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Information sheets   |   Elsenburg infopaks   |   Animals, management: 13

The draught animal in emerging agriculture Afrikaans | Xhosa

Click to enlarge!		 High fuel costs, high interest rates on borrowed capital, the high unit cost of tractors, and reduced and steadily declining agricultural profits are a few of the factors that necessitate a fresh look at the use of draught animals in emerging agriculture.

What are the features of a suitable draught animal?

Incidentally, a draught animal does not necessarily have to look like a show horse!

Click to enlarge!		 The most important features of a draught animal are a calm, peaceful nature and an appropriate physique.

To identify a peaceful nature is not always easy, yet by looking carefully at an animal's eyes, ears and bodily attitude it is possible to come to a reasonable conclusion concerning its nature.

Click to enlarge!		 It is a known fact that certain breeds of horses are more suitable to be used as draught animals, and others as saddle-horses or show animals.

Click to enlarge!		 The so-called draught breeds with the characteristically longer fetlock hair are examples of this. This type of animal is also of an appropriate size and physique, which makes it more suitable for the breeding of mules.

Click to enlarge!		 When considering the appropriate physique, special attention must be paid to the hooves and legs of the draught animals. Give preference to an animal with good-looking hooves that do not wear unevenly. Be wary of an animal with small box-shaped hooves, or with visible knobs on the legs, or with crooked knees.

Click to enlarge!		 With a bit of training an ordinary farm horse, a large donkey or a mule can become a highly suitable and useful draught animal.

A calm and patient person is usually able to achieve success with the training of draught animals.

Click to enlarge!		 For a better understanding and utilisation of draught animals the following points are important:
  • Horses, donkeys and mules are gregarious animals. Whenever possible two or more animals should preferably be kept together since they have a calming influence on each other. When a horse has to work alone, the handler must maintain discipline in such a way that the animal will respect and trust the human.
  • Animals of the horse family are highly sensitive and it is in their nature to flee from pain and danger. It is for this reason that a horse sometimes bolts with a cart when the animal hears a loud noise which it associates with pain. One must never shout at animals or strike them.

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  • Care must also be taken at all times that the harnesses are kept in a perfect condition to avoid injury to the animals.

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  • It is very important to understand the horse's body language. A sudden pulling back of the neck and ears, snorting, looking back, baring of teeth or standing upon the hind legs can all be signs of discomfort, fear or fatigue. A gentle touch and a soft tone of voice always have a calming effect on a horse. It is also important for the horse to be familiar with certain words such as "hokaai", "omdraai" or "back".

Click to enlarge!		 A draught animal performs many tasks at a slow walking pace and in a confined space. Therefore it is necessary for the animal to be led in the right way:
  • The animal is preferably handled from the left side.
  • The handler must look in the same direction as the animal.
  • The bridle is held with the right hand close to the halter and with the left hand at the end of the bridle - the bridle must never be twisted around the hand.
  • When training commences, the distance between the handler's hand and the halter must be short, and as training progresses the distance can be increased gradually to 45 cm.
  • Command the horse to move forward by making a clucking noise with the tongue and gently pressing forward with the right hand and elbow.
  • If the horse should take fright, do not grasp the bridle too tightly, but only try to keep the animal calm.

Click to enlarge!		 Draught animals must be exposed gradually to new things. For example, it must never be assumed that a horse that has drawn a cart for years would also be able to draw a plough or a cultivator.

AG Erasmus
ELSENBURG / LITTLE KAROO ADC