Winter Transportation

Driving to town Sunday morning on our ice glazed roads made me think of days before four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles, like the days of using horses and the methods used for that type of transportation.

My mind went to my early days and the things I can vaguely remember. That thought was immediately followed by thinking of all of those acquaintances around me that do remember those “winterizing” preparations that were carried out if you used horses or mules as teams for driving or as personal conveyance.

Today, we might compare those preparations to studded or all weather tires. Teams were shod with a studded horse shoe. Many can remember them, but not many of our young generation would have a clue. One of my questions, could these studs be placed in horse shoes already on the horse, or did you get to remove the old and put on new? I am pretty sure it required much more time and effort than it takes to change the tires on your vehicle, as these “shoes” were put on with horseshoe nails. Of course I have noticed in Ag magazines that there is now horse shoe glue available. Wow, the conveniences our ancestors could never have envisioned.

Bottom line is for all to use caution and drive safe on these winter roads!