Thanksgiving on a Horse-Powered Farm
There is always so much to prepare before the holidays. Every year, I find myself rushing through the week of Thanksgiving, scrambling to gather ingredients, clean the house, and finish last-minute chores. Somehow, the holiday always manages to sneak up on me. Yet, with modern conveniences, we can still pull everything together at lightning speed if needed.
Historically, farmers had no such luxury. Their preparations for winter, and ultimately Thanksgiving, took months. The holiday itself was less a frantic celebration, and more a moment of rest after a long season of necessary labor. Families could only rely on what they had grown, raised, or sourced locally.
Thanksgiving preparation truly began in the spring, when families planned which vegetables to plant and which livestock to raise for winter sustenance. Pumpkins for pie, corn for the table, grains for milling — all of it required forethought and careful tending. Behind every one of these tasks stood the often-overlooked partners in farm work: the draft animals. Horses and oxen worked alongside their human partners from plowing to harvest. They were just as much a part of the season’s success as the farmers themselves.
Draft animals played a role in nearly every step of Thanksgiving preparation. Beyond plowing and cultivating the fields, they powered the sorghum presses that made sweeteners for holiday desserts, turned the mills that ground flour, pressed cider for the table, and even churned butter. In some households, they even powered washing machines to lighten the load of everyday chores.
Even the Thanksgiving turkey was historically a task shared with draft animals. Turkeys were usually wild-caught, gathered from the yard or hunted locally, with horses and buggies supplying the transportation. If families traveled for the holiday, they went by horse and cart — because walking miles back home after indulging in the Thanksgiving meal sounds miserable!
Horses and oxen also provided the muscle needed for winter comfort. They hauled heavy logs from the woodlot to fuel the hearth, ensuring the home stayed warm and the Thanksgiving meal could be cooked. A well-stocked pile of firewood was essential for both heat and the long hours of holiday cooking.
Some families depended on multi-purpose animals to meet both draft and household needs. A single milk cow might also serve as an ox, helping plow fields while providing milk, cream, and butter. Imagine having a cow that not only supplied your milk and butter, but could also grind your grain and power your washing machine!
As we pause this Thanksgiving to appreciate all that we have, let us not forget the silent laborers who helped build these traditions. Draft animals have toiled alongside humans for generations, their contributions often unnoticed but always essential. I am deeply grateful for the hardworking draft animals and livestock in my life. Many of you know firsthand how tirelessly they give of themselves. This holiday, they too will enjoy some well-earned rest.