Forum Replies Created
- AuthorPosts
Donn Hewes
Keymasteri think there is a small opportunity for custom field work with draft power. In logging with horses one can make a good argument (not always excepted) that the extra time will be returned to the land owner with the qualities that remain in the woods after the harvest. With custom field work unless a land owner is willing to pay extra for the pleasure of the drafts working their place; You will be hard pressed to make the wages you might want or require. Of course this is what most of us do at home. Doing a small plowing plot, when you wouldn’t get to plow otherwise, might be fun. Of course if I didn’t get to plow much at home I might not want to do it in public until I was sure of the tools, animals and methods. Making hay on shares where someone else wants to do some tractor work and you do some of the work with a team could also work.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterThanks Jean, I was planning to get this going tonight, but you beat me to it. Friends, feel free to tell us what you would like; also you can just tell what you have enjoyed or thought was important from our past field days and gatherings. Looking forward to hearing from everyone. Donn
Donn Hewes
KeymasterI have worked with several interns shorter than me, some as short as 5′ 2″. They have all figured out how to harness the 17′ horses. That said many folks are looking at the draft ponies to help make it easier. Point being, anything is possible. as to stalls for the winter: If you can make even temporary fencing for the winter I would build a small paddock. Anything bigger than the stalls that they can move around in. Especially when they are not working every day this little bit of room to move around helps them stay calm and relaxed.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterHi George, and George! I was wondering where the first George was thinking of moving to; that all. I would agree that buying feed has in the past often been a good economical decision and may well be into the future. For me there are other reasons besides pure profit as to whether or not I would buy feed. First is my belief that the economical rules that have applied for at least fifty years and maybe 100 may not continue into the future. I believe buying feed will continue to increase and be more difficult to find over time. Buying feed is also essentially using a tractor (and a truck or train). These are things I would like to avoid if I can. That said anytime you make a decision that is not simply economic you will have to figure out how you will pay for it in THIS economy. We are fortunate on our farm to be able to make some (but not all) choices that do not necessarily provide the highest financial return.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterGeorge, Where are we talking about? I personally like to produce all my feed. Currently it is cheaper or more profitable to sometimes buy something than own all the land and tools to produce your own 100%. I believe that may not all ways be the case, but predicting the future is a tough game. Sometimes rural markets can surprise you.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterHello Rookie, and welcome. I think you will find folks more than happy to answer questions. One thing I might suggest for something like the shoe question is try the search button above. Not that folks mind answering – For most farm work most of the time horses with good feet go just fine bare foot. Bu the thing about the search is you can find a lot of old discussions about basic topics that have lots of ideas, views, and info in them. A 12 x 14 stall sounds nice. There are several threads out there about box stalls, versus tie stalls, versus loose housing. Good luck go forward and let us know if we can help. Donn
Donn Hewes
KeymasterAs I suggested it seems so simple but really can be quite nuanced. Remember we are using s
a method called pressure and release. Knowing when to apply the pressure and when to release it; and how and where to apply it is the key to success. In a round pen never try to inch up on the horse, this is what we are trying teach them is neither necessary, nor acceptable. You should be able to walk up in a slow, calm, but deliberate manor. I don’t approach from the butt or back, only the face or front half. When an animal starts to move away, or back up; (they are free to go) I just step back to the middle and make them move. Some of what I described above is unique to what I would do in a pasture (make them run for example). In a round pen they will likely run of their own accord, but I use as little pressure as possible to make them move. I will stand nearly still while they run, turning and using a hand to tell them where to go, but adding little or no energy. Making them change directions occasionally is also good for the horse that is not ready to accept you. As they slow you need to choose when to make them move on or let them stop. Read their body language. When they stop, that is good, but what is their body language? facing you? Looking at you? Looking away? This is how you decide when to approach. if they aren’t paying attention to me and looking at me, preferably facing me, I will ask them to continue to move.Don’t worry to much about sending a mixed message. we all try to figure out what they are thinking and feeling, but often we do it to a fault. we attribute way more negative ideas to them than they really have. Just think positively about what you plan to do.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterJay, you are always welcome. Give me a call, 607 849 4442.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterHi Peyton, I have never tried to “search” before but it worked great. Try the search at the top of the page for “catching your horse” You might look at the thread called “retraining new horse”. Good luck. Donn
Donn Hewes
KeymasterHi all, I like the idea of shortening the trace chains to improve the lift, lighten the load, and reduce the impact on the ground. I just wouldn’t think to shorten it for a horse that was reacting to it on the ground. Number one, if you do shorten it you really should lengthen it after you unhook it from the log. I never want an evener hitting their legs as they walk. Second, the noise and action of the evener on the ground is “what they are there for”. If they aren’t handling it well, what steps were taken to prepare them for these noises and things behind them? Donn
Donn Hewes
KeymasterThat is a complicated question with a somewhat complicated answer. Why do we not just lead them all the time? To some extent it is more convenient to be behind them. To some extent it is safer to be behind them; and behind the load. As to your horses training it is unclear to me why he is not ready. You said you have already made a dozen trips. Is he not relaxed? Not standing well? These skills will only be developed when you start to ask for the work to be done in that fashion. By leading the horse you may never ask for this behavior. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but some times folks are unsure of what to do to get the behavior they want. Without a clear idea of how you will make this animal behave the way you want; it may seem like an unnecessary loss of productivity to continue driving.
I take an approach that never places the work productivity before the behavior of the working partner. This doesn’t mean that ever moment with every animal is perfect, only that I am always aware of how my animals are reacting to what we are doing and how I can make them better. 99% of the time it doesn’t mean quitting doing what I was doing; perhaps just going a little slower and paying more attention to how the animal / animals are responding to what we are doing.
Folks will think I sacrifice productivity to do this, but in reality I may give up a little productivity for a moment now and then, but over all, having animals that act the way I want, when I want, provides the greatest productivity possible.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterHi all, I have been thinking about this a lot but still working through different ideas. My first thought is: why the connection between events and networking? In my view events have several limiting factors already. The cost of events in time and money is a big one. Planning events that provide needed content is another consideration, (i.e., not doing three identical workshops in a row or in the same area). Having said all that, if a farmer wants to provide a much needed workshop on animal powered XYZ, and we can afford to support or aid his or her effort I am all for it.
I feel building our network is very different. Basically, there is (or should be; can be) very little cost with these efforts. Lots of time and energy, yes; but not necessarily lots of money. I think we should ask our selves how we are building the network? I would recommend we designate a liaison to every one of these organizations we can think of. Asking how our organizations can benefit each other in achieving their missions? Commingle our events to what ever extent possible. Advertise and promote everything that advances our mission. Seek new ways to engage their membership in our forum, our events and our mission. Encourage and support their members joining our organization. These are just a few ideas off the top of my head.
In other words, rather than making a link between our events and our networking, just think about anything we can do to build our network, and promote events when ever they are affordable, and appropriate.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterI think it is great Ed. Donn
Donn Hewes
Keymasterhi George, How is it going with the new horse? Hooked to a pole yet? I have worked with buck back straps and other tools. I have used them on the bit and on the halter. Both will work if you hook the buck back so it doesn’t come into play until the offender is already moving ahead of the other horse. In other words you can drive them with out the buck back as long as they stay where they belong. Remember one of the limitations of a buck back is if one horse starts another to running; the buck back does nothing to stop this.
Lately, I have not used this tool that much. Rather I have been focusing on my sense of when an animal is ready for this step. Looking at the body language of the Haflinger in the above picture, she is calm and relaxed, I believe I could use this to hook her to a pole. I will vary my methods based on what the animal is telling me.
I want to hook my donkey to a forecart but I haven’t yet. He has made slow steady progress, and is almost ready. My point is I can afford to wait for him to get ready.
Donn Hewes
KeymasterIn my part of the world, networking often means introducing animal powered farming to young farmers as a new concept. I have been presenting animal powered subjects at NOFA – NY for the last five years. This has ranged from taking horses and mules to the winter conference for a “intro to farming with horses” to power points and presentations on the costs and profits of farming with horses. The NYSDHC is fairly set in its programing which mostly revolves around a few annual demonstration days. I think networking with both of these organizations can and will help us bring animal powered farming to a wider audience. In my area we can not wait for them to offer programing we want to see. They aren’t there.
I guess what I am trying to say is that sponsoring, planning, and presenting draft powered. educational, events (with all the networking we can muster) should be a core component of our mission. Some one up thread already mentioned identifying how much is needed in each area and with what frequency. I agree with this completely. I also think we should strive to promote events that are economical for us as well as the public that attends them. In our meeting the other night some one referred to the NEAPFD as 100 times the size of the annual gathering. Why?
Why not plan an event that is five times as big and complex. You could still have world class presenters in many topics ( I think you did at the gathering). A place for the many like minded practitioners to get together. Lots to see and do; but within the budget we can afford. Now this is easy for me to say as I have never done anything like this before. I have had small (20, 30 or 40 people) successful draft powered educational events on my farm and I have worked with these simple principles. We provide as much content as we can pack in. My friends pitch in and add needed perspectives and ideas. I make these events as affordable as we can. I know it is a much bigger undertaking to organize a NEAPFD, but perhaps we just need to manage the scale.
I think of networking as letting (encouraging) the NOFAs and Draft horse clubs to connect their memberships with what we are doing and offering. In Maine it may feel different where there is a more active Animal powered movement already.
I realize I am going off on a bit of a tangent, but I just wanted to say that I think providing content is important and do able.
I will be at the Fire Station tomorrow night, (leaving Mon. Morn for Virginia !) so will hopefully make meeting. I may just have to step out at some point. Donn
- AuthorPosts