My First Time Driving a Horse!

Today I got to drive Marcus for the first time. There were some blown down spruce trees behind the workshop which we are going to be using for firewood, so Jim got Marcus harnessed up and ready to go.

It was interesting to see Marcus get very serious when his harness got put on. Gus was trying instigate some horseplay, but once Marcus knew he was working he was all business.  He stood up steady, and didn't moved around as Jim put on his all his gear.
I went back in the woods to watch them pull out the trees. Jim attached the tree to the chains in the back of the harness, and Marcus waited and made noises, proably because Zeus was trying to herd him.  Its wasn't time for herding, and Marcus probably thought, "What the hell is with this guy?" .  Zeus can't help it.

Well, in short order,  Jim called for Marcus to start pulling the log forward, and the log started going. Jim jumps from one side to the other, and sometimes stands right on top of the log while Marcus pulls it. The snow is about 3 1/2 feet deep in the woods where we were working, so, you had to try and stay in the packed down area, so that you don't break through into the deep snow.
Once Marcus and Jim had pulled all the logs out they needed, I got to drive Marcus.  I took the reigns, and walked him down the driveway to the end of the road. You can tell the horse to go forward, back up, go left, or right. They know these commands verbally, and they have a bit in thier mouth attached to  a long set of reigns, so you say the commond, then put slight pressure to indicate how much you need the horse to move in that direction.
It was amazing  to say " Come ahead!" and to have a massive animal respond in a way that almost seemed thoughtful. He was very calm, and didn't move to fast. When I pulled back slightly, he immediately slowed his pace, and when I put some pressure and said "Turn Gee!"( Gee sounds like "Ji-E") he did a 90 degree turn into the drive way.
I could feel instantly how deep a connection someone would develop with their horses. To work with an animal is so different from anything else I have ever done. With draft horses there are many more things to respond to emotionally then with tractors. For instance, sometimes they get out of their pasture and run around the neighborhood, which forces you to stop whatever you doing and go get them- this can be frustrating- and is something that a tractor would never do. They also can frolic in the snow, and move in a way that is has the same grace as a leaf drifting down to the earth, yet they are so massive. They are powerful, beautiful, and can not be forced. You have to be gentle to work with them, and I think that is a powerful lesson.