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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> >I understand that horses need to be worked a certain amount of time to 
> 

'Training' is correct.  'Breaking' is also correct.  And I haven't found that 
to be the case.  Old Duke lives the Life of Riley here.  He had not plowed a 
row of furrow in six years when we first put him to the plow.  When we were 
imperfect in our technique, he snorted in derision as if saying "That's not 
the 
way it's done,"  

I don't think they ever forget.  But then again, a good draft animal WANTS to 
pull.  If you got one that was not of that temperment, you might have to 
persuade him all over to stay on task,  But I much doubt that they forget.

>> In other words I've heard that if you can't spend some regular time you 
> 

Herself is a rider and is working with horses at a riding stable (even as we 
speak).  I think it's more the rider that needs periodic training.  Then 
again, recreational horse people are largely insane and split all sorts of 
infinitesimal hairs, so who knows.  My horse will goof around for months at a 
time but 
has no problem pulling when I want him to.  To be sure he gets out of shape 
if he's just been relaxing all summer (when he works the least), but that is 
easily remedied. 

> 
> >Do you mean that oxen don't need any special training?   If someone knew 
> what he was doing, he could take most any bovine and do the job?  

They do but it is so very different than with horses.  You can bully a horse, 
it is idiotic to manage a horse that way, but they are subject to such 
conditioning.  You can't bully a cow, it's stupid and dangerous to try.  You 
have to 
coax cows.  Most drovers don't even touch them, they just walk beside them 
(on the left) and talk to them.  You have to appear patient and composed to 
the 
ox or it won't do a thing.

Old Duke was Amish trained and responds to voice commands to the point that 
the lines are not necessary.  In fact, one time we had him hitched to the 
forecart and wagon and were gathering stove wood.  We would cut the branches 
part 
of the way in two and snap them over our knee.   Soon, Duke started lurching 
forward, very uncharacteristic of him and by no means safe, he weighs a ton 
(a 
literal 2000 lb ton).  It took us a few more minutes to figure out that when 
the branches were being snapped, they make a "tsk" sound, which is his 
command 
for 'go'.


James      </HTML>