th 2011 in Bad Windsheim……

[CharlyBonifaz]

Merry Christmas from this end of the world and a big thank you for all the input I got from this site! Always fascinating to see your various answers to different challenges…….
Am looking forwards to more news next year and hope all of you stay well!

http://img94.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=cimg0703b.jpg

[CharlyBonifaz]

power in reverse

if not able to accomplish it backwards, why not turn them around and hitch them to the deal “backwards” – facing the bale, that should be enough; have seen done so in difficult places with a haywagon to back up……

[CharlyBonifaz]

thank you! 😀 get an idea that I have been doing too much sewing

[CharlyBonifaz]

working on getting a few more

would be great, this one stops where I find it interesting 😀 how do you spill that load of snow?
how does it work with heavy, wet snow?

[CharlyBonifaz]

this summer I could enjoy a coachride (5-in-hand) across the Alps. Upon arrival in Chiavenna the city had arranged for a big party on the central marketplace. Police escorted our coach through small medieval streets and lots of excited people into the city center. Even from a distance we could hear the loudspeakers with enthusiastic Italian voices booming and the instant we turned in the piazza to stop in front of the stage they set off their fireworks with an extremely loud bang/report right above the horses heads – even we were dumbfounded 😮 . Not one of our brave horses did one step out of line (as they were just being slowed to a halt) but when we climbed off the coach one of them was just trembling and quivering with fear; it took us ten minutes of soothing talk and gentle stroking to calm him down again………

[CharlyBonifaz]

thanks big time! for the selfexplanatory pictures

[CharlyBonifaz]

missed you 😎

[CharlyBonifaz]

Do you have a frame for that backpack?

frame like saddle? a swedish product, as in here:
http://www.cmsadelmakeri.se/produkter/packsadlar-665198

What do you use it for?

in this case hay, for a fun outing; in the long run, I plan to have 2 baskets there and go for corn ears, berries, wood, etc. just to keep him and myself “busy”; another idea was to treck with tourists….

Do you pack and pull loads at the same time?

ey, you’re giving me ideas 😀

[CharlyBonifaz]

@Tim Harrigan 22292 wrote:

what is the general opinion of the German ox drovers regarding the North American style neck yokes?

if not really into it, many of them won’t have heard about it as far as the neck yoke is concerned; speaking for myself (not that I have any practical experience with it – I rely on other drovers telling me about it) I can see the advantages in some points and always claim, as in cars you use what you deem fit for the job that needs to be done;

Our sense is it is very comfortable, durable and functional as long as it fits correctly.

I can underwrite this statement immediately, I simply see it as a different way to obtain the same result; all of the various devices in use need to fit the animal and you need to know how to utilize the different systems in order to gain maximum results

ps.: my ox (single) has worked in a front head yoke, in a withers yoke and in a 3-pad-harness; his choice would be the latter (by judging how he moves in them), as I mentioned, both of us have no experience with a bow(neck)yoke

pss.: I will also misuse the 3-pad-collar without hesitation 😎

[IMG]

[CharlyBonifaz]

Been trying to find out about 3 pad collars, makers/users, fitting them etc for ages but to no avail……could you help?

let me try
makers: very few still know how to make a 3-pad-collar, I’m lucky in so far that -after 4 years- I have found a retired saddlemaker that still knows how one is made (and used!)
most of us use old collars that we “restore” or use still good parts to combine to one in working condition
if you have anybody experienced with leatherwork near by, the book written by Rolf Minhorst “Modernes Geschirr für Rinder” contains blueprints for various sizes
fitting them ist another story: I claim that especially with young animals and only minor developed muscles (shoulder/neckmuscles) the 3-pad-collar hangs on them like a wet towel; once they have grown and gotten some shape 😉 it is easier, because it rests were it belongs and you can always adjust the collar so it can function properly as the animal changes; the seat of the shoulder pad should be on the front end of the shoulder above the shoulder joint; you can raise/lower the sides by shortening/extending the leatherstrip that also holds the third pad on the neck; if the 3-pad-collar needs to be adjusted to broader/more slender necks you can do this at the upmost leatherbelt/chain and accordingly at the leatherbelt/chain on the low end. Take care, that the upper corners of the shoulderpads don’t rub the skin.
Traces have to start a lot higher than in horsecollars, about half way up on the shoulder; if too low, the 3-pad-collar will put pressure on the shoulder joint, no, not desirable
in my eyes it is a very elegant method to get draftpower transfered; it follows the shoulder movements in all directions/dimensions and and the same time provides complete liberty of action for head, neck and shoulders
here comes the bad news: with all the possibilities to be adjusted, there are weak points were it can (and will) break under heavy use/load; an oldtimer also told me he hated to use it in the woods, the lower ends continuously got entangled in brush and roots because the animals will get down low if they have to pull hard; more bad news? the 3-pad-collar wants to be tended: leather needs to be cleaned/oiled, it needs to be stored in a dry place, etc.

[CharlyBonifaz]

Hope you find it useful

me too, 😀
we had a lot of helpers getting this online!
if there are any questions, feel free to ask!

[CharlyBonifaz]

still scratching behind my ear as to what you were talking about……:confused:
any chance of pictures as you go and put all together? positively curious!

[CharlyBonifaz]

slick cattle 😉
thank you!

[Author]

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