Why?

[grey]

Can someone explain this to me?

Two sets of shafts on each of these heavy freight wagons, rather than a single tongue. Is this because they preferred the weight of shafts on the horse’s backs rather than a single tongue suspended from the collars? Is it for additional strength (four shafts perhaps being stronger than a single tongue)?

Also, note the “legs” that are folded against the underside of the shafts; I assume they can be dropped down to hold the shafts in place while they are being secured to the harness.

[CharlyBonifaz]

as solid/rugged as the shafts are build I suspect it must have been quite a job to turn those wagons in deep mud……
another thought going along with this: here the front horses may have been able to help pulling in the turns, while with a single tongue and the front horses pulling you run danger of breaking the tongue

[mitchmaine]

i agree. the horses seem set a little ahead for more leverage. the whole apparatus seems built for turning and stopping.
grey, it looks like a museum? of some kind. any description of where the wagons came from or specific use? interesting hubs. must have been quite a good job pulling those wagons empty.

mitch

[Scott G]

It is prettycommon in some parts of Europe & Scandanavia to hitch a team in double shafts vs a pole. I think Simon L.’s forwarder is set up that way. Not sure of the history, guess that is just the way it developed back in the day when we all were pretty isolated from one another.

[grey]

http://www.thehorseandcarriage.com/sched1.htm

“HORSE DRAWN VEHICLE AUCTION SALE

SATURDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2010 AT 11AM
AT YEPPOON, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES IN QUEENSLAND”

[jac]

English farm wagons made in hilly regions were made with double shafts. These wagons in the foto have been made for heavy road freight.. perhaps moving boilers or other heavy equipment.. at a walk.. The cart saddle with the ridger chain was not suited to fast road work. I agree on the easier turning also think they thought twin shafts would offer more stability and perhaps easier to hitch extra horses up front. ..
John

[CharlyBonifaz]

the more and more I think of it, the more I’m convinced those carts were used with oxen; considering were the auction is and knowing they worked with long oxen-trains that might just have been the waggon for it…..

[Ira]

The english tended to use single horses more than teams. So when they needed a team they put on an other set of shaves rather than adapt harness. As scott pointed out they still do

[jac]

Have to politely disagree there Ira.. There is about 12 ???? mabey.. people in the UK that use draft horses for real work.. most of those hitch teams in the American style or Scandanavian in the timber job like Simon. All the rest are used in show wagons with a mix of American or English style harness with a pole. I cant think when I last saw double shafts used for anything other than an old English farm wagon in a show ring.. Best regards
John

[Scott G]

I’ve seen a double set in a recent pic of a modern forwarder. Scandinavia or Slavic Country maybe?? I’ll see if I can find it again in the next week or so…

[Ira]

John, guess i should amend that to read, “as scott pointed out ,they still do occasionally;)

Could you post a pic of the Scandinavin harness in team mode?

[jac]

My appologies Ira, I thot we were talking English harness. As far as I can see the Scandanavian harness that Simon uses has the shafts effectively replacing the traces from the pad backwards and wouldnt suit what we would think of as team harness.
John

[cousin jack]

http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=93

I will try to get a close up of scandanavian double shafts, this afternoon, only trouble is I am a bit slow getting around

[cousin jack]

http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=496http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=494http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=495

[cousin jack]

http://www.draftanimalpower.com/photoplog/index.php?n=494

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