In many places throughout the world, horses, oxen, and water buffalo are used to work the land. Mules and horses still serve the Amish farmers of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan quite well. Draft animals (as these pulling animals are called) must be harnessed or yoked together in order to pull effectively. Have you seen animals working the land? Perhaps at a history center? A yoke is a wooden bar used to tie or link the two animals to each other, and to the plow or cart. For these strong, large animals, the yoke is not heavy, nor is it uncomfortable.  As a matter of fact, it’s one of the smaller and lighter pieces of equipment involved, but it is vitally important. The yoke allows the animals to combine their strengths and accomplish much more than either one could do alone – and do what would be impossible for the man by himself.

One of three things can happen when a team of draft animals is hooked to a load. (1) The load may be too heavy for the team to pull at all.  (2) Even though the load is manageable, the team may not pull together in unison, and therefore it struggles unsuccessfully against the load.  (3) The yoked, united team can pull even a very heavy load rather easily.