Horse Neck Yoke Help!!!

I have a friend who stumped me yesterday with this unusal neck yoke. Anybody ever seen one like this? What would it have been used for with all the extra hooks? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Just a wild guess but perhaps a combo - for one horse or a team.

Looks something like what my Grandpa used to call an "evener". Used when you might have one horse stronger than the other(s). Hook the stronger horse closer to the attachment point so he could haul more of the weight. Just a thought.

Either two horse or four horse neck yoke.

A Wagon tongue evener for a team hitch.His thumbs are in the right and left rein guides.

could it be a traning aid for useing a running W or buck back straps on the lead team or a unicorn hitch?? Just a guess on my part.

I know nothing about horses only that they taste good! but our old folks used something similar to hook two horses side by side to one plough. They called it a single-tree.
Sam

I am guessing not all loops were used at one time. Possibley used to tighten up horses for different sizes and uses.

single trees go behind horse not in front.

(quoted from post at 11:09:25 01/16/12) I have a friend who stumped me yesterday with this unusal neck yoke. Anybody ever seen one like this? What would it have been used for with all the extra hooks? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

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ot exactly sure but it could be that the two larger rings (the ones that are around the neck yolk) are for a two horse hitch of Clydes or larger horses , and the outer rings and centre rings are for a four horse (roman style hitch) of Shetland or mini horses..

Ive not seen a neck yoke like that either,but thats because its a double tree and not a yoke!!!LOL. made for hooking two horses/mules side by side. Single tree would be half that. The sliding rings are so you can offset your horses for either wider rows,or to make up difference in pulling power between a large and small horse if your team is not matched.Also you could hook your back team on the outside and siding rings,hook another lead team on the outside and center rings,four a for up hitch.Or you could hook two back horses to the outside and sliding rings,hook another horse to the inside for doing heavy work such as pulling stumps. some folks hooked two single trees to one double tree and the they would use the sliding rings.Yoke goes around a animals neck,so they pull off their front shoulders (because of the center of pull is @a foot or so behind a animals shoulders)then the harness hooks to it.Yoke strap holds up tongue of wagon if you have one,or staves if your hitched singly.double tree hooks to the fifth wheel or implement,and traces or trace chains hook between yoke and tree.Basically you would use a tree on a wagon with brakes,such as a farm wagon or coach.A sulky,or such would require either staves,or you would use a breaching harness if you were multi hitched so yoke wouldnt push off a horses neck when he stopped.Kind of personally preference,really theres a lots of different harnesses made.but most hooked up pretty similar.

(quoted from post at 19:09:25 01/16/12) I have a friend who stumped me yesterday with this unusal neck yoke. Anybody ever seen one like this? What would it have been used for with all the extra hooks? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

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Double tree for a wagon most likely.

(quoted from post at 20:18:45 01/17/12)

(quoted from post at 19:09:25 01/16/12) I have a friend who stumped me yesterday with this unusal neck yoke. Anybody ever seen one like this? What would it have been used for with all the extra hooks? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Click to expand...

Double tree for a wagon most likely.

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THAT IS A NECK YOKE. I use them all the time.

(quoted from post at 04:25:47 01/23/12)

(quoted from post at 20:18:45 01/17/12)

(quoted from post at 19:09:25 01/16/12) I have a friend who stumped me yesterday with this unusal neck yoke. Anybody ever seen one like this? What would it have been used for with all the extra hooks? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Click to expand...

Double tree for a wagon most likely.

Click to expand...

THAT IS A NECK YOKE. I use them all the time.

Click to expand...

I agree that it looks like a neck yoke but isn't it too wide for a neck yoke? unless it is for 4 abreast