Art & Words by
HOWARD B. TAYLOR

I have seen some ox shoes and paraphernalia for putting them on, but never had any account of the performance or any picture of it until visiting with my sister, Iris, in Lincoln City. She produced an article and photograph for helps.

The slings are hung from poles which act as capstans in raising the animal until it cannot kick. One cannot always talk sweet words of reason and gentle persuasion to a cow brute. The hooves are thin and delicate as compared to a horse’s (or logger’s toenails) so the job was exacting, which made the brute nervous, especially if it was a female as these are very touchy about such matters.

Shoeing was only done when the soil was rocky. The puncheon skid road protected their feet also. An ox required twice as many shoes as a horse.