[oxman]

Here, Here, Carl…….right on the money! Got to have the horns! A properly trained animal would not dare touch a teamster with the horns. Others, maybe, but not the teamster.

[oxman]

Hello, we used to use a baked turnip. Who would waste a good loaf of bread? This method is for bending the outer tip of the horn as seen on the Film Board of Canada video that was made here. You don’t want to use too much heat as this may make the horn brittle, not to mention hot.

Carmen

[oxman]

Bet they thought the devil was behind them when they heard the stone drag rumbling over the gravel. Good thing you wasn’t on a steel land roller rattling over the gravel. They would still going, lol.

[oxman]

Take a course making shoes and shoeing and shoe your own and many others while your at it. I have made many, many sets and will continue to make many sets, and soon will be expanding my sales, both in product line and training seminars, though I am getting a bit tired of seemingly being North America’s only continous shoe maker and shoer of oxen. I want to make shoes, but cut back on the hundreds and hundreds of oxen I shoe. I implore you all to shoe your own. I will help if I can. Please, don’t make oxen walk without shoes when they’re needed.

Carmen

[oxman]

The main difference is the distinctive hard knocking ring of an ox bell as opposed to a soft clanking of a cow bell, and the distance each sound will travel. Size determines whether it is a steer bell or an ox bell. Shape is very important. Material and thickness is important. Temper is important. Clapper is important. Lip is important. Has to be airtight from the mouth up. Other little things important too. Quite an art. This is making me want to get back to making more bells. One last bit of info. When the makers made ox bells they strived for an ox bell. Occasionally, one did not turn out satisfactory. They threw it into the corner and called it a cow bell.

[oxman]

I forgot what some consider the most important feature of ox bells. They provided many instances of peace of mind, not to mention saving lives.

Also, with the day’s work all done, one only needed to ring an ox bell with a regular rythym to bring friends and neighbours within hearing distance to a party. Hopefully, someone brought a fiddle, and cards were played.

Carmen

[oxman]

Hello, Andy. Yes, indeed it will be obvious when your oxen will need shoes. If you are working on sod only and your team is light, and you work less than say 20 hours a week, and you don’t pull much weight, you should be ok without shoes. However, if you are serious about working your oxen, especially over all terrain, including ice, they will need shoes. Seriously working oxen not having shoes will sore their feet within 3 weeks to the point of pain causing limping and discomfort. Check their feet, examine soles, and be watchful of the ever telling tendancy of preferring to walk on soft ground instead of gravel. Shod oxen don’t care, and they walk prouder. Also, watch for slipping and sliding; if they do that, shoe them. Last thing you want is an ox falling on his teeth!

Carmen

[oxman]

Whips can be ordered through me. PM me.

Carmen

[oxman]

You can just drag it, or wrap it around your yoke pins that your straps wrap around.

Carmen.

[oxman]

Rod, what you explained is a classic error in using oxen. Most teamsters when hooked on a load will take off right away, especially in a comp. The animals expect that, even delight in it. To solve this simple problem, just don’t do it for a while. They’ll get it after a bit, hopefully.

Carmen

[oxman]

Take a course making shoes and shoeing and shoe your own and many others while your at it. I have made many, many sets and will continue to make many sets, and soon will be expanding my sales, both in product line and training seminars, though I am getting a bit tired of seemingly being North America’s only continous shoe maker and shoer of oxen. I want to make shoes, but cut back on the hundreds and hundreds of oxen I shoe. I implore you all to shoe your own. I will help if I can. Please, don’t make oxen walk without shoes when they’re needed.

Carmen

[oxman]

Chuckled at this one. Oxen are not to be offended by wearing cow bells. Ox bells were put on oxen for several reasons. First ox bells unlike cow bells can be heard up to 4 miles away (some say 6), especially on a frosty morn. Roads were very narrow at one time. Bells allowed teamsters to know who is coming, and where he is at. This allowed easier passing. Also, these bells would identify teamsters, what they were hauling, how much, speed, direction, is he ahead or behind, how long before he would be where you were, and so on. Can you imagine the utter mayhem not using bells. These bells were for the teamsters, but the oxen carried them. The three best known makers were the Langilles, Frasers, and the Morleys.

Carmen

[oxman]

Training begins as soon as the animal drops out of the cow’s vulva and continues non-stop until the day you realize, the ox has surpassed you. Outdoor training should happen like youwould between meals. Train often, but not in long durations.

Carmen

[oxman]

Commonly used here is a thick, but soft plastic pipe that chain passes through. It is durable, easy on legs, yet flexible for storing.

Carmen

[oxman]

I am not too good with this site yet, so all bear with me until i get it figured out, especially the PMing.

Carmen

[Author]

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