[Rod]

My boys are regularly teaching me new things. Recently I learned that they do a real nice “gee back” and “haw back” when I used the commands. But I was having trouble geiitng them to go straight back using the command “back”. In frustration the other day I yelled at them “straight back” and much to my surprise they they hunched their rears down and went back as straight as an arrow and at a good clip.
Another time when I was getting ready to feed them their mineral grain I happened to click my dogs training clicker which was in my pocket. Ken my older horse lifted his right foot and did the nicest bow with his head and leg. I don’t know the command for that one and have only been able to get him to repeat it a few times. Makes me wonder what else they have learned over the years with different owners and what I have yet to discover.

[Rod]

A small thing but could be important is to watch the position of your head when haltering or working near the horses head. Yesterday I took a good punch in the jaw when Matt suddenly decided to whip his head up while I was putting his halter on. It cut my lip but otherwise no knockout which could have complicated the issue.
I have a hard head and it gets knocked about frequently as I am tall and wear a visor cap which limits my overhead vision. I don’t know how many times I have hit it on the tractor bale grab or forks but I could count the nicks and scars on it and find out I guess..

[Rod]

I guess I can work on that.

[Rod]

Boy that would be great, it’s always a hassle to get the heavy thing on. Any tips?

[Rod]

How about horn knobs to protect against that wayward horn while you are trying to get the yoke on?

[Rod]

Mine stop also lucky for me because when my nigh ox steps on my foot down I go. Do not wear rubber boots! Ouch.

[Rod]

Thanks Howie

Looks like I can make diffrent size seats to accomidate them as they grow? Is this an everyday yoke also?

[Rod]

The neck pieces slide back and forth, no way to lock them in. Is that supposed to be how it works? What is the advantage of this design?

[Rod]

I will post a photo so you can tell me what kind it is and how it functions.

[Rod]

Sounds like you have two polite females. Mine are pushy males and like all of us males they love to eat. That would be a major feat to get mine to do that.:)

[Rod]

I have 10′ line extenders I can buckle into my lines now. But it’s hard to work when you have to be on the alert all the time for a breakaway. I like the hobble idea and would like to hear for someone who has tried that. I also saw in a video where the horse’s face was covered with a blanket so he couldn’t see while he was loaded up? Any thought on that?

[Rod]

Hi Rod44

When you tie yours back to the wagon do you do it with the reins or with a halter? Is that a good idea or can they get hurt that way?

[Rod]

Hi Don

Good thought and I will be careful to heed what you suggest. I do have 600 lb. sled (empty) which I can use and would be surprised if my horse would try to move it with his halter. It will even be a chore for him to move it in the tugs. The horse I would use is pretty good and very sensitive to the restraint of being tied. It’s his brother that is the impatient one and he can stay home for these jobs.
I have a place where I tie them to a fence rail near the barn for grooming etc. its a fence rail which I could pull apart myself with a few good yanks. They don’t fight the tie at all but do get inpatient with lots of hoof action to let me know they want to get going.
I am going to add a period of being tied in the barn each day to their routine to get them used to the idea. That should help a little also.
I really want to do this because I find myself leaving these jobs undone as I want to do them with the horses but haven’t at least up to this point figured out a practical way to arrange it.

[Rod]

I have an idea to help with my own problem stated above. Since I have a have a light sled why not use it to pull around to those odd jobs. It can carry the tools and the brush/wood or rocks etc. With a single horse and a chain to drag it, it’s an easy hook and unhook meaning that at the work site I can unhook the chain, turn the horse around and tie him to the sled. When I am ready to go it’s an easy movement to untie him , turn around and drop the chain on the sled and off we go. A seat on the sled or hay bale to sit on would complete the setup.
See what you can think of when you are too tired out to do anything else.

[Rod]

Both I guess. I can tie them but usually not very close to the work for loading etc. and they are impatient, pawing the ground, and head tossing and rubbing.

[Author]

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