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ever learn, declared Moran. Charlie helped break in and train new comers to the team. He was the sort of lead ox that took care of the team ? not letting them rush, and he would put on the breaks to prevent over-action that could strain a young unseasoned ancpmal. When Charlie was put out to pasture he was blind and old, but that doesn't necessarily mean he liked retirement.
Moran likes to start training his oxen at about two and a half to three years of age. At that age they are bigger and understand better. The actual vocabulary that an ox must learn consists of very few words ? such as "G-ee" (turn right)"Haw" turn left; G-it ?- go forward, and"Woah? (stop). But the amount of accent and the tone of the drivers voice has several shades of meaning which
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any good <p( understands. There's a sweet harmony between a man and his team, it's hard to define, and hard for
X50ti?&ZCS?X folks to understand, but an ox_team works with
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kis driver in the same way as an orchestra works with a director. And there's a gentle love and understanding between man and beast ? a knowledge of inter-dependance.


Moran Oxen-by-Joe-Pilet-part3
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