Rural Heritage June/July 2025

instructed in using a whetstone, whether water, oil or dry. Use the coarser grit for initial sharpening, followed by the finer side for finishing. It was easier to sharpen knives in the days of carbon-steel than modern stainless-steel blades, but I still keep knives sharp, keep them away from surfaces that might dull them and store them with care. The principle extends beyond knives. Choosing high-quality tools, using them properly and maintaining them has served me well in barn, garden and field as well as at home. Solidly made pitchforks, hammers and trowels cost more up front but work better and last longer. Well-made clothes seem expensive but are more durable and easier to repair. Four. Every moment is a training moment. Whenever you work with a horse, all your interactions are conveying messages—whether about respecting boundaries, responding to commands, conveying care, or behaving in clear, consistent and predictable ways. The same is true for training other animals, such as dogs. And it also applies to parenting. Be aware of your behavior, and stay tuned to what your actions communicate.

Three. Get good knives—and keep them sharp! Dad always carried a good pocket knife—Buck and Case were prized brands, but brand was less important than blade quality—and he always kept it sharp. He would “rather have been caught naked than without a pocket knife,” a saying he often quoted from an older neighbor. The sandpaper sound of knife blade on whetstone often accompanied coffee breaks, and Dad’s dark-haired forearms often had shorn strips where he tested his knife blades for sharpness. Kitchen knives were kept sharp as well; kitchen work and mealtimes were punctuated with frequent reminders to not let blades touch metal pans or glass plates—along with loud groans when that happened. Dad was quicker to train the boys in the family on knife skills than the girls, but I, too, was eventually

Five. Be committed and consistent. Whether training a horse, a donkey or a dog, don’t be a dilettante. Commit to spending four or five days each week for several weeks. Wait to take a break until you reach a goal or a plateau. Being a weekend warrior doesn’t work. In everyday life, there might be things you dabble in and find it satisfying, but for most projects—especially working with animals— consistent effort is needed for results. . Six. Be patient and persevere. Horse training— or progress on most endeavors—doesn’t often happen in a steady arc of progress. Roadblocks and

June/July 2025

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