old picture, farming the hard way!

hoof print · Mar 11, 2013

This is my Grandfather, taken about 1940. He was a sawmill foreman. He must have been breaking up his home garden plot.

He was a tall man, standing 6 foot 4 inches. Even if his foot is 6 inches down in that furrow, that horse still must have been huge!

tomturkey · Mar 11, 2013

thanks for the "time machine" trip. The relationship between men and their horses must have been pretty amazing. No wonder so many were reluctant to part ways with their horsepower. gobble

Anonymous-0 · Mar 11, 2013

Must have really expected that horse to WORK using chains for tugs!!!!!!!!

Roy in UK · Mar 12, 2013

What is so odd about using chains?

Bret4207 · Mar 12, 2013

Chains were not uncommon for traces. I have several sets. In many cases they were encased in a leather tube or cover as the horses hair would tend to get caught between the links and get pulled out, leading to a bit of a sore. The chains were the economy model harness so to speak. You;ll also see he has his britchin tied into the traces, it looks like a makeshift harness. The collar also appears too small for the horse, which does appear to be a good big horse.

Nice old picture.

EJ70 · Mar 12, 2013

Am I supposed to have a setup that fancy for working in the fields? If so my guys are a little underdressed.

641Dave · Mar 12, 2013

Nice fence!

GordoSD · Mar 12, 2013

Was he a farmer? Unusual shirt and pants and belt for a farmer. Not many wore billed caps either.

mb58 · Mar 12, 2013

Yes. Chains are(were)quite common in the south. Very few people used a full set of harness either. Most were what is refered to as "shotgun harness", meaning it had only hames, collar, backband and trace chains-no breaching.

hoof print · Mar 12, 2013

Gordo, no he was not a farmer, he was a sawmill man. He must have been plowing his garden, or maybe helping a neighbor.

As far as the harness on the horse, I do not know a thing about chains vs. leather or anything else. I imagine that he was using what he had. I did not intend to start trouble, just wanted to share a neat old pic!

Brian G. NY · Mar 12, 2013

That is certainly a wonderful picture! Many of us are not fortunate enough to have pictures of our ancestors.
I'm a little surprised at a couple of the comments but maybe it was just the way they were presented?
Anyway, as you pointed out, that must have been a big horse which would seem to justify the chains being used over leather.
I'm sure he must have found this little job a "cakewalk". LOL

EJ70 · Mar 12, 2013

I appreciate you sharing it. Pretty cool that it is of a family member.

mb58 · Mar 12, 2013

You didn't start any trouble. It's a great pic. Thanks for posting it.

MJ in the UK · Mar 12, 2013

Thanks for the picture Roy, I think it was taken at the Festival of the Plough at Epworth. The man ploughing with the horses is my good friend Mike Bingham and you have got Jack Schofields Gallopers in the background. Roy did you go to Linhome ploughing match the Sunday before last?, I was ploughing with my B250 and IH plough. MJ

Roy in UK · Mar 13, 2013

Haha no, like MJ said it was taken at a local ploughing festival!

Roy in UK · Mar 13, 2013

Yes it is a "still" from a movie I took at Epworth. No I missed the ( Lindholme? ) one sadly.

old picture, farming the hard way!

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