We have many pamphlets and publications that showcase Tonkawa’s interesting history down at the McCarter Museum.One well written booklet covers the history of Three Sands by B.F. Conaghan. It was assembled in 1974 and was first presented as a narrative guide during a bus tour of Three Sands. (Who wouldn’t love a bus tour of Three Sands area? How can we resurrect that? ;))Mr. Conaghan moved to Tonkawa in 1921 and lived in Tonkawa for 68 years. He wrote many memoirs from his memories but it was said that he found the history of Three Sands most interesting.This publication is very thorough and informative . One part I found particularly fascinating is the explanation of the way horses were used for field operation during this time. Here’s what he had to say:“The horse used in the heavier hauling and pulling requirements were equipped with the best of leather harness and always had leather shoulder housing attached to their names to keep their shoulders dry and inclement weather. Their heavy traces were commensurate with the wide well padded breaching straps which reached around the animals hind quarters. The straps were of about the same length as the horses body and when fastened to the neck yoke on the end of the wagon tongue enable the horse team to back the vehicle that they had formally been pulling. The backward thrust was usually done by the voice command of the driver who might say “whoa back, Gee” Which meant that he wanted his team to back and make a movement to the right so as to throw the front end of the wagon to the left, or vice versa with the final word of command “haw” if he wanted the team to swing towards the left.The drivers of these well trained horses were in a class by themselves. With firm kindness they trained their teams to dig their cock studded steel shoes into the earth and pull their utmost and hold the load in a steel position while he choked a wheel or made a load adjustment. The team then, by voice command, might slack off an inch or two hold and then pull again and release their pool when told by the driver who might say “ easy now, back” in horse terminology the nigh side of the team was the left side and the right side was called the offside.When ...
