[Lane Linnenkohl]

Welcome. Where in KY are you? We’re in south-central KY, Monroe Co, near Summer Shade and Tompkinsville.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

It says either “High Gear” or “Regular Gear” on the tool box cover.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

We’re raising free range Dark Cornish this year for meat birds. Our first batch will be processed at the end of this month. I’ll try to remember to report how they turn out.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

I cut some more hay late yesterday afternoon. 7/10’s of an inch of rain overnight. The forecast called for dry weather for the next 5 to 7 days. 😡

[Lane Linnenkohl]

Did someone mention hay? We’ve been busy this week…

[Lane Linnenkohl]

@Ronnie Tucker 9126 wrote:

i wondered how the straps were attached at the top and bottom which held the stretchers up off the ground this is what i was wanting to see if you have any pictures of your front gear i would like to see that when i work four in the woods i use this style of driving using one line the wide brechening is what we have always used in this area for wagon work or farming i also like using the lead harness for lots of jobs thank you for the pictures ronnie tucker

If I understand correctly what you’re looking for, I don’t think I have any good photos of that. But it is all illustrated in the book.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

Jen, I had a local old timer tell me a few years ago that you can count on an unworked or lightly worked horse to lose at least an inch in the collar when being put to harder work. I have to say, my experience over the past several years has been the same. That’s why I only buy adjustable collars anymore…

[Lane Linnenkohl]

Look for a book called “The Conestoga Wagon” by George Shumway. It’ll have all you’re looking for. You should be able to get it through your local library on inter library loan.

Attached are a pair of photos. The first is a conestoga wagon and team off the internet. I also use a harness nearly identical to the old conestoga harness due to my moonlighting as a living historian. The second photo is a photo of our Percherons in that harness.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

@Robert MoonShadow 6971 wrote:

Drybranch ~ As a one-eyed man, can I comment on that assumption? I hate – absolutely HATE having someone walk on my right (blind) side… if anyone, they’d have to be so totally trusted… but even then – I spend alot of time concentrating on avoiding bumping into the person on that side. It seems to me that having the horse’s attention divided between where it’s going & avoiding stepping into the horse on it’s blind side, leaves little enough attention span to pay much attention to the driver –> effectively, a 3-way split. I had to teach myself to deal with having a passenger on my blind side while driving a vehicle… it didn’t come naturally – or easily. However, I would change things if the mare was blind in the left eye… considering the traffic issue. {I’d put her on the right, then}.
Just my opinion = horses might have an entirely different perspective, although I’d assume not.

Thank you for the observation, good to hear that perspective. Please note, this mare never seemed bothered by the arrangement.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

@CharlyBonifaz 6927 wrote:

I was told, if on the road, to have the stronger/more powerful horse on the left; if anything happens you’d rather want to be in a ditch than oncoming traffic
since you want an easygoing, unnervous, calm, unafraid horse in this position as well, here is your first “however”….
a lot of different reasons that all make sense 😀
elke

Here’s another “however”…

I have a mare that is blind in her right eye as part of my first team. I put her on the left to keep her blind side toward her partner hoping it would make her feel more secure. I’m not sure it would have mattered, she’s pretty rock steady.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

@dominiquer60 6666 wrote:

Perhaps the National has been for it but individual states like NY are against NAIS.

Agreed, but who do you think will have a more prominent voice at the national discussion table?

Some state Farm Bureau’s are for it, some against it.

I was just commenting on Jen’s comment about the Farm Bureau article.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

My understanding is that the national Farm Bureau has been in favor of NAIS for quite some time.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

@Hal 6536 wrote:

Very interesting thread. I hope this isn’t too much of an aside, but why would someone choose to use a unicorn hitch like the one shown in the picture instead of a three abreast? Is there a historical reason for this configuration of horses?

A good question and one I’ve tried to figure out many times. The best answer I can come up with is that they just hadn’t figured out the multiple abreast hitches yet. When they needed more horses, their solution was to put them out front.

The multiple abreast hitch seems to be a relatively recent configuration. I’ve seen very little evidence of it prior to, say, the Civil War.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

Here are some images by W. H. Pyne ca 1800 England.

First is a man riding the lead horse in a unicorn on a roller.

Second, 4 up on a carriage with men riding each near horse.

Third, 2 abreast with man riding the near horse.

Fourth, 4 up with team being driven with 2 sets of lines from the vehicle.

[Lane Linnenkohl]

Bells, Conestoga freighters liked to look and sound good while hauling the goods 😉

[Author]

Posts