Stories in this issue:

• Steve Edwards Goes to the Zoo: Ronnie Hartman reports on Steve Edwards’ clinic at the Minnesota Zoo for staff that handle their two teams, Percherons and American Creams. Topics include psychology, communication, haltering, “bump and release” with a rope, various bits, harnesses, ground driving, plulling a trolley and more
• Montana Teamster Hall of Fame: Learn about the 2013 inductee, Doc Hammill and his mentor Tom Triplett, and their contributions to the development, perservation and education of draft animals and draft powered equipment, as reported by Jenifer Morrissey
• Preparing a Horse for Auction: Bethany Caskey gives advice for getting ready for a sale with attention to vaccinations, feeding, exercise, training, coat preparation, desensitization, shoeing and grooming.
• Working Horses: Four Corner Communications: Vicki Schmidt describes  a principle of communication with horses that includes the use of both driving lines and words that lead to the use of body language ans spirit in both the horse and handler.
• Traditional Colored Cobs: Jenifer Morrissey discusses the definition of a “Gypsy Horse” or a “traditional colored cob.” And a history of this natural breed of British pony.
• The Draft Horse Program at Paul Smith’s College: The forestry program at Paul Smith’s College in New York was profoundly changed by Gould Hoyt when he introduced draft horses in 1962. Anna Knapp-Peck tells his story and the additions to the program over the years.
• Evidence-Based Horsemanship: Developed by Dr. Steven Peters, a neuropsychologist, and Martin Black, an experienced horse trainer, EBH explains how the horse brain works. Bethany Caskey describes how this inforamtion, along with years of observing horse behavior, is then put to practical use.
• Preservation at Pleasant Hill: Karen Kirsch reports on Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill in Kentucky, which has a pair of Randall oxen.
• Ideas for the Off Season: When weather keeps us from our usual routine withour work horses, Jenifer Morrissey tells us there are still things we can do to keep us acquainted. Lots of ideas for working on the very important little things.
• Why Wooden Shoes on Oxen?: Bill Speiden gives the why and how of wooden shoes for oxen with photos and illustrations of a hoof-trimming chute
• Crowdfunding: Bethany Caskey provides the Fundamentals of this method of raising money for projects via the internet. Some examples of successful crowdfunding projects and websites.
• Woodland Management – A Farmstead Apporach: Ralph Rice’s philosphy of woodland management for is 30+ acreas of woodland on his Ohio farm.
• Catnapper!!: A comedy of errors leads to Rice mistakenly kidnapping the local feed store cat.