Draft Animals – Page 2 – Agricultural Museums

Moving A Megalith With Cow Power

at the Dahlem Domain Open Air Museum in Berlin. The German group piloted by Jörg Bremond, a rare breeds specialist, meets once a year in late winter. They were hosted in 2016 by the Domäne Dahlem Open Air Museum in Dahlem, which has a working farm totally open to the public. Berliners stroll around there,… Continue reading Moving A Megalith With Cow Power

Moving megaliths with cattle-power in Germany

Scene 2 at Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory in Kloster Lorsch, a UNESCO world heritage site. In February 2016, the German Oxdrivers’ Group met in Berlin in the Dahlem Domain to watch as farm manager Astrid Masson moved a megalith with single cow-power – Emma with her calf Elsa in tow – showing us that, in comparison,… Continue reading Moving megaliths with cattle-power in Germany

Using an upside-down horse collar on cattle

From Island Farm located on Roanoke Island on the coast of North Carolina. Our mutual friend, Ed Schultz, shared some photos with you of our bit-trained ox, Charlie. I realize just how unusual it is to train an ox in this way and how fascinated people are to see or hear of it, particularly folks… Continue reading Using an upside-down horse collar on cattle

Blinders (Blinkers), Location, Polling, and Cattle Breeds

– A conversation with Bob Powell, Barbara Corson and Ed Schultz. This was taken at Whinnyfold, Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1895. It shows Mr Alex Davidson ‘plowing’ with his oxen in harness being driven like horses. He’s actually using a ‘drill’ or ridge plow towards either planting potatoes or sowing turnip seed. The latter is done… Continue reading Blinders (Blinkers), Location, Polling, and Cattle Breeds

French Surjougs – a photo essay

There are many names for this charming complement to cattle draft – surjoug or soubrejoug (both ‘overyoke’), clocher (bell spire), chapelle (chapel) typical of the Pyrenees regions, especially in the central French highlands and foothills, as well as in the Garonne River valleys, right into the 1940s (Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Ariège). Hewn out from… Continue reading French Surjougs – a photo essay

Thomas’ hames from Matt Schofield at Genessee Country Village

Thomas is a pretty decent animal and works well for me. The wooden hames that he is wearing were made from ash. Bob Powell sent me a paper pattern of a hame from the Fenland, Cambridgeshire, England. He grew up in that area and has a great love for the working of heavy horses. Since my area… Continue reading Thomas’ hames from Matt Schofield at Genessee Country Village

Mount Vernon Mules at Work

– A Photo Essay. Mount Vernon, First American President George Washington’s historic home at Mount Vernon, Virginia, includes a 4-acre working farm. Washington used Mount Vernon as a laboratory for testing and implementing progressive farming practices and the Pioneer Farm represents the more than 3,000 acres he cultivated during the second half of the 18th century.… Continue reading Mount Vernon Mules at Work

Sedge Horse Collars from Norfolk, England

In 2014, I wrote an article for the UK’s ‘Heavy Horse World’ titled “Rush Collars – rare survival from the horse era”. The following is a reappraisal of my article concentrating on sedge horse collars associated specifically with the county of Norfolk, England. There is little doubt that “sedge” and “rush” collars are different products,… Continue reading Sedge Horse Collars from Norfolk, England

Working with the “enemy”, a horseman’s thoughts on tractors.

At heart, I always have and always will be an agricultural horseman. Yet, about 1965 I first learned to drive on a Ferguson “Little Grey Fergie” TE20 tractor, in effect, possibly the greatest enemy of the agricultural horse in the United Kingdom. From there, I moved on to such as Massey Ferguson 65, 135, 165… Continue reading Working with the “enemy”, a horseman’s thoughts on tractors.

World Donkey Day 2022 AIMA Lecture Series

Register now!Donkeys are an integral part of the culture, the history and the future in numerous countries in the world. Donkeys (and mules parented by donkeys) have been, and still are, important for agricultural production and marketing as well as for transport. Donkey traditions have been encapsulated in museums around the world, but donkey technologies… Continue reading World Donkey Day 2022 AIMA Lecture Series

Virtual “Draft Animals” and a Virtual “Plowing Match” before they happen! A note from Bob Powell

Before I begin, I will blame this impromptu personal “blog” on our colleagues and friends, Cozette Griffin Kremer and Claus Kropp who suggested, nay twisted my arm, to write something to link two up and coming events. As 2021 proceeds still under the effects of the Covid-19 virus, two related “virtual” events are occurring. Firstly,… Continue reading Virtual “Draft Animals” and a Virtual “Plowing Match” before they happen! A note from Bob Powell

Year of the ox: an informative celebration of work oxen technologies worldwide

Abstract: A high-resolution educational poster has been created illustrating the use of working oxen in 62 countries. This portrays a wide variety of operations (including tillage, transport and post-harvest technologies) and harnessing systems (for single oxen, pairs and teams). While most work oxen are castrated cattle, some are cows or bulls. Some reasons for the decline… Continue reading Year of the ox: an informative celebration of work oxen technologies worldwide

What is the relevance of animal traction in the 21st century? Some experiences from the 65th World Ploughing Championship in Einsiedel (Germany)

Zusammenfassung (Abstract): Basierend auf selbst gemachten Erfahrungen der 65. Pflügerweltmeisterschaft im baden-württembergischen Einsiedeln im Jahr 2018, stellt der Autor die Frage nach der Relevanz von tierischer Anspannung im 21. Jahrhundert. Während in Einsiedeln eine Zuordnung derselben eher in agrarhistorische Zusammenhänge oder als schmückendes Beiwerk deutlich wurde, kann aus den Erfahrungen von Institutionen wie Tillers International… Continue reading What is the relevance of animal traction in the 21st century? Some experiences from the 65th World Ploughing Championship in Einsiedel (Germany)