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- From: Jon H <rhizomonkey AT gmail.com>
- To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [Market-farming] Oxen Workshop
- Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:33:38 -0400
Workshop:
An Introduction to Training and Driving Oxen
When:
Saturday, May 14th , 10 AM to 5 PM
Where: Living Energy Farm,
Louisa VA (see below for directions)
Registration
Contact: Sara Tansey, sara.m.tansey AT gmail.com
, 843-694-8896
Cost:
$50, includes lunch. Checks made payable to Living Energy
Farm.
Internationally,
no animal is used for draft as commonly as the ox. Sometimes referred
to as the “poor man's horse,” oxen are cheaper and more easily
obtained than horses, and much cheaper to feed. While not as fast as
horses, they are stronger and have more endurance, and a more level
disposition.
This workshop is intended as an introduction to
oxen for those with little or no experience with cattle. We will
begin by discussing the historical and modern significance of the ox
as a working animal. We will cover the pros and cons of different
breeds, and go over the basics of selecting calves, early halter and
yoke training, feeding, housing and care. We will then learn the
basic commands used to drive oxen and discuss techniques used to
teach each of these commands. Participants will have a chance to
practice these commands by driving one of our oxen teams. We will
demonstrate both a mature team plowing a field, and a younger team
pulling a cart.
This workshop will be taught by Luke Conner.
Luke has worked with oxen since he was five years old, and has spent
the past four years training, working, and showing his team, Calvin
and Hobbes. Workshop assistants Jon and Debbie of Living Energy Farm
have been training their team, Lojki and Fiddle, for the past eight
months.
Directions to Living Energy Farm:
From West/
Charlottesville area:
Take I-64 East, toward Richmond. The next
exit past Zion Crossroads is Rte. 208. Turn Left/ North on 208.
Follow 208 for about 10 miles to the town of Louisa. When you come to
a stoplight, turn Left. In one block, turn Right on Fredericksburg
Ave. This road becomes Bibb Store Road. The (unmarked) address of the
LEF property is 1050 Bibb Store Road. It will be on your Right. There
is a white sign that says LEF on it.
From East/ Richmond
area:
Take I-64 West, toward Charlottesville. The next exit past
Shannon Hill is Rte. 208. Turn Right/ North on 208. Follow 208 for
about 10 miles to the town of Louisa. When you come to a stoplight,
turn Left. In one block, turn Right on Fredericksburg Ave. This road
becomes Bibb Store Road. The (unmarked) address of the LEF property
is 1050 Bibb Store Road. It will be on your Right. There is a white
sign that says LEF on it.
- [Market-farming] Oxen Workshop, Jon H, 04/25/2011
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