Our educational programs are comprehensive, organized, and structured opportunities for participants to become beginning to proficient teamsters. 

Educational Programs

Workhorseworkshops.com offers a variety of educational programs to meet you where you are and to safely and effectively guide you to the next level.  Our current programs include:

 

  • The Teamster Training Intensive (3 day intensive suited to your needs, beginning to advanced)

  • Teamster of the Week (6 days of intensive focused draft horse learning)

  • Teamster Training Continuum (ongoing mentorship program with monthly hands-on training)  

  • Programs for Groups (Varies)

  • Horse Training

 

A description of our educational content follows below.  Please read thru our offerings and select the options best suited to your needs.  Most any of the subject matter can be adapted to any length training program described above; we can help you select the right length program best suited to your needs.

If you are brand new to the world of draft horses, we recommend getting an introductory taste of the reality via our beginning Teamster Training Three Day Intensive.  The Teamster Training Intensive is a great foundation to the use of draft horses and will give you a solid basic beginning and safe introduction to the craft.  If you already have some experience and/or the desire to immerse yourself further in the rhythms of hands on draft horse work, and build a solid foundation for exceptional draft horse teamster skills, then the Teamster of the Week Program may be just the right fit.   Our advanced training opportunities  including the Advanced Draft Horse Farming Training, the Multiple Hitch Driving Training, and the Farming with the Single Horse Training, are opportunities for you to concentrate on a specific subject matter in a focused, well instructed, and safe setting.    All of our programs run concurrently throughout the year.  We also offer programs specific to organized groups such as college classes and families as well as training for horses.  Please review our content descriptions below to see what best fits your goals.  Our most popular programs are the Teamster Training Intensive, Teamster of the Week,  and Teamster Training Continuum programs. Many of our participants bring their own horses or participate in the training of their horses in one of our programs as well.

 

If you have further questions, feel free to contact us. 

 

Our Well trained, patient, and willing horses are selected to be a part of our farming and educational programs with you in mind.  Our horses are safe, responsive, and unsurpassed for their ability to be an integral part of your success—you will rarely find a better group of horses for your learning.

 

Below are examples of the types of topics covered in the training sessions we offer.  We will start where you are and help you get where you want to be.

 

Three Day Teamster Training Intensive for Beginning Teamsters

Workhorseworkshop’s Beginning Teamster Training Intensive is designed for participants, who have no, or little, experience with draft horses. The focus of the program is to introduce you to the craft of working with draft horses in an effective and safe way.  Our emphasis is on safety and confidence in skill mastery with detailed discussion of methods to ensure your future success in the craft.  Once you have mastered the basic skills we teach, you will be better prepared for working your horses on the farm, homestead, woodlot, or pleasure driving.

The training is limited to 2 hands on participants to ensure plenty of opportunity and learning.  Throughout the workshop we emphasize techniques for you to effectively and clearly communicate your intent to the horse, as well as teach you to read and understand what your horse is communicating to you.

Topics include:

  • Horse behavior, language, and the mind of the horse

  • Safety tips for working around horses and equipment

  • Harnessing and basic harnessing adjustment

  • Driving lines (reins) setup and basic adjustment

  • Handling the lines effectively

  • Getting contact with the horse

  • Communicating with the horse thru the lines, body language, and voice commands

  • Understanding how a horse thinks and how to understand what a horse is telling you

  • Developing your mindset to be a better teamster

  • Ground driving, both single and team

  • Hitching to single trees and double trees

  • Hitching up to the sled, wagon, and forecart

  • Driving teams on the wagon and forecart

  • Introduction to Farm Implements, (disc, harrows, plows, mowers, etc)

  • Information, resources, publication discussions

  • Equipment for farming and logging discussions

. 

 

Advance Draft Horse Farming Workshop

Workhorseworkshop’s Advanced Draft Horse Farming Workshop is designed for participants who have mastered the basics of draft horse driving and hitching and want to use their horses for farming and growing crops on a commercial scale or for small food plot gardening.  Use of a single horse to three abreast will be emphasized.  In order for you to get the most from this training opportunity we feel it is important that you have mastered the basics of harnessing, hitching, and driving your horse(s).  If you do not feel confident in these areas, we suggest you take our Beginning Teamster Training Intensive (see above) before attending this program.

The program is limited to 2 hands on participants to ensure plenty of opportunity and learning.   Throughout the training you will be driving a variety of draft horse hitch configurations on all types of farm implements (see below) that range from the small food plot sized implements to larger implements for multiple horses.

Topics include:

  • Choosing the right horse for farm work-conformation and mental condition

  • Proper harness adjustment and collar fit to insure your horses comfort in heavy draft

  • Rigging your hitch for the proper angle of draft

  • Eveners types, their adjustment and other rigging tool discussion and use for farm and field work

  • Line (rein) adjustment and application of line adjustment to the field hitch at hand

  • Row or bed spacing considerations

  • Lateral and horizontal hitch considerations for different farm implements

  • Implement discussion, selection for desired task, techniques in application, demonstration, and or participant usage ways in actual field conditions including:

 

      • Walking plow, single, team, and three abreast

      • Riding sulky plows, team and three abreast

      • Discs, team to three abreast

      • Harrows, including spring, spike, chain, tine

      • Cultivators for weeding both single and team applications, including walk behind and riding

      • Cuitimulcher’s and field cultivators

      • Seeders and drills

      • Tool Carriers, including Annie’s All in One, G-Haw Tool carrier, Pioneer Homesteader

      • Disc Hilling implements

      • Rippers and trenchers

      • Bed Shapers

      • Harvesting implements such as diggers and under cutters

  • Evaluating your soil conditions for optimal timing of primary or secondary tillage and cultivation

  • Resources Discussion

 

Multiple Hitch Driving Workshop

Workhorseworkshop’s Multiple Hitch Driving Workshop is for individuals who have experience driving a single horse or team and want to learn to drive bigger hitches including three or more horses.   The program is designed to teach and enable the participant to set up and successfully drive 3-4 or more horses abreast, as well as tandem hitches, (teams in front of other following teams), of 4-8 horses. In order for you to get the most from this workshop opportunity we feel it is important that you have mastered the basics of harnessing, hitching, and driving your single horse or team as the required line handling skills in this workshop are beyond the expertise of the beginning teamster.  If you do not feel confident in these areas, we suggest you take our beginning Teamster Training Intensive (see above) before attending this program.

   Throughout the Multiple Hitch Driving training we will be discussing the various common ways to set up the lines and hitches; and you will be driving the hitches in actual field conditions on appropriate implements only for short periods, in order to fully cover the wide variety of hitches we may be driving.  Here are a couple of definitions to aid you in the workshop topic discussion below.  “Abreast” hitches refer to horse arranged side by side, thus a team hitch is ‘two abreast.’  “Tandem” hitches are where some of the horses are traveling in front of other teams.  The “lead” team in a tandem hitch is in front, a “wheel” team is the horses at the back next to the wagon or implement, and “swing” or “point “ teams are the horses in between the wheelers and leaders.

Topics include:

  • Three abreast hitches and different methods of line arrangement

  • Four to six abreast hitches and different methods of line arrangement

  • Selection and positioning horses abreast for proper hitch performance, as well as comfort of the horses

  • Tandem hitches of 4-8 horses in two spans (wheelers and leaders)

  • Tandem (one horse in front of another) and Unicorn hitches(one horse in front of two) including line arrangement

  • How to successfully teach your horse to work abreast or in tandem with unfamiliar or new horses-making the hitch development and first time hitching a success for the horses

  • Use of buck back straps and tie ins

  • Driving horses with jockey sticks (variation of 3 or 4 abreast, or use in tandem hitches)

  • Eveners styles and set up for 3-6 abreast

  • Evener styles and set up for tandem hitches including 4-8 bunch hitches and odd numbers of horses (3-7 horses)

  • Discussion or use of standard bull chain eveners, Pacific Northwest 4 up eveners (Schandonney style), Rope and Pulley eveners, and discussion of over/under eveners, Talkington eveners, and other historic eveners, (examples of each will be used, demonstrated, or discussed in the workshop).

  • Line handling, arrangement, and adjustment for different numbers of horses abreast including use and adjustment of stub lines, three abreast lines, 4 lines for four abreast, essentially including all possible arrangements for your workshop experience.

  • Line Handling, arrangement, and adjustment for different numbers of horse in tandem, (teams arranged in front of following teams), including four line systems for tandem hitched and ‘Ohio’ style tandem driving with a single set of lines in hand.  Depending on workshop time, interest, and student skills/advancement, there is the possibility of driving a six up hitch with 6 lines or other configurations that include a swing team.

  • Accessory equipment for multiple hitch driving.  Includes spreaders, tie ins, chain tie ins, drop rings, lead lines, britchen straps, etc.

 

Farming with the Single Horse

Workhorseworkshop's Farming with the Single Horse Training is designed for participants who want to learn how to use their single horse for farming and working food plots on the homestead or market garden scale.  The economy, scale, and utility of the single horse system appeals to many, and we have had numerous requests for this type of training.  We use a single horse on our farm for much of our market garden production and in our high tunnels, so we are able to offer a diverse experience with a wide variety of single horse equipment and conditions.

 

Topics include:

  • Safety tips for working with the single horse and equipment

  • Harnessing and harness adjustment to insure proper angle of draft for the equipment at hand

  • How to use your horse safely and effectively in small spaces, including greenhouses

  • Techniques and line (reins) setup specific to driving and farming with the single horse

  • Plowing with a single horse including plow adjustment

  • Use of the single horse disc, harrow, cultivators, (etc.), and adjustment

  • Other farm implements

  • Discussion of hay and on farm forage production using the single horse

  • Homestead food production using the single horse

  • Information, resources, publication discussions

 

Teamster Training Continuum

Workhorseworkshop’s Teamster Training Continuum Program, (TTC), is an ongoing long-term training opportunity for the participant to further their learning, skills, and experience of draft horse farming and driving at workhorseworkshops.com. Workhorseworkshops.com developed this program for those individuals who want to continue their teamster training beyond the level of beginner, or after a beginning workshop experience.   The Teamster Training Continuum is an ongoing mentorship program that includes hands on draft horse driving and farming on our certified organic working farm, with our well-trained and experienced horses, as well as phone, Internet and other support for your needs as a developing teamster.

 

The Teamster Training Continuum Program includes the following features:

Each month the participant would receive a half-day of hands on driving and farming instruction at our farm, limited to two members in the TTC, so that you receive a lot of a hands-on driving and working with the horses and implements. (We offer special options for people out of the area that might have long distances to travel, such as a full day every other month).

  • Individually focused and custom tailored hands on monthly sessions to the needs of the trainee

  • Trainee driven instruction for what her or she needs at that time in their training

  • Graduated advancement determined by the trainees’ development

  • Extensive instruction on line (rein) handling and effectively communicating commands to the horses

  • Developing your mindset to be a better Teamster

  • Understanding the mind of the horse and how a horse thinks

  • Developing the skills to understand what a horse is communicating and how to read what to horse is telling you while farming and driving and predicting what is going to happen next—how to think ahead for success

  • Extensive instruction in farming with horse(s), including hitching, working, and driving horses on a working certified organic horse powered farm doing real productive farm work, (plowing, discing, planting), growing commercial crops sold to local markets

  • Safe and successful instruction in driving horses from the single horse and team to multiple hitch driving including three or more horses abreast or tandem hitches with horse(s) teams in front of other teams.  This instruction includes extensive instruction in handling multiple sets of lines (reins)

  • Safety around horses, equipment, and other variables (people, places, weather, etc.)  How to set your draft horse driving activity to be safe, simple, and successful

  • Round pen applications and training

  • Dealing with problem horses and vices

  • Ground manners and training as the basis for a successful relationship with your horse(s)

  • Using your body language and position for successful driving and farming.

  • Understanding your own barriers to success, equine shortcomings, and thinking errors, (we all have them), and how to mitigate them for greater success as a Teamster

  • Determining your ‘equine strengths’ and how to capitalizing on them

  • Phone and Internet consultation for participant support on their own farm or ranch

  • Farm seminar organization and hosting for participants featuring an experienced guest presenting farmer, teamster, trainer, (or subject of interest to draft horse enthusiasts), an additional fee may apply

  • Access to Workhorseworkshops.com Teamster Training on line discussion group, a private list serve where TTC program participants can discuss their training progress with others in the program including periodic updates, photos, Q and A, and networking

  • Local field trips to places of interest to the participant. (Harness shop, logging supply, metal fabrication shop, other local horse powered farms), an additional fee may apply

  • Horse and equipment sourcing and evaluation support.  (We regularly go to horse sales, evaluate teams, and have many horse and equipment contacts, so are able to help you source teams or equipment).

  • Instruction on use, maintenance, and proper application of farm equipment, and other related equipment used on a working horse powered farm

  • Harness selection, repair, and maintenance.  Extensive instruction of proper harness fit and adjustment for proper efficiency and angle of draft

  • Infrastructure and housing needs for your horse(s)

  • Nutritional considerations for your horse(s).

  • Equipment fabrication and design assistance at a discounted rate.  We can build or repair draft horse powered equipment for your use at a discounted rate in our fully equipped fabrication shop

  • On your site visits/consultation for participants by Workhorseworkshops.com staff at a discounted rate to assist with your individual horse and teamster training

  • On your site visit/consultation/participation by Workhorseworkshop.com staff for important events to aid and insure success, at a discounted rate.  (Setting up public events, demonstrations, etc.).

  • Group organization and planning for trips to important events like Horse Progress Days.

  • TTC group scheduling on a ‘group only’ access calendar to coordinate our activities.

 

For more information about the Teamster Training Continuum Program, for pricing, or to enroll in the program, please contact workhorsewalt@gmail.com.

  

Group Training

Workhorseworkshops.com offers individual custom training workshops for small groups, driving clubs, or families.  These sessions can be focused on specific issues of interest to the group and can involve the trainee’s horses.  Examples of these clinics include our Beginning Draft Horse Workshop, specific focused topics, (plowing clinic, mower tune up, on-farm forage workshop, etc.), or other subjects of interest.  These custom sessions can occur at your location or ours. If you organize a Group Training Clinic we offer a discounted fee to conduct the event. For more information about Group Teamster Training, for pricing, or to enroll in the program, please contact workhorsewalt@gmail.com. 

 

Horse Training

We offer horse training at our farm.  Our farm is set up so we can take in your horses and provide beginning to intermediate training in driving, hitching, and implement use, both alone, as a team, or hitched with our more experienced horses.  If you are participating in one of our educational programs you have the option of bring your horse to participate in the program with you.  You can bring your current horse(s) that you are using, or your newly purchased horse(s) for our training.   Our methods to start and train a horse takes at least a month of daily training, so it is a big time commitment; specific issues may require less time to work thru.  An important part of the horse training is you--we will teach you methods and principles to ensure continued success and growth with your horses in a safe, positive, and productive environment.    

For more information about Horse Training or to inquire about bring your horse as part of your participation in one of our educational programs, for pricing, or to schedule your horse(s) in our programs please contact workhorsewalt@gmail.com

 

For more information feel free to contact us.