Bugs!

Biting insects are a general nuisance to the ox when yoked to the oxcart. Scout's on the way to the pit to go wading.

Scout Pulls Like an Old Hand

Ox training on ox cart.

Scout the Ox's New Yoke and Cart

Ox cart and ox yoke.

How To (or not to) Make an Ox Yoke, Part II

Making My Single Ox His First Yoke

Addendem: These two videos will give you an overview of the basic skills and tools you might use to make an ox yoke. It was my first yoke, made on a whim with available materials. It served its purpose as a training yoke for an empty cart, and I learned some of the basic principles of yoke design --- first hand. Even after lowering the hitch points they were too high — under load the yoke tended to roll back. The narrowness of the yoke seat (from side-to-side)was criticized. However, I fail to see a problem with that. The dairy-calf has a very narrow neck. When the yoke didn't tip back, it distributed the weight evenly on the sides and top of the neck; it had no tendency to tip to the side, or to waggle.

Making the “bow” from two straight pieces joined at the bottom with a throat piece I deem as a success and I would recommend it to anyone interested in making a non-traditional yoke. It’s not rocket science, but there are a lot of dynamics at work in a properly functioning yoke. For anyone with a good set of tools and some basic hand skills I’d say — go for it! That there is some formula that must be followed for making an acceptable yoke is getting stuck on tradition — in my opinion.

That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the traditional ox yoke. In fact, if you have an ox for historical or re-enactment purposes — that would be the way to go.

My second yoke is also experimental in nature and can be seen here: http://storybrookeripples.blogspot.com/2010/08/did-you-hear-jailhouse-yoke.html

At this point in time (September 12, 2010) I am very pleased with the way it functions. You can leave your observations, critiques, or opinions by clicking on “comments” under any one of my blog entries. I’d be happy to hear from you.

How To (or not to) Make an Ox Yoke, Part I

Making My Single Ox His First Yoke

Addendem: These two videos will give you an overview of the basic skills and tools you might use to make an ox yoke. It was my first yoke, made on a whim with available materials. It served its purpose as a training yoke for an empty cart, and I learned some of the basic principles of yoke design --- first hand. Even after lowering the hitch points they were too high — under load the yoke tended to roll back. The narrowness of the yoke seat (from side-to-side)was criticized. However, I fail to see a problem with that. The dairy-calf has a very narrow neck. When the yoke didn't tip back, it distributed the weight evenly on the sides and top of the neck; it had no tendency to tip to the side, or to waggle.

Making the “bow” from two straight pieces joined at the bottom with a throat piece I deem as a success and I would recommend it to anyone interested in making a non-traditional yoke. It’s not rocket science, but there are a lot of dynamics at work in a properly functioning yoke. For anyone with a good set of tools and some basic hand skills I’d say — go for it! That there is some formula that must be followed for making an acceptable yoke is getting stuck on tradition — in my opinion.

That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the traditional ox yoke. In fact, if you have an ox for historical or re-enactment purposes — that would be the way to go.

My second yoke is also experimental in nature and can be seen here: http://storybrookeripples.blogspot.com/2010/08/did-you-hear-jailhouse-yoke.html

At this point in time (September 12, 2010) I am very pleased with the way it functions. You can leave your observations, critiques, or opinions by clicking on “comments” under any one of my blog entries. I’d be happy to hear from you.

Mountaintop Experience

Hey. . . .this is pretty steep! Don't ya think?

 

Surveying the land.

Better view over here.

I'm on top of the world.

King of the Hill

Harry and Scout Exploring the Shoreline

Ox and Dog
6/13/2010

A Day at the Beach

 

Ox and Dog

 6/13/2010

Midday Rest, Ox and Dog

Frank F. English,-- Artist, (1854-1922)

Chromolithography by L. Prang & Co. -- Publisher

Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art

New York Public Library

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street

Midtown West, New York, New York

Child Crossing Kortright Creek in Cart Pulled by an Ox

Five-year old Walter Gildersleeve in a cart very similar to the one at the auction. He is photographed on the Davenport Center (NewYork) bridge over Kortright Creek in about 1900. The Central Hotel is in the background.

an  Ervin Davis photo

My Momma Always Told Me Not to Play With My Food

BUT I CAN'T HELP IT!
T-shirt quote

Stud Cart at Farm Auction, Bought for Ox

As late as the 1930's one of the Larson men would hitch his stallion to this stud cart and make the rounds to a number of farms where the stallion would service the farmer's mares. Sometimes he would be traveling for several days at a time in this business.

Recently the last of the Larson brothers, renowned for their workhorses, passed away and the old stud cart was found hanging on a wall in their shed.

Now wouldn't that make a nice ox cart!

At the Water's Edge

Beside a green meadow a stream used to flow,

So clear one might see the white pebbles below:

To this cooling brooke the warm cattle would stray,

To stand in the shade on a hot summer’s day.

excerpt from

The Cow and the Ass,
Chatterbox, 1897,  edited by John Erskine Clarke

Weather Alert!!!

A cow with its tail to the west, makes weather the best; A cow with its tail to the east, makes weather the least.

An Outing to "The Pit"

On a beautiful day in May....

....Scout the Ox was very curious about the natives on the beach.

 

Harry the Dog waded right in on his own initiative...

 

...and took his first swim ever --- no lessons!
Photos taken on 5/23/2010 

Pup Greets Pony

After Peaches the Pony's ten-day absense the dog gave a warm reception --- he brought something of value to her --- her halter and rope. He's pretty consistant with this behavior; he often greets us with a shoe, stuffed animal, or rope.

Peaches Comes Home

We got a call that our pony was at somebodies country place about seven miles from here. I went with the pickup and she trotted and galloped home alongside the pickup. She loves to run!

Broomhandle Ox Training Aid

 

Scout the Ox tends to follow too closely when on the lead rope, sometimes bumping into me with his horns.

I have screwed an eyelet into the end of a broomhandle, and snapped a double snap from the broomhandle to the chain on Scout's halter; this replaces the lead rope. Now I can gently control where he walks in relation to me. When he's pulling his cart I can keep him far enough out-to-the-side that the cart doesn't bump into me; when he is walking behind me, such as single file through the woods, I can maintain a safe walking distance from his horns. With a firm grip on the handle I recieve fair warning if he lunges.

 

Four (or More) Carts, One Driver

 Red River ox-cart-train at Fort Smith near Edmonton, Alberta in 1870.
Source: Minnesota Historical Society Collection

Just for Fun

I started out with the ox's lead-rope in one hand and the pup's leash in the other, but I hadn't gone far when that became unmanageable. Obvious solution --- tie the slower one behind the faster one. Things then moved right along in an orderly fashion. It brings to mind the Red River ox-cart-trains with the behind ox tethered to the cart of the before ox. From about 1820-1870 the ox-cart-trains were typically divided into brigades of from four to ten carts. This made it possible for one man to drive several carts.

The bug on my camera's lens is another reminder of the Red River ox-cart-trails. Sections of the trail were described by one travler as a "miserable country, swamp following swamp." They were assaulted by "bull-dogs" of horseflies. One man who rode the trail on a cream colored horse wrote that he was "unable to distinquish the color of the animal so thickly was [it] covered [with mosquitoes.]"
Historical source:The Red River Trails, Oxcart Routes Between St. Paul and the Selkirk Settlement 1820-1870, Gilman.

Weather Alert!!!

When dogs eat grass, you can expect a severe storm.

Aawh-h-h-h!!!

So sweet.

Grazing Ox Picking Dandelion Flowers

It's interesting to note the ox grazes with a back and forth movement of the head, taking in over twice the amount of forage for each step --- energy conservation!

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox Sighting

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox

Babe the Big Blue Ox was given to Paul Bunyan on Paul’s first birthday. The ox grew to such proportions that he measured forty-two ordinary axe handles and a plug of chewing tobacco between the eyes. Babe could pull anything that had two ends to it; Paul was known to hitch his blue ox to a whole section of forest and drag it to the landing. Babe would eat thirty bales of hay for a snack --- baling wire and all. Every time they made shoes for Babe they had to open a new iron mine.

There were stories of Paul Bunyan being told in Minnesota logging camps for a number of years around the turn of the century. In 1914 his image became the trademark of The Red River Lumber Company, and in 1922 the first edition of the promotional leaflet, Paul Bunyan and His Big Blue Ox, were published by that same company.

The Red River Lumber Company took its name from the Red River of the North “up” which it floated its logs to Winnipeg, Canada. (The Red River of the North flows north to Hudson Bay.) Later they built a sawmill on the Red River at East Grand Forks, Minnesota.

Bemidji, Minnesota has been home to Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox since 1937. They can be seen there live on web-cam at http://www.bemidji.org/paulandbabe.php (It’s sort of like watching paint dry.)

Scout the Ox’s pasture lies halfway between East Grand Forks and Bemidji so he almost certainly shares his heritage with Babe the Big Blue Ox.

At the Watering Hole

You might think this is the last watering hole in the desert. In fact there is water in the watering tank and in many puddles all around.

Even though they are competitive, I think these two must just like to do things together.

Harry and Scout Playing

The ox and the dog keep each other entertained.

Good Friends

Engraving from the painting by Paul Friedrich Meyerheim. (1842-1915)
The Picture Magazine, 1893
George Newnes Ltd.

Ear Washing

Harry Grazing with Scout

Yes, the dog likes to graze with the ox.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Finishing Touches

An ox enjoys a work of fine art, and puts a few finishing touches on the artist's painting.
from
Chatterbox
by
 John Erskine Clarke

"Uncle Jack ---- He Only Wanted to Say Hello."

Ballin & Liebler -- Lithographer
"68 to 78 Park Place, N.Y."
Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection

He's Getting So Big

Ox-affection

There becomes a fine line between affection and personal injury.

Peaceful, Quiet, Still

I'm Fal-l-ling. . . .

. . . . to Sleep

Just Minding His Own Business....

....Chewing His Own Cud!

Chewing the Cud

Watch closely; the calf swallows the chewed cud, and then brings up a fresh batch to work on.

Peaches the Pony Nibbles My Ear

Peaches keeps distracting me from getting a video of Scout so I turn the camera on her while she nibbles on my ear. You can hear Scout the calf chewing his cud in the background.

Jealous Pony

I try to take a video of Scout chewing his cud, but Peaches insists that she is much more photogenic.