DRAFT HORSES: How I Adjust My Lines (Part 1)

[@jamessparks8325]

Great video. My dad was a good horseman. He wanted a good head set, no throwing their head and wanted them to walk fast and even. I've seen him adjust lines and the strap along top of their back. Never did say exactly what he was doing or why. Thank you. Now I know more.

[@pittschapelfarm2844]

Very informative. It appears more to do with knowing the horse than it is the procedure for handling the horse. Interesting video!

[@robertcowden9484]

I had horses for years it's very easy to explain some horses like jobs better then other jobs think about it and place them were they like to be I had a few horses just like them it took me 31 horses to really understand

[@dannyboy7086]

Hey Jim/Brenda, I hope you had a nice mini vacation and I'm glad you're back.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Thanks! We had a great time,. Glad you’re watching too!

[@johnking8679]

Seems like when you're not in Hawaii you're in Maine ....?

[@davegongwer106]

Jim you are a wise smart man-your family is very lucky to have you.

[@ericlakota6512]

Thanks guys for all the work u put into making videos.funny i always think of your horses looking perfect from my view. Most teamsters are always yelling and have troble going back your teams are like they do what u want ive noticed you have them back up stop instantly with just your voice

[@ChezMarquet]

Nice explanation of a difficult subject! What you don't mention is the difference between gelding and mare. Often the mares are more willing to work, but every day is a little different. Geldings are much more stable. This taken into account makes it even more complex. Just to let you know, you make it look easy....

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

True about mares....thank you

[@sheilam4964]

Thank you for doing this video. I especially liked where you touched on the horses being different. They do indeed have their own personalities and are different from one horse to another. Just like people are different from one to another.

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

I hope you had a good vacation in Maine. Next year consider visiting New York's Adirondack Mountains. Closer, less expensive, just as beautiful, especially during leaf peeping season. Plenty to do and see, historic, fun, natural. Jim would love the Old Forge Hardware Store, drive the highway to Whiteface Mountain top, visit Adirondack Museum, see The Wild Center, take chairlifts or gondolas to the tops of several mountains, take a boat cruise, ride a scenic train, and many more things If you have time, see the Thousand Islands. Check it out online.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Thanks, we had a great vacation in Maine. We live close to the Adirondacks and have visited some of the places you mentioned, the Adirondacks are beautiful .

[@johnking8679]

Sounds wonderful - you'd make a great guide, I think !!

[@scruffy6151]

Good information thank you.

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌🇨🇦❤, a very educational video, many thanks Brenda and Jim, Lady & Bill, Lady isn't a slacker, she is pretty dang smart, why should I pull let Bill do it

[@teresafarley4033]

When you drive a pair, there will always be one willing to pull and the other willing to let them!!!

[@alb5489]

@@teresafarley4033 "A willing pair."

[@garyarmstrong4597]

Interesting video Jim. Horses as I know them can be difficult and with your skill you make them do what you want them to do is a credit to you and also the horses as well . All working evenly together as a team. They do have the power to move the logs and can imagine what does happen if one slacks of. Thanks for showing.

[@andyives5482]

Fully enjoyed from start to finish, looking forward to part 2. Best regards UK

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Glad you enjoyed it Andy, thanks for watching!

[@sueupham2519]

Lady is always out to please you...xxxlove that horse😘

[@farmboy5622]

Hi Jim & Brenda,.....can you put aftermarket auto steer on your rig?!?! (Ha!Ha!) When your horses are digging deep for a hard pull, I can feel the floor vibrating under my chair!!! I have external speakers with a subwoofer on my computer, and when the horses kick in, my subwoofer kicks in.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Haha

[@mazda62632]

Thanks, Jim. I'm learning a lot.

[@bobbates6642]

Very informative

[@ericlakota6512]

Huge logs amazing teem

[@davidjones1146]

Thanks great video always help

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

I think Jim has found the perfect combination of working with horses while not eschewing machinery there where it makes sense .

[@robertmarino2158]

Jim did you learn this by experience , day by day working with your horses ? Wow , how many years you been doing this with horses ? Great video , remarkable discussion ! Thank you ! Bob

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Since I was 17 when I graduated from high school

[@wild_mustangs_and_parrots]

I came in here because I am having line issues. But do you have a video that explains your neck yoke times two and neck yoke times one plus awesome homemade pole?

[@shanelamell2229]

I shared your post and hope you can get some more people watching.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Thanks so much!!!

[@ronaldfeuerstein435]

Great video.. Hope you and Miss Brenda had a safe and enjoyed your vacation? And Jim? You could have Miss Brenda have some camra time? Would like to see how the Horses act with her?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Ronald, did you see me mowing hay and hauling bales on the previous videos? Best regards, Brenda

[@ronaldfeuerstein435]

@@WorkingHorsesWithJim yes.. Yes i have.. I gave those a thumbs up too..

[@robertmarino2158]

Jim , how many foot lbs pulling , can you share this info ? My father back in the 20-30 farmed with horses , vegetables , hay & ECT . I wish I had knowledge of what he did , no pictures ! He did not share info with the family in the 60-70 's ? I often wonder ? Bob

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

I would be glad to share if I knew the answer but I don’t. The big reason I do this channel is to pass on info about working horses that is being lost as time goes by

[@ericlakota6512]

Its so funny when camera hade birds view laddy lurned around like what are u doing are we going or what so cute she keeps tuning around like what u doing dad .jim working with horses is slower but i think i can be nice not dealing with fiters and such all day

[@sueheaman7186]

Very interesting🙌🏼 Guess I messed this one when it came out! I don’t have a team right now, but hope to have a team one of these days. I was going to ask you how you tell how long or is there a big difference in the length of the setting the attachment of the reins for a team. I think you answered my questions. Thank you.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

great, hope it helped

[@SWAMPHUNTER644]

My comment has nothing to do with adjusting lines. After a couple nights of killing frost here in my garden, it reminded me of your video with your daughter getting your garden ready last spring. You owe us a video on what did well, what didn't and whether you use your horses to put your garden to bed for the winter. I still need to use my "Horse" Troybilt rototiller to plant my garlic for next year. I'll also pass on a tip. I use Seedway treated Wando peas. I had a germination problem several years ago in spring. My seed would probably be useless the next spring as I usually get about two years out of it. Wando is known to do well and produce in both cool and hot years so I planted what seed I had around the fourth of July for a late summer, early fall crop. I had room in the garden. I tilled and laid the seed on top and pushed it in with a stick. I got good germination, watered a couple times, and had very little problem with weeds. I may have weeded once. I started picking about mid August and picked until frost. Five pickings this year and even after two nights of frost, it looks like it will keep producing.. Germination varies from year to year as does productivity but it is a good way to use second year seed. I enjoy the meals of peas, easy to cook in the microwave with a little water. Very little effort to grow, actually easier than spring peas. I have not heard of other gardeners doing this and I kind of came to it by accident because I missed my spring peas. Maybe you could train your horses to mow hay while you shuck peas!

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Our garden did well, thanks for asking. Will keep putting the garden to bed for the winter vid in mind. Thanks for the idea about the peas. Have had pretty good luck with second year seed, thanks for watching and your input

[@herbhouston5378]

Very interesting...

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

It's an astute observation that the horse which is hanging back actually has to work harder. The reason why the horse that moves ahead ( apart from being the faster one by nature) does what he does, he has noticed that the pull becomes a bit lighter . Generally when I buy or bought horses I saw to it that they were even gaited, but when years ago this didn't work, I had my Amish harness maker craft a pair of lines more like the European ones I had in Germany, where the split of the lines is so far back that one could adjust them from the seat of the forecart respectively the wagon while driving if necessary.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

I didn’t know they made lines like that

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

@@WorkingHorsesWithJim My Amish harness maker didn't know either, but I provided him with the information. As to the imbalance at the evener, I should add that the horse that moves ahead would have to pull more if the pivot of the evener is behind the pivoting points of the single trees, but with most of the double-trees we have here that is not the case. Our double-trees are usually built in a way, that the pivoting point is in front and then the horse that lags behind has to pull more. Like so many other things in life, it is a question of leverage.

[@alb5489]

Klaus l believe you are talking about the Auchebach lines/reins. Max Pape wrote a book and describes the system. Title?? "Driving..."??? Some folks think it is driving one-handed whereas all the lines are held in one hand and the other hand is used to help driving control.

[@klauskarbaumer6302]

@@alb5489 Yes, I am talking about the Benno von Achenbach driving system, described in a book by Max Pape " Die Kunst des Fahrens", (The Art of Driving), that's the system I learned back in Bavaria, Germany. I still find it very useful, since it keeps the horses soft in the mouth. And in agricultural work there are many situations where you have to have the lines in only one hand, e.g. when mowing , because you need the other hand to work the levers. Years after I had my own horse(s) at the age of 16, I learned to drive with that system and found it very useful ever since.

[@alb5489]

@@klauskarbaumer6302 Ha! After l posted l thought , Oooopps! l spelled Achenbach wrong. l have the book and have read it several times. My father was born in 1901 and grew up in Germany and had horses all his life, 93 years. He taught me to drive when l got too big at 12 years old to ride my Shetland pony. She was a "Shetland" and also taught me!!! ;-)) l use the Achenbach system and get lots of comments (pro & con) from folks that don't know it and how handy and helpful it can be. Highly recommend the book, well written and informative.

[@djmoulton1558]

What happens when you put her on Bill's other side, i.e. when in the woods? Thx.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Not much difference, I do it quite often

[@alb5489]

@@WorkingHorsesWithJim Every one should do that...better for all.

[@davegongwer106]

gotta ask you jim what part of the states do rail road ties come from?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

I don’t know, I think from all over

[@johnking8679]

If they're not concrete they could me eucalyptus...... ? That's what we used in Rhodesia, in Africa.

[@Dick49311]

I’ve always heard that when horses are pulling a heavy load , it best to keep your lines tight. I’ve heard that on heavy loads the horses like the tightness in the lines so they are pulling against something. It made sense to me when Explained. What’s your thoughts on this theory Jim?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Yes i do keep my lines tight, I believe it helps

[@vivianzuniga8814]

How hard is it in them to have to pull that hard to get rolling?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Sometimes it is hard to get started

[@hristocerovski3131]

👏 Bravo 👍

[@jimhouse9273]

As you ask your team to go right you say "Gee". What are you saying in your nice calm voice to go forward; I can't make it out. Please, comment on your verbal commands next video. This is a most valued video today. Thanks so much to both of you. Wyoming Jim

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Thanks Jim for watching. Jim did do a video on his voice commands if you are interested : kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3mpeISVnaZprsk

[@johnking8679]

Jim, one horse is taller than the other - does that make a difference in how fast they walk ?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Sometimes but I my case, the shorter on walks faster than the taller one

[@johnking8679]

WOW !! That's different to what one normally finds !! But, these are horses and not humans, I guess ? Anyway, thanks for your videos which are SO enjoyable, entertaining and educational !! All wrapped up in one !!

[@shawngordon1563]

Great video did you make your poor wife Brenda shimy up a tree to get those camera shots

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

No, just the top of the skid steer

[@shawngordon1563]

You couldn't even tell haha

[@vasjaboichuk]

🐎💪🐎🐎

[@teresafarley4033]

Sounds like you are speaking French to the horses! I get the gee, haw and whoa but what are you telling then to pull the load?

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Careful step

[@diederikvandedijk]

I think the principle of the evener is a bit different. The hitch point of the horse behind moves out a bit, because the evener is triangular. The horse ahead moves in. This gives the slower horse a mechanical advantage of the longer arm. A straight bar would not work so well. (Just like a balance.)

[@diederikvandedijk]

What I mean is that the one ahead is the one that has to pull harder.

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Good Morning, I use a Husquavarna chain saw, the blade is 20 inches, yes I sharpen them. They are chainsaw chaps for protection

[@imankarsidi4043]

👌👍

[@davidwpinkston4226]

the horses seemed embarrassed when you were discussing their shortcomings

[@WorkingHorsesWithJim]

Haha

[@suzannemomma]

DIFFICULT HORSES! Cover your ears Lady and Bill!

[@tinadenike2357]

I didn't like this one the logs were to heavy for the horses