Padded Collars versus Yokes

[Tim Harrigan]

The discussion about hitch angle got me thinking about some draft measurements that I did a few years ago and never got around to writing up for RH. I wanted to test the effect of hitch angle on stoneboat draft with a 1000 lb total load with a pull of 0 degrees from horizontal, 20 degrees and 30 degrees. Also, with the load on the front half, back half or evenly distributed on the boat. I had to use a tractor with the loader bucket to keep the angle correct and consistent for each of the 9 pulls. The pull was about 2000 feet for each set-up. Then I used Will and Abe, my ox team, to pull the load. I did not have much adjustment with the neck yoke so I just chained them as short as I could and shifted the load from front, to middle to back.

I posted a graph of the results on this site in the picture gallery. Long story short, the lowest draft measured as tension in the chain was 30 degrees, back loaded boat. Highest draft was 0 degrees, front loaded boat. When Will and Abe pulled the sled there was no difference in draft as the load shifted from front to back. Very interesting.

I can see where a head yoke would work will for heavy pulls if the line of draft is just right when they lean in to the load. But if the line of draft is too low it will tend to pull their head down and they will have work to keep it up. If the line is too high the load will pull up and they will have to work to keep their head down. This could be even more of a problem then what Bivol mentioned with a neck yoke pulling down on the neck because the load is at the end of a longer force arm with the head yoke. Neck yokes place the load on a large bearing surface at the base of the neck where there is little or no force arm. And that is probably the most powerful point on an ox.

I think the general discussion is right, if the yoke fits correctly, regardless of the type of yoke, and it is designed with an understanding of the the demands of the task and the forces that will be transmitted to the animals it probably just comes down to personal preference.

[Howie]

I am in full agreement with Tim’s last statement.:)

Howie

[Vicki]

Interesting study and results, Tim. Well said final sentence.

Bivol, if given a choice, I believe my oxen would soon figure out which system took the longest to put on, or which is used for the easiest or quickest jobs (here I’d put a smiley face if I knew how to).

[Howie]

Vicki
How come you want to get rid of your smiley face?:mad:

[Vicki]

Howie:
I want a smiley on there. I don’t know how to get smilies into a post.

[bivol]

collars as an alternative do have their appeal, especially to those with no experience in woodworking. but, they are for a fair part made of leather. not everyone has access to leathermakers, or the skill to make leather parts for the collar.

– alternatives –

i’ve thought cloth, but when it rains, it soakes the entire pad, including the straw inside, which can then get mouldy.

so the best thing i figured out was umbrella cloth: it’s light(too light?), smooth, but though, and above all, water-resistant. maybe multiple layers could work, but i don’t know how’s the air circulation, so the straw don’t go mouldy..

any thoughts on this?

[sanhestar]

but if you don’t have access to leather how do you get access to such a sophisticated cloth?

You can get leather from curing hides of butchered animals and you basically need some chemicals and/or the animals brain, a scraping tool, some wood frames and/or smoke but to get wax cloth or other water-proof/water resistant cloth you need: fiber, a spinning tool, a weavers loom, a fuller (or fullers mill) and at last what ever is used to make the cloth water resistant – and I don’t know the process that is used to make f.e. Cordura or GoreTex cloth….

[Stable-Man]

I’m in agreement with sanhestar there. Waterproof materials are usually made out of oil-based fibers very finely woven. You can oil leather to make it water resistant. The fao site talked about in one thread or another here shows a pretty uncomplex pad for the collar and suggests packing it with animal hair. In the countries that article is made for, jute and sisal bags are common and cheap.

Just did an eBay search for waterproof fabric (36″x59″) and it ranges from 1-7dollars.

[bivol]

@sanhestar 14801 wrote:

but if you don’t have access to leather how do you get access to such a sophisticated cloth?

You can get leather from curing hides of butchered animals and you basically need some chemicals and/or the animals brain, a scraping tool, some wood frames and/or smoke but to get wax cloth or other water-proof/water resistant cloth you need: fiber, a spinning tool, a weavers loom, a fuller (or fullers mill) and at last what ever is used to make the cloth water resistant – and I don’t know the process that is used to make f.e. Cordura or GoreTex cloth….

i do it by buying an umbrella and stripping its cloth parts, the one that protects people from rain. or i strip an old one.
an umbrella musn’t cost much, and a broken one can simply be taken, no money at all.

good to know about making leather water-proof.
only, working with umbrella cloth is simpler to me because leather is harder to sew together and work with, and you just sew together umbrella cloth as if it were simple cotton.
also, stable man, good point about looking in e-bay, this source of cheap parts mustn’t be overlooked.

[sanhestar]

I didn’t realise that you actually mean cloth from an umbrella. I thought that you meant any kind of waterproof cloth.

But leather is not hard to sew. You need an awl/bodkin and some strong twine, preferably waxed (use a candle to do that), a sharp knife and a strong needle or two. Granted, the seams look better when you have more tools but for some very basic equipment this is enough.

[bivol]

so, i presume leather is superior, but compared to the equipment you need for sew it, for umbrella you need just a common needle, so that’s a plus in my book.
the issue with it is only if it’s strong and durable enough, and comfortable, too.

honestly, i doubt the durability part a bit, but otherwise i think id work.

[sanhestar]

@bivol 14857 wrote:

honestly, i doubt the durability part a bit, but otherwise i think id work.

I doubt it, too and if you have to repair/replace it in short intervalls the time/effort safed for making it will be spend with repairs…

[bivol]

true, true. still, i’ll leave it as an option until i prove it isn’t durable.

i can make it a two-layer, or inner layer really sturdy cloth, and the outer umbrella cloth…

[Author]

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