Guide to Modern Wagon Travel A Complete Guide on How to Live and Travel by Horse and Wagon in a Modern World by Bob Skelding Guide to Modern Wagon Travel A Complete Guide on How to Live and Travel By Horse and Wagon in a Modern World i Wagonteamster.com Wagonteamster Publishing 41605 County Road G Del Norte, CO 81132 www.wagontemaster.com email: [email protected] Copyright © 2011, by Bob Skelding. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for inclusion of brief quotations for review. Photographs by Bob Skelding, unless otherwise noted. ii Dedication This book is dedicated to teamsters. iii Table of Contents Chapter 1- A Day’s Journey ..................................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 - Preparations .......................................................................................................... 9 Making the Decision to Go For It ......................................................................................... 9 Like a Steely-Eyed Missile ................................................................................................... 9 Constructing a Wagon and Choosing a Team ..................................................................... 11 Training a Team for the Road ............................................................................................. 13 Choosing a Route ................................................................................................................ 13 Financial Preparations ......................................................................................................... 14 Psychological Preparations ................................................................................................. 14 Skills to Be Learned ............................................................................................................ 15 Chapter 3 - The Wagon ........................................................................................................... 16 Wagon Size ......................................................................................................................... 16 Wagon Gear ........................................................................................................................ 17 Brakes ................................................................................................................................. 18 Pulling Rig .......................................................................................................................... 19 Wagon Box ......................................................................................................................... 21 Building a Wagon From Scratch......................................................................................... 22 Hot and Cold Water ........................................................................................................ 24 Electric Power ................................................................................................................. 26 Heating ............................................................................................................................ 28 Driving Compartment ..................................................................................................... 28 Warning Devices ............................................................................................................. 29 Headlamps....................................................................................................................... 31 Electric Fence System ..................................................................................................... 32 Buying a Wagon That‟s Already Made .............................................................................. 32 Fitting a Lightweight Camper to a Wagon Gear ................................................................. 33 Chapter 4- The Team .............................................................................................................. 35 Finding a Team ................................................................................................................... 35 The Making Of a Horseman ............................................................................................... 37 Halters and Lead Ropes ...................................................................................................... 41 iv Tying a Horse ...................................................................................................................... 42 Harnesses and Harnessing................................................................................................... 42 Driving ................................................................................................................................ 44 Single Horse .................................................................................................................... 45 Team of Two .................................................................................................................... 47 Three Abreast .................................................................................................................. 49 Unicorn Hitch – (Two at the Wheel and one Lead Horse) ............................................. 50 Four Abreast ................................................................................................................... 51 Four-Up .......................................................................................................................... 52 Larger Teams .................................................................................................................. 54 The Holdback .................................................................................................................. 55 Preventing Runaways...................................................................................................... 56 Scary Things.................................................................................................................... 56 Caring For the Team ........................................................................................................... 57 Watering, Mineral and Cooling Down............................................................................ 58 Feeding and Rest ............................................................................................................. 58 Brushing/Currying .......................................................................................................... 61 Hoof Care ........................................................................................................................ 61 Blankets and Shelter ....................................................................................................... 61 Shots/Coggins Tests/Health Certificates......................................................................... 62 Preventing Lameness ...................................................................................................... 62 Veterinary Care ............................................................................................................... 64 Preventing Sores ............................................................................................................. 65 Shoes and Shoeing .............................................................................................................. 66 Horseshoeing....................................................................................................................... 67 Grazing Horses.................................................................................................................... 74 Interacting With the Public ................................................................................................. 77 Horse Training .................................................................................................................... 79 Round Pen Training ........................................................................................................ 79 Ground Work, With a Lead Rope ................................................................................... 83 Obedience Training While Hitched Up .......................................................................... 84 Desensitizing ................................................................................................................... 85 Chapter 5 - Road Travel ......................................................................................................... 86 Safety .................................................................................................................................. 86 Road Grades - Up Hill ........................................................................................................ 87 Road Grades - Down Hill ................................................................................................... 89 Shoulders and Rumble Strips .............................................................................................. 90 Bridges, River and Rail Crossings .....................................................................................