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  • From: Jon H <rhizomonkey AT gmail.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Oxen Workshop in Virginia
  • Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:42:57 -0400


Workshop: An Introduction to Training and Driving Oxen    


When: Saturday, May 26th , 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: $50-100, sliding scale, includes lunch. Checks made payable to Living Energy Farm.



For the second spring in a row, the Living Energy Farm will partner with Luke Conner to present a workshop on how to train and drive oxen.  After our first workshop and another year of training our own team, we feel confident that this will be an invaluable opportunity for anyone who wants to explore draft animals for their own agricultural pursuits.


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 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 three oxen teams: a young team, a juvenile team and a mature team. 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 five 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 two years.




  • [Market-farming] Oxen Workshop in Virginia, Jon H, 04/23/2012

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