Rural Heritage's video: Oxen Demonstration at Kentucky Horse Park

Oxen and their teamsters travel from Maine to Kentucky to share the history of working oxen in America. A collaboration with Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. We hear from Dan Midkiff who explains some of the history of oxen in America. Oxen were introduced to the US in 1624. They were used in Kentucky until the 1930's when other forms of power took over. 8 teams of working steers and oxen were brought to Kentucky to demonstrate: Stone boat log cart. 4 wheel wagon Single ox and its uses Pulling - how pulling competitions work at fairs and such. A10' diameter Big Wheel from Indiana - used long ago to haul very large logs. Joe talks with Dottie Bell from Thunder Hill Farm in Waterford, Maine about the benefits of learning to be a teamster as a youngster. Most young people are involved with 4H and learn from clubs. Join a working steer club or dairy club. Other ways to learn are by watching others, just taking in a baby steer (2-3 days old) and working with it/them. We watch Mark Winslow demonstrate driving oxen with lines (nose rings hooked to lines and driven from behind). He hooks them up to the lines and then to the wagon and drives them including backing up. Lastly we see footage of all eight teams pulling the Big Wheel.