[Donn Hewes]

Hi Ronnie, I have just been thinking about leaving her behind, but it is fun to see her out there investigating the work. She is just 5 months old and I think the mare is perhaps starting to wean her a little herself. The mule is already very independent and I don’t think it will be too bad. The mare was bred once on the second heat, but lost that one. Now we are waiting to see her come back in. Another mare is set to foal next month.

[Donn Hewes]

I am not familiar with a direct pull sleigh. Is this a standard set up or something local? Most things have horses hooked to an evener, as they don’t get that sudden release from slowing a step. With two well matched horses that were both head up and eager this might work, other slower or lazier animals would need a lot of coaching. I am assuming I under stand how the animals are hitched. If all the tugs are taught you must be pretty close to right. I think a picture would be very interesting. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Well, I look at the ash this way. It is a large percentage of this 8 acre stand. It is also the most mature timber in the stand. Many of the ash are diseased and a few have died (not ash borer). While I don’t plan to take them all, I certainly am taking out a good number, making some openings that other trees can benefit from, etc. I think I have 100+ of these big tall trees. So far I haven’t sold any but have been having them milled for various projects. Perhaps next winter I will sell one or two loads. So yes, planning for the ash borer, but in a gradual way.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Erika, Like any thing else, horses mist be trained to the check. In the beginning, they are still thinking about eating and thus pulling the harness up. mnay checks originate at the britchen and the loop from the bit just clips to that. I like the simplest hte best and just use the keather strap over the hames. Wost horses eventually accept it for what it is and stop worrying to eat Connie is the worst case. She works with a very low head carry, and you don’t want to prevent the natural head carry. She also has a huge eating disorder (always must eat!) her check is tight compared to the rest, and I unsnap it from the bit and reconnect as the easiest way to get it over the hames. It gives her just enough room for her head carry. She doesn’t pull on it or try to eat while working, but it takes a little while to get there.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Kevin, In spite of the fact that it has gotten me in trouble many times (with parents!); I like to use the analogy that the animals are like 6 y/o children. Huge variability amongst young children, but basicly they all need our direction to cross the street. We teach them simple manors. Take things we offer politely. Wait when we ask you to. Stay calm and relax. People realize it is a continuum with children, therefore it is easier to see it with the animals.

PS. I have no children; that’s what really gets people!

[Donn Hewes]

As you say, our harnesses and bridles are set up for work. I like the simplest check available. I even go so far as to cut the little rings off the throat latch. For me a check serves one purpose and I hate working horses with out it. They help prevent eating, and more importantly thinking about eating at every moment. Mine are loose enough for good range of movement and go right from the bit over one hames and back the bit. If a horse needs a reminder, I will tighten it for a while. I have worked with a few horses that didn’t have them and invariable their heads were down when I didn’t want them to be. A horse that eats moves it feet.

[Donn Hewes]

man, that looks like fun! Nice job.

[Donn Hewes]

Once a mule has been putting it’s tongue over the bit for a few years, it seems to me it is something to work around; you won’t most likely change it. I have one of these, and I try to pay him no attention. Since I have had him from birth, I must have created it. Any way, welcome. I love mules and would be happy to help if you have any questions or we would just enjoy seeing some pictures. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

I know it sounds a little lazy, but this is one of those times when I like to suggest using the search at the top of the Page. There are a few longer descriptions of the process Eli is referring to.

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Ed, I believe we have already discussed the cost of membership and the proposal is anything over a dollar. Now there are a few things to remember about that. First this isn’t set to start yet, and when it does there will be time for all of our existing members to adjust to the new system. Two more points I would like to make. First, vbulletin and our servers are barely getting it done now. being a free site is not really getting it done. Consider another aspect of DAPNet as it is currently configured. We are an organization of just over 200 paying members, many of whom don’t use DAP.COMand many that don’t use it much, While over 4000 free members enjoy this great site. I don’t begrudge them this site, and wish it could remain free, but as an organization, the web users should want a balanced organization that represents all of us. This broader membership will help us do that. The best way to think of the donation is not access to dap.com, which is still nearly free, but as a donation to an organization you support at what ever level you can.

You will be able to stick the member donation in an envelope and mail it to us. Saving all our archived posts and photos is very important and something will plan to ensure. Thanks for all the input.

[Donn Hewes]

All of us at DAPNet believe our sponsors / advertisers should be and will want to be integrated across our organization. As web ads will be new for us, we are working out the details as to how to start that; costs; and how to include all the excellent sponsors we already have. Realize we just made a commitment to this project this past weekend. Already this thread is giving us great ideas and feed back! I made note of checking how one can join without a credit card. I don’t see a problem with it, but I plan to make sure. I also like the idea of a trial period, but I will have to see if that is technically difficult or simple. I am excited by all the positive feed back. I know the web committee plans to work hard to get this process going as fast as we can. Hopefully some day with in the next month or two we will all have to take a day off from DAP (ugh) will the switch is thrown. keep the feed back coming.

[Donn Hewes]

As I build my system based on control, the road always challenges me and makes me think. At home I believe success comes from knowing what each draft can do, what I can do, and what my equipment can do. The more I control those things the more I realize how hard it is to control beyond my borders. At the end of my driveway I can go left or right for about 100′ and then enter a field across the street. Any further and I go down a pretty steep hill with no shoulders and pretty deep ditches. There is not a lot of traffic, but there is one business that uses 75′ semis for the occasional delivery, county trucks, milk trucks, school buses. I travel down the hills occasionally, but never with out thinking about what time of day it is, and realizing I have challenged my animals a little and let thing a little out of my control. I still try to think about which animals belong in that situation. Good luck and be careful on the road!

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Riverbound, I looked into the center cut mower awhile back for some friends that wanted to mow between asparagus beds and other uses. They didn’t buy one but the machines looked good. I know that a couple years ago they felt they were still making improvements. in mowing cover crops, I think in most cases were a bed is more than 12′ wide you could easily mow it with a standard side mower.

[Donn Hewes]

Ed. congratulations on so many levels. I have been wanting to make some videos myself, but have not yet got the technical mastery to load them to youtube. I thought your production was great. So often here we struggle to find words to describe what things should look like or feel like. Images of a horse working easily, waiting patiently, and a person / horse team focused on a task are great for those seeking learn our craft; and no one could tell how much fun you where having! Nice Job. Donn

[Donn Hewes]

Hi Eli, What other schools of though have you found for why she is rearing? Horses with these reactions are tricky to train. We need to do two things simultaneously that are some what counter to each other. We need to think clearly about the horses reactions, what are the causes? How strong of a reaction is it? Do these reactions signal something to work through, or something to back away from? I think you are asking your self all these questions. As a horse trainer, the second part of this is knowing what you want the horse to be doing at that moment, and what you can do to make that happen. This is not so difficult with a horse that is basically calm and relaxed and we are just slowly introducing one new thing after another, making sure they have time to absorb each one.

With a horse that is reacting (rearing, trying to run, sudden stop, won’t move when asked) it is not so simple. If it were me, I have a vision fixed in my head of the calm, relaxed and alert horse. Everything I do is geared toward bringing this out. Lunging a horse until it is sweaty is making a horse tired, and possibly nervous, not calm and relaxed, so for me it won’t help me get what I want. I hope you realize none of us are in a very good position to give you advice. Where I standing there watching I would give you my opinion in a heart beat, but your judgement will decide how, when to proceed.

As I suggested in my first sentence the trick is: do I focus my attention on her reactions, or do I focus on my intentions for what I want her to be doing / acting? It is hard to describe how these actions are counter to each other. For example she is rearing and I am saying whoa, whoa. When she is stops rearing she is moving, but faster than I wanted, but at least we are not rearing anymore. If I ignore her reactions and they are bad enough someone could get hurt; but if I pay too much attention to her behavior I can’t signal the true reactions / behavior I want; ie. instead of rearing, standing, instead of bolting or running, walking.

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