Draft Animals

When I hear the words “Draft Animal”, I immediately think of strength, power, and beast mode. A draft animal is a domestic animal, trained to pull heavy loads and perform labor for humans, such as plowing fields, transporting goods, and logging.

Athletes should strive to pull heavy loads, to hard work, and to do difficult things!

Draft animals come in all shapes and sizes, including horses, donkeys, mules, and oxen, camels, llamas, water buffalo, reindeer, and certain dog breeds.

The Shire is the world’s largest draft horse breed, typically standing over 17 hands high. The 19th century Shire named Sampson, later renamed Mammoth, still holds the record for the tallest and heaviest horse at 21.25 hands and over 3,000 pounds. The Belgian Draft horse is widely considered the strongest draft horse breed, known for its exceptional power and ability to pull extremely heavy loads.

A single draft horse is capable of hauling roughly 8,000 pounds. That is three automobiles. That’s impressive! That’s Horsepower! What happens when you place two workhorses together? Do you create twice the power?

Two draft animals are connected with a Yoke! A yoke is a wooden bar used to harness two draft animals, such as oxen, so they can pull a load like a plow or wagon together allowing them to share the effort of pulling a heavy load. 

When yoked together they are called a Team!  There is miraculous Godly principle that occurs when you place two equally yoked animals together. Their ability multiplies. One horse can pull 8000 lbs while two equally yoked animals can pull 24,000 lbs. 

When two unequally matched draft animals are yoked together, the pairing becomes inefficient, physically damaging to the animals, and unable to move the load properly. An effective yoke requires animals of similar height, strength, and pace to work in unison. 

The problems that arise from unequal yoking include:

• Imbalance and poor movement. Mismatched animals will pull unevenly. The stronger, larger, or faster animal will push ahead, while the weaker or shorter one will lag. This causes the yoke to twist and throws the load off-balance, making it impossible to move in a straight, effective path.
• Physical injury. The uneven pulling causes chafing, discomfort, and pain for both animals. The constant strain and twisting of the yoke can create painful sores and injuries, especially on the necks and shoulders.
• Lack of progress. Because the animals are working against each other instead of together, the team is largely ineffective at its task. It will move in circles, and little to no productive work will be accomplished.
• Behavioral frustration. The unequal strain on the animals can cause them to become frustrated with each other, ruining their cooperative spirit and potentially leading to behavioral problems.

Coaches who find a team of athletes that are willing to work hard together are able to do more as well. 

Teams that are willing to Yoke themselves with the Holy Spirit and together seek Jesus Christ with all their hearts can accomplish the impossible! 

It starts with individual’s becoming yoked to Christ.  Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength.”

After individuals yoke to Christ through the Holy Spirit, then yoke yourself to others who are yoked to Christ. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 

II Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬