Posted 2 years ago
hotairfan
(387 items)
Seven years ago, a CW member posted a cow poke. I have seen photos of that type. I believe that they were made out of metal.
This cow poke is primarily made from wood.
Webster describes a cow poke as: A contrivance hung around a cow's neck to make it difficult for the cow to crawl through a fence.
The length of the poke is about 4' overall in length. It has a hardwood beam that leans slightly down and forward.
If the cow sticks the beam under the wire fence and pushes her head through the opening between the wires, the beam will catch the wire and if she continues to push, the beam will force several nail-like pins onto the cow's neck. (see photo #2 to see the pins).
I don't know it's age, but it is in rather good condition, and could possibly be used today. (electric fences are much more useful)
Very interesting. Thanks for the explanation.
"LOVE IT", and the History Write-Up.! Thanks for Sharing !
Wayne
Ok...I just have to put this out there. I heard the phrase "Pig in a poke"
"I wyll neuer bye the pyg in the poke
Thers many a foule pyg in a feyre cloke"
..cloke is cloak. Feyre is fair or market
A "poke" is a bag, so the image is of a concealed item being sold.
It's an expression that means to buy something that you dont know the value is..They fooled the buyer into thinking they're buying a suckling pig in a bag, but turns out it's really a cat..hence. the expression "let the cat out of the bag".
Additionally my father used to say "Slow poke"..as in don't be a slow poke. Or you're being a slow poke.
The cowboys would have to “poke” the cows occasionally to get them going in the right direction.
Hence cow poke is another name for cowboy.Or .a poke
Hotairfan, and dav2no1, I don't know how I managed to miss this, but Dave reminded me of it just now. Oh wow, what a wonderful (even if also potentially painful for its cow, whatever...) weird thing it is -- even moreso now that I can say I've actually seen one via photos though don't have one -- that itself the primary reason I value my membership here at CW S&T, where it never fails that there's a daily dose of unexpected knowledge to learn, however "obscure" ;-) it might be.
[my usual answer BTW, when anyone asks me if I "have" any something, is "how many, and what color?" :-) <LOL>]
Hi Anything,
the great thing about CW is the way you can communicate with the person who posts an item.
As to the animal getting a painful ouch.... I overwrote the fact that the cow will be stuck if she persists in pushing this halter. The nails that protrude through the collar are not sharp, by any means. I think that they would just remind the animal that it should back-up.
thanks for the response (and thanks to Dave for telling you of the poke)