We often mention the networks of members and friends that come together in the AIMA, many times in our past congresses, regularly by contributing to the newsletters and blog posts, or by giving advice to help us and…. our networking partners. This often makes for a feeling of a very small world, as well as… Continue reading Networking for Draft Animals and Rare Breeds
Draft Animals
A horseman talks about his donkeys
From Luxemburg, Pit Schlechter sent a note about his two donkeys. “They are Zamorano-Leones, a Spanish breed that is indeed related to the Poitou donkeys (although the Poitou breeders avoid talking about it, even if they sometimes go and get stallions from there). It took me a very long time to learn how to communicate,… Continue reading A horseman talks about his donkeys
Astrid Masson’s Handbook on Harnessing Cattle
– especially based on experience in open-air museums. Astrid uses cows and their calves in her work at the Dahlem Open Air Museum in Berlin, perhaps one of the world’s only urban museums of its kind and it is indeed “open” – the public can walk through the entire farmland section without paying any entry… Continue reading Astrid Masson’s Handbook on Harnessing Cattle
When work is fun and learning at Howell Living History Farm
It’s winter, so take the time out to visit and help with the ice harvest, tap the maple trees to make maple sugar and take a sleigh ride or attend the Sugar Moon Dance (in March). Later in the year, you can “walk” the corn maze. Looking for experience with working animals? Then apply for… Continue reading When work is fun and learning at Howell Living History Farm
Draft Animal Conformation
A Veterinarian’s Viewpoint. by Barbara Corson Of all the many tools that have shaped human cultures, harnessing* systems for domestic animals are among the most important. (*Note: Some people differentiate between harness and yokes, but in this article, harness is used in the sense of capturing or transmitting power, as one would “harness the energy… Continue reading Draft Animal Conformation
Draft Animals in the Past, Present and Future
Virtual Conference 8-9 May 2021. “Draft Animals in the Past, Present and Future” was piloted by AIMA President, Claus Kropp, now taking up the challenge of a world-wide effort to bring together draft animals users. The congress was virtual, and hosted by Lauresham Laboratory for Experimental Archaeology at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kloster… Continue reading Draft Animals in the Past, Present and Future
The Vallus, a 2000-year-old Gallo-Roman Harvesting Machine
Malagne, the Archeoparc of Rochefort, in Belgium (between Brussels and Luxemburg city), is an interpretation centre for rural Gallo-Roman civilization especially designed to highlight an important villa active in the early centuries of the Christian era in Northern Gaul. Malagne’s special mission is heritage protection, scientific research and mediation of this listed site and archaeological… Continue reading The Vallus, a 2000-year-old Gallo-Roman Harvesting Machine
Harvesting with a cart: Pliny’s vallus and Palladius’ vehiculum
An on-going saga in agricultural innovation. How can you harvest with a cart pushed backwards? This idea proposed by farmers in northern Gaul is original and unparalleled in the Roman era: it suffices to combine two implements, a cart (vehiculum) and a hand tool for cutting or stripping-off. The idea seems simple enough, but the… Continue reading Harvesting with a cart: Pliny’s vallus and Palladius’ vehiculum
Moving A Megalith With Cow Power
at the Dahlem Domain Open Air Museum in Berlin. The German group piloted by Jörg Bremond, a rare breeds specialist, meets once a year in late winter. They were hosted in 2016 by the Domäne Dahlem Open Air Museum in Dahlem, which has a working farm totally open to the public. Berliners stroll around there,… Continue reading Moving A Megalith With Cow Power
Moving megaliths with cattle-power in Germany
Scene 2 at Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory in Kloster Lorsch, a UNESCO world heritage site. In February 2016, the German Oxdrivers’ Group met in Berlin in the Dahlem Domain to watch as farm manager Astrid Masson moved a megalith with single cow-power – Emma with her calf Elsa in tow – showing us that, in comparison,… Continue reading Moving megaliths with cattle-power in Germany
Using an upside-down horse collar on cattle
From Island Farm located on Roanoke Island on the coast of North Carolina. Our mutual friend, Ed Schultz, shared some photos with you of our bit-trained ox, Charlie. I realize just how unusual it is to train an ox in this way and how fascinated people are to see or hear of it, particularly folks… Continue reading Using an upside-down horse collar on cattle
Blinders (Blinkers), Location, Polling, and Cattle Breeds
– A conversation with Bob Powell, Barbara Corson and Ed Schultz. This was taken at Whinnyfold, Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1895. It shows Mr Alex Davidson ‘plowing’ with his oxen in harness being driven like horses. He’s actually using a ‘drill’ or ridge plow towards either planting potatoes or sowing turnip seed. The latter is done… Continue reading Blinders (Blinkers), Location, Polling, and Cattle Breeds
French Surjougs – a photo essay
There are many names for this charming complement to cattle draft – surjoug or soubrejoug (both ‘overyoke’), clocher (bell spire), chapelle (chapel) typical of the Pyrenees regions, especially in the central French highlands and foothills, as well as in the Garonne River valleys, right into the 1940s (Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Ariège). Hewn out from… Continue reading French Surjougs – a photo essay
Thomas’ hames from Matt Schofield at Genessee Country Village
Thomas is a pretty decent animal and works well for me. The wooden hames that he is wearing were made from ash. Bob Powell sent me a paper pattern of a hame from the Fenland, Cambridgeshire, England. He grew up in that area and has a great love for the working of heavy horses. Since my area… Continue reading Thomas’ hames from Matt Schofield at Genessee Country Village
Mount Vernon Mules at Work
– A Photo Essay. Mount Vernon, First American President George Washington’s historic home at Mount Vernon, Virginia, includes a 4-acre working farm. Washington used Mount Vernon as a laboratory for testing and implementing progressive farming practices and the Pioneer Farm represents the more than 3,000 acres he cultivated during the second half of the 18th century.… Continue reading Mount Vernon Mules at Work