the single ox…again

[Rod]

Hi Bivol
Thanks for the description and link, I had forgotten about those photos. I think I can manage to build it from this information.

[CharlyBonifaz]

uploaded 2 pictures in photo gallery (equipment) that might help a little; at least this would be the kind of forehead yoke, I would try to replikate if I had to make one from scratch…….
http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=158
http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=159
elke

[Rod]

Looks like the felt is sewn to the leather, yes? Great picture and very helpful.

[Rod]

Do you know if one makes one size fits all or are a few diffrent sizes usually made to fit the steer as it grows?

[Rod]

Do you know if it’s normally made as a one size fits all or are variouse sizes needed to fit the steer as the grow?

[CharlyBonifaz]

they were ancient and used so we took them apart and cut the new parts according the old ones. Yes, the felt is sewn to the leather, no, it is not easy to do this with a leather-needle 😮
there is 1 layer of leather and 2-3 layers of felt; the leather has latches for the screws so you can pin it to the iron.
you will most likely need only 2 sizes while your ox is growing…….
elke

[Rod]

Hi Charly

Can I bother you to take a few measurements for publication here. I am interested as others might be of the length and width of the leather pad and the depth of the felt and anything else you might include so that the size can be determined. I assume this one you have is for a full grown ox?
I have a young steer calf which I plan to train as a single ox and really like this concept for the yoke, it seems so simple, easy to put on and a good and comfortable way for the animal to pull.

[fabian]

Hello, I am new in this forum. Howie know me as “Wolfgang from Germany”.
I use the forehead-yoke, because it was the most common kind of cow-hitching in my area.
The neck-yoke design I first time saw while surfing in the www. The advantage, the forehead-yoke has over the neck-yoke is, that you nearly can’t make any mistake.
And Charlybonifaz: Please forgive me my clumpsy English ! 😉

[CharlyBonifaz]

a few measurements

this forehead yoke actually did fit when I got it; after it was restored my ox had outgrown it 🙁
part of the problem: cattle used to be a lot smaller than what we have nowadays (mine is Fleckvieh – Pinzgauer)
but I nevertheless think the proportions can be used and one can take the dimensions of the animal’s head and fit the size accordingly (if still growing may be an inch or 2 wider at the sides)
since we work in metrics, take the inches as approximates

Iron:
thick 1cm / 0,5 inch
wide 4 cm / 1,5 inches
long 56 cm / 22 inches
in between medial screws 17 cm / 6,75 inches
on outwards, this is actually where it is bent to follow the outline of the head

Leather:
thick 5mm / 0,25 inch
wide 12 cm / 4,75 inches (were it fits in between the medial screws)
long 41 cm / 16,25 inches

Felt:
3 layers in the middle part (between the medial screws), 2 layers at the sides , sort of like a sandwich
we used the very same felt that is on the market as saddle pad/blanket (just saw what these cost in the US 😡 may be it is cheaper to look for the same type in industrial felt)

Straps:
thick 3 mm / 1/8 inch
wide 2,5 cm / 1 inch
long 46 cm / 18 inches
plus buckle
they actually were not sewn to the pad, they were in between pad and iron, so they could be exchanged (the only part that may wear out)
my saddler wanted to be perfect and included them into the pad….:rolleyes:

as mentioned, the leather has 4 flaps/latches for the screws, but I am sure one can include them into the pad before sewing it together and have them sticking out at the front; you want those connections to be as flat as possible on the inside were the felt and ultimately the head is

hope I included everything, if not…..ask

while you are at cutting leather, you may want to think of a browband against flies……….

and Fabian: your English is good enough to share your wealth of experience! 😀 welcome !
elke

[bivol]

@fabian 3834 wrote:

Hello, I am new in this forum. Howie know me as “Wolfgang from Germany”.
I use the forehead-yoke, because it was the most common kind of cow-hitching in my area.
The neck-yoke design I first time saw while surfing in the www. The advantage, the forehead-yoke has over the neck-yoke is, that you nearly can’t make any mistake.
And Charlybonifaz: Please forgive me my clumpsy English ! 😉

hi Wolfgang! welcome! it’s me, boskarin from the rural heritage forum! glad you joined us man!

[Rod]

Thank you, I have a real clear picture of it all now.

[Rod]

Here is the prototype I put together to see how it worked before I build a nicer one. The forehead fit is perfect and it rests nicely against the forehead when I hold it on my steer calf. But I realized after re-reviewing the photo on this thread that full horns are necessary. Not for attaching the yoke as my steer has stubs enough to do that but to keep it from turning up when the straps are tightened. The yoke is held in place by the forward pull of the straps AND the upward trap the horns form when it’s tightened.

this should work when the steers horns grow out but not now unless someone has another idea about this attachment problem.
[IMG]http://www.dayspringfarm.com/upload/IMG_0286.JPG[/IMG]

[bivol]

looks nice Rod!

tell us your experiences of working with it. i’m interested to learn how the oxen adjust to this system.

[Rod]

What I have come up with for attachment is to connect the bottom of the yoke to the calf halter side ring and the top to the horns. this should work to keep it in place untill the horns get big enough to fasten to in a regular manner.

[CharlyBonifaz]

Pictures please 😉
elke

[Author]

Posts