Rural Heritage June/July 2026

Bruno at work in the summer of 2025.

gate. He liked being groomed and eating hay while wearing the harness. After Bruno became comfortable with the equipment, we took walks around the pasture wearing the harness. These walks helped teach him and reinforce the basic commands, ‘whoa’ being the most important. I always work with him in a fenced area, if he gets away, he can’t hurt himself or others. He is a large animal. As much as I trust him, I am always cautious. I added a single tree on to the tracesso he would become accustomed to the noise. Eventually I added a small car tire and then a small log. I didn’t use an ox goad or a whip while working with Bruno, just the halter. He became comfortable and a little complacent. He wouldn’t run away, but he didn’t always want to move either. I found he likes horse treats, and I began using a practice dog trainer’s call luring. I put the treat in my hand, and he would follow the movement. After he pulled the log a distance he got the treat. That was just a training

tool, I no longer use treats when I work with him. It was an effective method to get him to move forward. With time I introduced the stone boat and the ox goad, and Bruno began the important work of clearing the pasture. We have no grass and feed hay year-round. The pasture was thickly forested when the fence was put up, now the trees are dying, and the ground is covered with dead branches. I use Bruno to collect the branches on the stone boat and move them to a brush pile. The load is light for the size of the animal, but the work is meaningful. I went into this process with few expectations and Bruno has surpassed them all. He is the biggest ox I have, but he is gentle and willing. He always tries to do what I ask. For liability reasons I don’t plan on taking him to off-farm events, he isn’t comfortable with new people. I have realistic goals for his progress. Bruno has taught me more than I have taught him. With patience and creativity older cattle can be trained to do useful work.

June/July 2026

71