Crossing Confidence

A dispatch on oxen training from Farmer Rob:

On one recent training walk with Star and Stripe, we tried to cross the bridge by the pond for the first time since the winter.  Star was ready to cross without hesitation but Stripe balked and could not be persuaded to cross the bridge.   This kind of problem has occurred with other oxen, and I think even Star and Stripe had trouble back during the winter, it was resolved, but then due to lack of exposure lost their confidence.

The next time I took Star and Stripe out, Kevin came along and when we got to the bridge we tied them to the fence, unyoked them, and let Star across the bridge so Stripe could see that it was not a threat.  We tied Star to a tree on the other side of the bridge and then tried to drive Stripe across to meet him.  Stripe balked even with his buddy waiting on the other side.  We brought Star back over and while Kevin led Star across, I tried to have Stripe follow directly behind him.  On the third attempt with this method, Stripe crossed the bridge behind Star.  We went back and forth a couple times this way, then yoked them and went back and forth a couple times in the yoke.  The next day they walked across the bridge in the yoke on the first try.  I will be reinforcing this lesson frequently so that Stripe doesn't lose his confidence.