[Rod44]

For sure on that watch them in public. When at a function or parade other than at home (or on a back booney road) I always have the lines in my hands. I come from the Amish end (me and the horses both trained by one) and we may tie them for half a day with the harness on. Which reminds me of an amish story.

I kept my horses at my amish friend’s place for a few years untill I retired and brought them to my farm full time. At first Melvin still had a pair of belgiums too. We also bought a haflinger stud cheap at an auction. He was 6-8 years old and never been trained for anything. One day Melvin decided we should hitch him with the belgiums on the mower. Well, all he could think about was stud things. Wouldn’t pull, just hang back and try to mount. Finally he reared and got his front feet tangled in the others harness. Fell down under the other horses and tangled up. Of course I got all excited and said “here is my knife Melvin let’s cut him free”. Melvin looked at me scornfully and said “Amish don’t cut harness”. He drove the horses ahead some which pulled the stud out from under them. We untangled him some and he got up. Moral – don’t get excited too soon!

Another day he wanted to go to his brothers place a couple miles away. All the horses were down in the lower pasture too far away. So, he takes the stud out of the box stall and jumps on him and rides him down. He had never even had a saddle on him before. He said he had to kick him quite a bit to get him started but finally away he went. I it something how people that have worked with horses since they were little kids can handle horses! I would have been killed.

[Rod44]

Farm Boy is correct on the boom pole off of the 3 point. Trick is to have the boom pole at head high or higher so they can’t plant their feet and be dragged. If they are tied high enough their front feet come off the ground if they try to hold back and they have to come forward.

Near Horse – I too have run into frantic people when you hitch your team by yourself. Or, tie them back to the wagon or forecart (with set brakes) and walk aways away to do something. If they have had enough work in the past and they know what you expect they can be pretty reliable, but anything can happen. On our last wagon train drive I was leading and when it came time for lunch we just pulled over on this back country gravel road. I unhooked the tugs and tied the lines back to the wagon and walked back and had lunch with everyone else. Half hour later I came back and they hadn’t moved and inch.

Some of the people in the two driving clubs I belong to, won’t even tie their horses up to stop for a break or lunch with them hitched up. They unhitch and unharness.

How do you all tie up when harnessed? I use a neck rope and then run it down through the bit ring. There is a special adjustable hole snap you can use. I don’t use one. I tie a ring in so there is no chance of slippage and chocking. I usully have a halter on too but they can be rubbed off.

[Rod44]

I must jump in again and repeat – this method is not based on fear or punishment or hitting or hurting. The method is based upon focusing the animals thoughts on what it is doing and to show him there is nothing to be afraid of. The object is to not give the animal the chance to be intractable. For once he learns he can be intractable then you have a real problem on your hands and you might as well sell him. Bob and I too want good relationships with our horses and mules based upon respect where we BOTH behave and have respect.

[Rod44]

Nice pict of your horses at work. I’m looking to get a sulky plow by next spring.

[Rod44]

Update on the progress of Bob’s mules. Last week the necks where getting a little chaefed so he gave them 4 or 5 days off and rubbed down the necks with salt water. Started driving again on saturday. Stopped today as he was harnessing up. They are doing great. He turned his big wagon around with them in a small area that I would have thought twice about turning around in with my well trained haflingers. He hee’d and haw’d them around and just asked them to back and they did without hauling back on them. Turning into quite the team of mules.

[Rod44]

When I was in Belize, I visited an Amish community in the western part of the country. They used oxen and were bringing out some large logs. Maybe they would be a source to help train people.

[Rod44]

One of the tricks with the tractor is to have the beam high enough that their heads can be tied high enough that they can’t plant their front feet and be dragged. If they resist, it takes the weight off of the front feet instead and they come willingly.

[Rod44]

Robert – I realize you didn’t say right or wrong.

I had my doubts about the method at first, untill I saw it unfold. It is unbelieveable how the mules changed in two or three days. Bob says, now instead of running past him in and out of the barn they calmly walk past him. Instead of turning their butts to him when he goes in the stall they stand facing them. They are getting to like and trust him. Their will isn’t broken in this method. It is just training them that the people are the leaders. If they don’t get the idea in their head that they can fight and win, they are more pliable as the training proceeds. They are trained gentle, no hollaring, no hitting.

[Rod44]

Luckily for you he doesn’t want to sell them. There are thousands of draft horses that have not been handled much and are trained by hitching them up in a six horse hitch on the disk with older broke horses. When the driver says go – they have to go just like these. They make good horses and within a couple weeks.

[Rod44]

A few more pictures – all picutures are of the second day being hitched.

[Rod44]

I got lucky and the http://www.wagons-wheels.com/pw107.html plans where right here. I don’t know where I bought them but the details of the box body and running gear if from illustrations in “American Hoarse-Drawn Vehicles” by Jack D. Rittenhouse

Illustrations and Diagrams in the “Time-Life” book “The Cowboys”

If I had to guess I would think I would have ordered it out of an add in Rural Heritage.

Nope here is where I got them

http://www.wagons-wheels.com/pw107.html

[Rod44]

I will look up my plans and see where I ordered them from. They are too large to copy, or I would send a set to you.

I’m taking of right now to help a friend break a pair of mules and then leaving for the kids house. I will try to get it done on Monday. Don’t be afraid to remind me!:):)

[Rod44]

You back the carrier over the log. There is a ice tong at each end on a cable. You winch the log up with a hand crank boat winch. When it is up, you run chains under it and chain it up. Then back over another one and lift it and another if there is still room. Works real slick. It is a big heavy homemade thing. I didn’t think the horses could pull it empty let alone with that load on it. Haflingers are tougher than many think.

[Rod44]

Nice rig, to bad you are so far from Wisconsin. Look at the chuckwagon ad, maybe we could trade and meet half way.

[Rod44]

Hi Sam. I’m from southwest WI too. Near Viroqua. There are a lot of people with draft horses in this area and many Amish too. You should have no problem. PM me and I can set you up with someone maybe.

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