Just came in from driving the draft colts. Dandy, the coming 3 year old gelding, drove off like an old broke horse. Fine, the coming 2 year old filly, a full sister to Dandy, drove a little snorty at first, but calmed down real fast. Both seem to be doing great, tho’ they are kind of wild acting when you go to catch them. That will change with time. I didn’t work with them very long. Only until I saw improvement. Hopefully next time they will enjoy it more and look forward to it. I fed them each a couple of bites of oats after I unharnessed them.
I went and found some single trees and a double tree to hook them to and then they can drag them around. I need to go get some spikes and make myself a stoneboat. A stoneboat is a crude sled that they used to haul stones off from the field with. Usually just a couple of planks for the runners and boards or planks nailed on top for the weight bearing surface. You don’t use a tongue on it, but just drag it with a single horse or a team or even four or six horses if you wanted to. It gives them a slight pull which they need to get used to and also it gives the driver somewhere to stand while he is driving. At my age and physical shape, that is a very important point! 😉
Dennisranch 