another question of horsepeople of the world

[mitchmaine]

i liked robernson’s thread alot and didn’t want to clutter it up.
my question is to anyone, why did you choose to learn and to use draft animals?

[Donn Hewes]

While I believe animal traction can be very efficient (size and scale are important here), and environmentally sound, and is not fossil fuel dependent; none of those are the reasons I started or continue to work with them today. One day about 18 years ago as I was walking down the street where I lived I noticed that my neighbor had mules. I decided almost on the spot that I needed to have one. No idea what I would do with it.

Once I got one home (and then two!) I found trying to drive them as a means of possibly training them. It was a long and messy story that eventually led me to mentors and other help and the beginning of learning this craft. Somewhere around the first time I put a harness on a mule I realized it was one of the most satisfying, challenging, fun, interesting things I have ever done. It still is today.

[OldKat]

I got interested in working animals at a fairly early age. We lived in what was then a suburban setting on the edge of a large city, even though my dad was in the packing & cattle business. Every year that I can remember up until I was about 11 or 12 years old an old, gray haired black man would come through our neighborhood in a wagon drawn by a mule. He had a walking plow and would unhitch from his wagon, hitch to his plow and turn people’s gardens for them for just a few dollars. He did probably every garden in our neighborhood. I was fascinated with him and his mule. I would tag along as he worked the neighborhood and he even let me ride in his wagon from time to time!

When I was a little older and we were further away from the city I got my first saddle horse and then my first cattle, which were really just show steers. However, I couldn’t forget that old man and his mule. When I was in late junior high my oldest sister graduated from high school and a club she was in went to New York City to see the sights. On the way up there they stopped in Lancaster County, PA and she sent a post card to me that showed an Amish hitch of Percheron horses pulling a harrow. I still have that card somewhere. I was fascinated with the Amish, had never heard anything about them before that. I was fascinated with using draft animals to do farm work; in our area people only used tractors.

Mostly I was taken with those beautiful black and gray horses. It was not until I was in my mid to late 20’s and had bought my first Percheron mare did I learn that my maternal grandfather had farmed with them right until the time one accidently pawed him in the back, ultimately resulting in his death. I also found out that my mothers family had farmed with them in the Alsace region of France before coming to Texas in 1848.

While I don’t plan on repeating the getting killed by one my Percherons part of the deal; to farm with them would feel like honoring a family tradition (even if I never knew my grandfather who farmed with them).

Interesting question, thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell my story. I hope to hear other stories, as well.

[Carl Russell]

My experience was similar to Donn.

I was leaving my job (the only job I have ever had, 1984-86) as a log buyer for a large sawmill. I had a degree in forestry, but wanted to go into logging, as my method of practicing it. I was trying to make arrangements with New England Equipment to buy a 450D to go into the woods. I happened across the trailer of a horse-logger whom I had been buying logs from, parked beside the main road. I stopped, and as I was walking up the skid trail, I could here the jingle of trace chains, and the quiet one-word commands of this man. Walt Bryan was not a big man, and as I watched him driving his single horse, I could see the art, the dance, the power that he directed with the lightest touch.

I never gave the crawler another thought, even after 24 years I am still compelled by that image. I bought a horse from Walt, and still remember the feeling of absolute uncertainty as I walked my new horse up the hill and listened to the trailer rolling down the road. I had no idea what I had started, but it was exactly what I needed to be doing.

Carl

[OldKat]

@Carl Russell 17398 wrote:

My experience was similar to Donn.

I was leaving my job (the only job I have ever had, 1984-86) as a log buyer for a large sawmill. I had a degree in forestry, but wanted to go into logging, as my method of practicing it. I was trying to make arrangements with New England Equipment to buy a 450D to go into the woods. I happened across the trailer of a horse-logger whom I had been buying logs from, parked beside the main road. I stopped, and as I was walking up the skid trail, I could here the jingle of trace chains, and the quiet one-word commands of this man. Walt Bryan was not a big man, and as I watched him driving his single horse, I could see the art, the dance, the power that he directed with the lightest touch.

I never gave the crawler another thought, even after 24 years I am still compelled by that image. I bought a horse from Walt, and still remember the feeling of absolute uncertainty as I walked my new horse up the hill and listened to the trailer rolling down the road. I had no idea what I had started, but it was exactly what I needed to be doing.
Carl

That is when you KNOW that it is right for you. Wish I could feel the same about my career choice. I am happy for you Carl, and quite frankly just a touch envious.

Good for you Carl Russell, you are doing what you want and should be doing.

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