Horse Drawn Ploughing
The ploughing here was done a part of a ploughing match at Woodmancott in 1983.
Ploughing prepares land for crop-growing. In each pass across a field, the plough cuts out a slice of earth and turns it over.
This has the effect of burying weeds, aerating the soil and easing the absorption of surface moisture. After a period of weathering, which helps to break down heavy clods into a more crumbly texture, the land can be harrowed to produce an even seed bed. Essential features of the plough have remained the same since medieval times: a horizontal beam to which is attached a ploughshare and knife coulter to cut the furrow slice, and a mouldboard to turn it over. Improvements in design and efficiency evolved over the centuries but quickened in pace from the Victorian period. Regional variations in the type of plough used were once very marked, but gradually faded in the later nineteenth century as manufacture became concentrated upon fewer large firms rather than local craftsmen. As horses were replaced by tractors with specially designed implements, the process of ploughing has progressively speeded up so that it can now be completed much more quickly and with fewer people.
Ploughs are traditionally drawn by working animals such as horses or cattle, but in modern times may be drawn by tractors. A plough may be made of wood, iron, or steel. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture.
Ploughs were initially human powered, but the process became considerably more efficient once animals were pressed into service. The first animal powered ploughs were undoubtedly pulled by oxen, and later in many areas by horses (generally draught horses) and mules, although various other animals have been used for this purpose. In industrialised countries, the first mechanical means of pulling a plough were steam-powered (ploughing engines or steam tractors), but these were gradually superseded by internal-combustion-powered tractors.
Draught horses or dray horses (from the Old English dragan meaning to draw or haul), less often called a work horses or heavy horses, are a large horse bred for hard heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labor. There are a number of breeds, with varying characteristics but all share common traits of strength, patience, and a docile temperament which made them indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.
Draft horses and draft crossbreds are versatile breeds used today for a multitude of purposes, including farming, draft horse showing, logging, recreation, and other uses. They are also commonly used for crossbreeding, especially to light riding breeds such as the Thoroughbred for the purpose of creating sport horses. While most draft horses are used for driving, they can be ridden and some of the lighter draft breeds are capable performers under saddle.
These Shire horses are a breed that comes in many colours, including black, bay and grey. They are a tall breed, with mares standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) and over and stallions standing 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm) and over. The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling, and Shires have held the world records for both largest overall horse and tallest horse at various times. Throughout its history, the breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons delivering ale to customers. This practice continues today, with the breed also being used for forestry, leisure and promotional pursuits.
In 1878, the British organization now known as the Shire Horse Society was created, with the American Shire Horse Association beginning in 1885. The breed was exported from Britain to the United States in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but popularity fell as mechanisation increased, reaching a low point in the 1950s and 60s. Popularity began to increase again in the 1970s and after. However, population numbers are still considered to be at critical levels by both the UK-based Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the US-based American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Horse power was still widespread on UK farms at the start of World War 2
www.reading.ac.uk/merl/interface/advanced/farming/impleme...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_horse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_horse
Horse Drawn Ploughing
The ploughing here was done a part of a ploughing match at Woodmancott in 1983.
Ploughing prepares land for crop-growing. In each pass across a field, the plough cuts out a slice of earth and turns it over.
This has the effect of burying weeds, aerating the soil and easing the absorption of surface moisture. After a period of weathering, which helps to break down heavy clods into a more crumbly texture, the land can be harrowed to produce an even seed bed. Essential features of the plough have remained the same since medieval times: a horizontal beam to which is attached a ploughshare and knife coulter to cut the furrow slice, and a mouldboard to turn it over. Improvements in design and efficiency evolved over the centuries but quickened in pace from the Victorian period. Regional variations in the type of plough used were once very marked, but gradually faded in the later nineteenth century as manufacture became concentrated upon fewer large firms rather than local craftsmen. As horses were replaced by tractors with specially designed implements, the process of ploughing has progressively speeded up so that it can now be completed much more quickly and with fewer people.
Ploughs are traditionally drawn by working animals such as horses or cattle, but in modern times may be drawn by tractors. A plough may be made of wood, iron, or steel. It has been a basic instrument for most of recorded history, and represents one of the major advances in agriculture.
Ploughs were initially human powered, but the process became considerably more efficient once animals were pressed into service. The first animal powered ploughs were undoubtedly pulled by oxen, and later in many areas by horses (generally draught horses) and mules, although various other animals have been used for this purpose. In industrialised countries, the first mechanical means of pulling a plough were steam-powered (ploughing engines or steam tractors), but these were gradually superseded by internal-combustion-powered tractors.
Draught horses or dray horses (from the Old English dragan meaning to draw or haul), less often called a work horses or heavy horses, are a large horse bred for hard heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labor. There are a number of breeds, with varying characteristics but all share common traits of strength, patience, and a docile temperament which made them indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.
Draft horses and draft crossbreds are versatile breeds used today for a multitude of purposes, including farming, draft horse showing, logging, recreation, and other uses. They are also commonly used for crossbreeding, especially to light riding breeds such as the Thoroughbred for the purpose of creating sport horses. While most draft horses are used for driving, they can be ridden and some of the lighter draft breeds are capable performers under saddle.
These Shire horses are a breed that comes in many colours, including black, bay and grey. They are a tall breed, with mares standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) and over and stallions standing 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm) and over. The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling, and Shires have held the world records for both largest overall horse and tallest horse at various times. Throughout its history, the breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons delivering ale to customers. This practice continues today, with the breed also being used for forestry, leisure and promotional pursuits.
In 1878, the British organization now known as the Shire Horse Society was created, with the American Shire Horse Association beginning in 1885. The breed was exported from Britain to the United States in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but popularity fell as mechanisation increased, reaching a low point in the 1950s and 60s. Popularity began to increase again in the 1970s and after. However, population numbers are still considered to be at critical levels by both the UK-based Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the US-based American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
Horse power was still widespread on UK farms at the start of World War 2
www.reading.ac.uk/merl/interface/advanced/farming/impleme...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_horse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_horse