No. 125, January, 2010
Journal
Harnessing Horses
By Russell Miller, Hortonville
The year is 1942 and I am ten years old and in fourth grade at Shady Grove School, in the Township of Helvetia with Carole Mae Winter Beyersdorf as teacher. World War Two was just getting started, the depression of the 1930s was ending, but that meant little to our farm in Central Wisconsin. I was now considered big enough to harness the horses. I was small for my age, and had three older brothers and four sisters, but the job always fell to me.
Horses were kept in the barn, in a plank enclosure, with a feed trough in front for oats, cob corn and timothy hay. Horses tend to fidget and fuss and produce horse apples by the bushel basket full. Big horses, my Dad Louie Miller had. No special breed, probably Percheron, Suffok or Belgian Draft Horses. We had a 120-acre farm. Bred to pull plows, drags, cultivators and haul logs. Weighed a ton. Never for riding.
All told these leather straps, traces, eveners, singletrees weighed at least 50 pounds. A milk stool to stand on to reach the tall horses. First a big leather collar over the head, pulling it down to breast level, making sure the mane was free. Collar pad in place to protect the shoulders and neck from chaffing. Wooden hanes on top of collar, square flaps across collar, pointing to his rear. Be sure these straps are good and tight.
Tuck the crupper under the tail and fasten, making sure all hairs are lying flat. Fasten the bellyband. About this time, the whole harness would slide off the horse into the manure and urine. And then I would have to start over.
Reins threaded through guides on either side. Blinders are attached near the eyes. Bridle holds the bit in the horse's mouth. Reins or lines are used as a connection between me the driver and the horse to tell him which way to turn.
This is all done twice for two horses. Some liked to kick while in the stall or bite. Dancing around the horse liked to step on feet. Other leather straps and poles are attached, depending on what work the horses were scheduled for that day. Pulling energy directly to the attached equipment. Weight of the load on the horse's shoulders.
In 1950 I left that farm, never again to work with horses, as the saying goes, 'I had my belly full'. Now in Wisconsin we again see horses being used by the Amish. I do not envy them harnessing horses every day to do the field work. As their beautiful small sleek driving horses I envy too.
I am now retired at the age of 77 and read large print cowboy western novels from the library and ride horses with the cowboys and Indians from my easy chair.
copyright Russell and Delores Miller, 2010