The Ploughman's Hitch

[Nathan Ross]

Hi, I am new to this forum and excited to be here.
I am attempting to preserve the history of a dear friends farming legacy and wish to explore what is known about 'the ploughman's hitch'.
Any history or details about this would be fantastic

with thanks, Nathan

[SS369]

Hi, I am new to this forum and excited to be here.
I am attempting to preserve the history of a dear friends farming legacy and wish to explore what is known about 'the ploughman's hitch'.
Any history or details about this would be fantastic

with thanks, Nathan

Good day Nathan and welcome.

I am personally unfamiliar with the name "Ploughman's hitch". So many knots have so many names!
Would you by chance have a picture or a reference we can use?

SS

[Nathan Ross]

Hi there SS

Thanks for the welcome note,
No I don't as yet have an image of the knot however I will soon. My motivation surrounds a dear old friend of mine who has with him an accumulation of many generations of cattle farming experience that stems back to early Scotland, the wisdom passed from father to father, apprentice to neighbour and so on.

We both mutually fear that his wisdom will one-day be lost and not recorded as it should be. I aim to start an illustration-based memoir of this (I once trained as an illustrator) and many more pearls of wisdom so that such art forms are sustained.

Unless I am mistaken, I believe that the 'ploughman's hitch' was first developed to assist in the lifting of the tractor tiller at the end of a plough row (my terminology is likely out a little), thus allowing the farmer to turn the tractor around, lower the tiller and proceed to the next row (or something like that). Its current application with this man and myself is for the purpose of raising the leg of a dairy cow so as the hooves can be safely inspected with no risk of fingers getting caught-up in the knot.
The knot has the functional attributes not dissimilar to a bowline with a quick release section, and a tensioning component.

Apologies if my lack of knotting wisdom is frustrating to comprehend - early days

thanks again

Nathan

[SS369]

Looking forward to a picture or photo Nathan.

I think it is a great undertaking, the capturing for posterity, the wisdom of life learned things. Sometimes what is old becomes new again. The elderly have mountains to share and some even like talking about what they know.

No problem with understanding your writing or terminology at all.

If I can help just let me know.

SS

P.S. I will probably move your thread to the most appropriate board once we see what it is.

[knotsaver]

If I've got it right (and if I remember right) it could be a slipped overhand knot tied in (with) the bight...

[Dan_Lehman]

Unless I am mistaken, I believe that the 'ploughman's hitch' was first developed to assist in the lifting of the tractor tiller at the end of a plough row (my terminology is likely out a little), thus allowing the farmer to turn the tractor around, lower the tiller and proceed to the next row (or something like that). Its current application with this man and myself is for the purpose of raising the leg of a dairy cow so as the hooves can be safely inspected with no risk of fingers getting caught-up in the knot.
The knot has the functional attributes not dissimilar to a bowline with a quick release section, and a tensioning component.
//
slipped overhand knot ...

My surmise is that one is talking about some version
of the trucker's hitch --esp. given the apparent need
for "a tensioning component" & "slipped overhand".

Perhaps you can explain the application of this structure
for raising & securing a cow's hoof --that might crystalize
our speculations.


--dl*
====

[knotsaver]

If I've got it right (and if I remember right) it could be a slipped overhand knot tied in (with) the bight...

Perhaps you can explain the application of this structure
for raising & securing a cow's hoof --that might crystalize
our speculations.

I'm sorry, I was wrong. I asked an old man about that. He remembers that a TIB slipped overhand knot was used to bind the ploughshare (of a plough drawn by oxen) after its use.
bye,
s.