Horse Training, exciting days

From previous post you will know that we have started our horse traction project. Our training  progressed steadily from introduction to harness to pulling a pallet.
Then it got a little exciting, the mare got spooked I suspect by the pallet digging into the ground and jarring her back. She bolted and ran a few yards so developed a fear of things following her, Then she managed to puck up a gate the harness and went carousing around the field.

She eventually stopped after trying and failing yo brush the gate off round a tree. No damage done to her or the equipment but we do need to replace a couple of gate posts.
That was probably the most exciting day, now we are back getting her used to the harness and the sound of chains which she objects to more than walking through or past gates.

This was undoubtedly a set back but we have to just get on with it and work on her confidence again.

We have paid for the equipment from France and are waiting its delivery but this will be put to work in the spring.

Festival of the working Horse

At Daylesford Organics Farm summer festival they hosted the Festival of the Working Horse this year looking at horticulture. I went along to look at equipment available in the UK 

 While there I got the opportunity to try out the Prommata Kassine french equipment designed to be used with a single horse or donkey. I used it with a magnificent working stallion Brabant called Remco. He was very easy to work but toy could feel the power surge as he pulled into the collar, way over powered for our use but nice to experience.

Also on show was the only Pioneer Homesteader so far used in the country. Here demonstrated by the owner Ed Hamer from Chagfood CSA who has been a forerunner in using horse traction in the UK.

Beds formed using a combination of the Kassine, Homesteader and a borrowed roller seen at the bottom of the page.

 Then Michael went three up with Remco and his two cobs to demonstrate ploughing. With three Brabant he says he can plough Three acres per day, the traditional view is two horses can plough one acre per day. His Plough is Amish made like the pioneer based on an original British design.

More on Jethro

We had a visit from Roxanne who mans our stall once a week and she took this pictures of jethro and his Mum now a week old

Latest development of the farm

We've  have been off line for the past year while working out how to take the farm forward, we considered loads of options including concentrating exclusively on retail, just growing salad or using more labour and expanding what we already grow.

The final decision is to keep the sheep but reduce the number of breeding ewes, reduce the bees to around 25 colonies, maintain the laying hens at around 100 birds and to increase the range of vegetables grown including more direct sown crops. to this end we also decided to convert our cultivation from tractor to horse traction. 

This obviously cannot be done overnight so the plan was to keep the tractor for another 12 months while we train our working horse. But first buy your horse.

We spent many months looking at breeds and individuals with advice from multifarious sources. Sussesx, Comtois, Ardennes, Dales were researched and viewed until finally deciding on a DalesX 4 year old, untrained but very biddable.

Here she is, named Boo on her passport big chunky girl as you can see, this is more significant than we thought.

We get her home all is well we start researching suitable equipment and training methods.

Then one morning this happens

OK we did have an idea before little Jethro was born but it was am unexpected bonus, although this means there will be a delay of at least 4 months while our Mare is on maternity leave. We will update on Jethros progress.