Does anyone know of a source of new goad sticks?? Berry Brook has closed I think-

fiberglass fence posts

Old wooden broom stick handles.

Fiberglass and broom sticks are both too hard and stiff. INHUMANE!

I usually find a recent maple tree stump that's sending up suckers, and you can often find the length and thickness that you prefer, or try an assortment anywhere from a buggy whip to the clubs described by others in earlier posts.

fiberglass fence posts are 3/8inch in diameter, hardly a club.

I have used the broom stick as a "goad" as in tapping or poking them to direct them.

For Pete's sake I would not condone beating an animal or whacking an animal with a broomstick.

I use aspen and dogwood switches. Also use a flexible buggy whip. You can cut off the lash if you like. If you want tape-wrapped oak tapered Maine-style or pulling style), try making your own. Ray Ludwig makes twisted hickory stocks and braided lashes.

New England Ox Supply sells goads, and Bob Boynton At Boynton's Yokes 'n Bows does to. You can find both in the RH magazine under my card, or New England ox supply has a website. Neither a broom handle or fence post should be taken off the farm, especially when the public is involved, it gives all teamsters a poor image. I like buggy whips myself, they are effective and accepted in most places.

No one mentioned 1/2" or 3/4" PVC pipe. I'm having a hard time understanding how some people see much of a difference between any of the mentioned items when used as a goad stick, other than a broom stick not being as flexible as any of the others. All can be effective or cruel, in the right or wrong hands. As far as the ignorant public is concerned, there is no difference at all between any of them, all being used in their eyes to beat animals into submission. They see a fancy buggy whip as no different from a taped goad or a fiberglass rod.

Yes, folks want to believe we ox drovers whip our animals and control them with fear. Until they SEE a skilled driver talk to and move with his team, barely touching or not at all touching the animals. Willing response--we train for that. But it is sometimes unplanned to over-react and suddenly overdo goad action while training (this is where SELF training must develop)so a non-flexible broomstick is not recommended.

Well said, Vicki.

A good ox works with a friend, with respect not out of fear.

Howie, are you going to make it to the Draft Animal Field days this year? I'd like to visit with you longer than I did last time.

We got a place to stay yesterday.

I have listened and read a lot of peoples responses about people using a stick or whip and hurting an animal. Now I work with mules, in some cases I use a buggy whip. I would start to explain how I would use a buggy whip and have had people go totally nutz just cause I use a buggy whip. But when I show the very same people how I use a buggy whip they have a totally different reaction. I think that there is key words that lock in to what they hear. When I say "buggy whip". They get the thought of a 6'5" 350 lb man standing there swinging with all his might. I laugh cause I have used my method many times to get a mule over being ear shy. We all know that if you would hit a mule on the ears with a buggy whip that him being ear shy would only get worse, not better. I have no answers to keep them from reacting to the key words. The best that I can offer is that we need to make videos and show that we do not harm our animals. It dose not matter if it is a horse, mule, oxen, dog or cat. We dont want to hurt our animals and we need to get this point made to others. Vicki you are so right self training and control is a must. But the biggest thing that I see missing is common sense.


Jim

What people often fail to realize is that working draft animals is pretty special and we have the freedom to do it. But if the legislation like they are trying to pass in NYC for carriage horses ever reaches state wide it could limit the use of all draft animals in NY. Most of the public today have no experience with real working animals, so every interaction they have with a teamster is an education in draft animal use whether that interaction is good or bad.