2009 Wilson Creek Spring Plowing Bee – a zillion photos

Those were awesome, Grey. Thank you. Looks like a fun event. I really like the look of those percheron mules

That’s a great bunch of photos–thanks for posting. I noticed that many of the horses/mules were wearing what looked (to my inexperienced eye) like “yankee brichen” harnesses–is that more common out West?

@grey 7542 wrote:

Those Percheron mules that guy has are BIG. And I mean BIG. They are also very well-mannered. If I were to turn mule, I’d want his mules. But since I’m sticking with Percherons for now, I’ll gladly take that blue roan Perch.

I don’t know if the Yankee britchen is more common in Eastern Washington. The two outfits that were using them (four of the six of mules and the six of Belgians) are from that region. But so’s the eight of tank-like Percherons, and they’re just using plowing harness with no britchen.

I have seen a few other folks using Yankee britchen on their saddle mules while plowing. Is it a mule thing? Or an Eastern Washington/Idaho thing?

I’m wondering if the mule folks are partial to the Yankee britchen because the western box britchen doesn’t fit mule butts as well. Mules generally have that squared-off rear, inherited from the donkey parent. Maybe it doesn’t fill out the box britchen as fully as a horse’s butt does. The rest of the harness needs to be comparable in size, but I think they might do better in a slightly smaller box britchen, otherwise the rings where the holdback straps attach might be too far forward and chafe the belly where they curve in to meet the pole strap.

Going to have to ask some mule people about that.

grey,

All of the horses in that hitch are stout, but that blue roan is really something special. Got any idea who owns that hitch of Percherons?

Another story on the “Yankee Britchen”. Some people in the west called it Mormon Britchen as well. It’s fairly common around UT, WY, ID.
One story I heard was it came into more common use around here while the Mormons were hauling stone from the the quarry down into the Salt Lake Valley to build their temple. Apparently it was a more practical set up with heavy loads and steep grades. I’m sure it came with some of them from back east when they migrated.
It does a good job holding back loads on a down hill grade. It’ll push the hind feet down somewhat for better traction vs. the box britchen. Although I use my box britchen a lot on a down hill, you have to have it adjusted right or it’s hard on your animals. Whether they’re mule or horse doesn’t matter.
I have a set of Yankee/Mormon britchen harness, but it’s spotted and pretty so it doesn’t see a lot of everyday use. My old box britchen harness is used every day. When it wears out I think I’ll get a plain set of Yankee britchen harness for everyday use.