Well, I finally have a little video. I'm sorry it's a little blurry, don't know if that is my camera or what? If you like Country music, then the video is better with sound. There are some photos that you have already seen and some new ones, along with the video. I made the video to hopefully be for someone off of the porch to find interesting? We'll see. Hope you enjoy it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud836slwUmw

Hey Will, I really enjoyed the video. You need to come down to Dothan Alabama at Landmark Park on March 19th and 20th. Tommy Flowers usually comes. We always have a good time.

Will, I liked you video. Looks like you are doing a good job. Keep it up!

Will it's a great video and tapped my foot all the way through it. Think I click the link and watch it again.

Thanks

Will, I looked at again and its still good, I know a couple of folks that only have dial up so they wouldn't be able to watch it. Would you be interested in making a few DVD's

Thanks
Regie

It's a terrific video! Thanks for posting it :)

Great video. The horse looks pretty big with you down in the furrow!!!

Be glad to. Those of you on the porch know my story. The amazing thing is the story as well about the horse. She was a cull that nobody wanted. I've told that story too, but thought I would remind people as they watch the video. I am very proud of her. She really was getting the hang of knowing where she had to be on the edge of the furrow. You can watch her align herself next to the furrow at one point in the video. She did that almost on her own. This was only our second day plowing together, and the first day we didn't have time to spend long. I still have a LOT of plowing to do in the "neighborhood". There is one guy that called me and told me I could plow up his whole pasture!! It is about 5-acres or more. So, I have a lot of work to do and that is AWESOME!! I just want to be productive. Dragging a sled every day is just not my cup of tea. Even if the work is not to benefit myself specifically, it is real work that is needed by someone. I am glad I'm there to do it.

I feel humbled by the request for a DVD of it. I'm not sure it warrants that, but i would be more than happy to make some for anyone that wanted one.

Well I will have to say that is a doggone good movie. That was a thrill to see yall plowing so good in all those rocks and clods. I would also say that it looks like to me you have a fine beginner plow horse. I bet she would have done almost perfect with a helper there to drive her and take some of the load off of you also. It is not easy to handle horse and plow in the beginning, hard to concentrate on everything. Wish all folks with black Perch mares could plow so well! Only sad thing I saw was that handle dragging on the ground. Keep up the good work in the dirt.

Thank you! Like I told Todd, I had good teachers. :) It is funny that I know you so well. No kidding, when I was watching the movie myself, I wondered if you would say anything about my plow handles dragging the ground. I also knew what Todd would say...get out of the furrow and make your plow handles longer:). And both of you did exactly what I wondered if you would do. Just to let you know though, I tried about half the time to keep my hand on the plow and not let the handles drag. Just would forget sometimes like you said, a lot going on in my head to make it work. Also even tried to walk out of the furrow and just guide the plow with one hand, but I kept hitting rocks and the plow would come completely out of the dirt if I wasn't on it pretty quick. Although it was a little harder on me, I seemed to do a better job with both hands on the plow and walking behind it. Might take practice at trying different stuff. I did learn however that i woulc control the driving lines with my chin. Was easier to go gee using my chin, had to use my hand to get her to haw, but she is learning her voice commands better now. I have a LOT of work still to do!!

Very nice IMO. Nothing better than getting some work done while "training" yourself and the horse.

WiLl, I think my farrier would really get a kick out of the video and I know he only has dial up. I'd be glad to cover any cost etc. I've watched it several time the plowing look good to me, but don['t let that go to your head, I know nothing about it. THe land and the animals are beautiful. That my kind of art.

Regie

Will,

You're a rich man. Good parents, good friends and it looks like you're married to your best friend. Not to mention a plow horse and living in the country. Congratulations!

I watched the video and smiled and chuckled the whole way through it. Enough of this writing, I'm gonna watch the video again.

Great job Will, both the video and the plowing. The Hank Williams Jr. tune fits you well. God bless you and your family.

That's the life.

Will, that's an awesome video - great job editing it. Sure am jealous of you. Your horse is wonderful - looks like she's really in tune to you, listening with her ears, and soft on the lines. Love, love, love how you back so easily. Can I send you my two? Looks like so much fun - keep up the good job.

Hi Dionn, thank you for the compliment, but please don't be jealous. I can assure you I have had a rocky road to get to the starting line where I am now. I am far from experienced, but just even to get to this point has been really frustrating and challenging. Upon som bad advice the first time I hooked up my horse was to a four wheeler and I won't even tell you waht all happened, but let's say the guy that I thought had "experience" didn't know quite as much as I would have hoped for. I ahve poured question upon question out on here on the porch, and traveled several different places to get help. Thankfully there are a few people that were really good at draft work so I finally got a safe start. I have also done TONS of training with my horse. When I was breaking her to ride, and used natural horsemanship methods, she broke through the wood round pen, has almost bucked me off twice (once really hurt me even though I didn't come off). I gave up the round pen and just lunged her in the open pasture. She drug me around liek a rag doll. I am fairly strong, but playing tug of war with a 1,500 lb. horse is hard. I finally "broke' her and she became really respectful. I back her a LOT, even with jut the lad rope. Sometimes I literally back her from my corral to the pasture (30-40 yards away) Backing all the way. i have found the more you back a horse the more respectful they get. Again, my draft work (skidding logs) and my farm work with her is FAAARRR from perfect, but if you had only seen a video from the beginning, you wouldn't believe how far we've come. I thik the only thing that has seen me through is an EXREME love for drafts, a little knowledge on training horses (from riding side), and a little muscle and sweat. And of course lots of generous help from others. If I can help you in any way passing on what I have been shown and told, please let me know. That is the greatest gift someone has given me and I would willingly help the next person.

Will - I am totally with you about the porch. I've posted many questions and gotten the best answers. I've come a long way, too - but still have a long way to go. Seems that just when I have them figured out, some bugger comes up and throws a wrench in things and I have to re-figure it. Best advice I've gotten has been from everyone here. I get a lot out of your questions here. I know how far you've come. Keep up the good work!

It was nice.

The most frustrating thing to me is not even the horse. It is the equipment, finding it, and learning to use it. Equipment is expensive and you have to travel far to get it- IF you can find it. And since I have chosen to go with a single horse, it is even harder. One horse equipment is almost non-exsistent other than a plow. Unless you buy new and then you really pay a premium.
But, I guess when it's all said and done it is a good feeling. Speaking of....off to plow in the garden today.

FYI, finally finished that garden spot today that was in the video. Figure it's right at 1/2 acre. If you don't think that's big, take it in little 8" slices and see how it grows:). It took me three or maybe even four (can't remember since there was a little time in between) to get it done. But again, I guess one tired and in shape horse is better than two fat ones. Will try to post a pic of the "finished" product soon. Then hopefully will keep the porch updated as the garden does thorugh the summer.

Now, I have two more gardens to go! One is three acres.

Took me 30 days to do my first ten acre field.
It takes a long time to get the horses in shape if they don't work all winter and there's always
other things to take your time.
Good luck and have fun. TIP: Ya gotta try to walk a little easier or your form will make you very old before your time. Consider a riding plow.

I agree with you. I think part of my having to work so hard is all of the rocks in the soil and probably the weight of a one horse plow. Might be a little easier if I was behind a team and had a heavier plow, but I tried to relax a little, stand more upright and the plow seemed to keep getting bounced right out of the ground every time I would hit a smaller rock.

Y'know Will, when you first got here I kinda thought you were one of those newbie know-it-alls that asked questions and then proceeds to tell us "How I do it" Boy did I mis-read you! You are OK in my book and I can see you've a good mind for understanding how to git-er-done. My hat's off to you young man. Enjoyed your video.

Thank you very much for the compliment. I am sorry that I charged in so hard at the beginning. I guess some of my exhuberance came on a little strong. I do ask a lot of questions don't I? It seems the more I learn, the more questions come up and I figure out how much I just don't know. I am really trying to make myself a student of draft power and there have been some REALLY great people that have helped me get started. I hope one day I can turn around and give back to someone else that needs it. I think Kindness begests Kindness.

How wonderful. I am glad you are on your way will. I most likely will never get there but I still try. Land here is impossible to buy and can't find what I need that is in reach but I sure love to see someone well on their way

tony , don't give up. It is not easy, I know very well too, but if you look out there to try and find help, there are people that are really good and will help you. You can't do it alone, or at least I couldn't. I had to get help, for everything. Finding equipment, advice, showing me the old ways. Don't give up. If you want it bad enough, you will get there.

I would love to have your plans on building a log cabin. If you can tell me how to cut the doors and windows out

Will, questions deserve answers and you seem to have the ability to sort through the answers, sorta separatin' the wheat from the chaff and comin' up with what works. Don't discount your exuberance, it's a good thing in my book.

I didn't build the log cabin that is in the video. That photo was shot at an old trappers cabin out in the Alaskan wilderness. I live in a log cabin, but mine was put together as a "kit". However, I watched a log cabin built from scratch. Theey put the entire exterior wall up, then cut the openining for door and windows using a chain saw. They then framed the opening to fit a standard size door and windows. They stuffed insulation between the framing and walls to insulate. I would use foarm, but get other opinions. Then added trim boards outside and in to cover the gap between the wall and sindow/door.

Another tip that the guys out in Alaska gave me was if you build a cabin out of round logs, instead of milled square logs, you need to make the scoop of the log on the underside. This will help you not retain moisture and the logs will last longer. Just thought I'd pass that along. Also, they did not have any windows in Alaska in the small trappers cabins. More access for the bears to get into while they were away from their cabin. One door was plenty and they made it so that it only opened outward to also be more bear resistant.

thank you so much and good luck

I think I might have a few more photos of the cabin and also the cache (food storage tower). I will try to post them so that you can possibly see how it was constructed as well as how the roof structure was made.