Borax 20 Mule Team- "jumping the chain"

[SLW]

In preparation for tomorrows Rose Bowl Parade the Borax 20 mule team did a test drive with the new repro wagons. In the video it shows the team taking a turn and a couple pairs of mules, closest to the wagon, have to jump some chain associated with the hitch. Fascinating to watch and facinating history!

I read elsewhere that the team is controlled by a rider on one of the wheel mules- he uses a cable that connects to all the mules though in a still photo I only noticed a cable on the left side mules.

https://www.facebook.com/dvconservancy/videos/1437085656301804/?pnref=story

[Foxtrot_s]

Thanks - any more?

[SLW]

The FB page where the video is linked from has a little more info. The wagons being used this year are a full scale replica made by a company in Montana. I would love to learn more about the actual hitch and the roles of the 10 teams of mules.

[goodhors]

That style driving is called the “jerk line method”. Leaders turn right, left, stop, by how many jerks on the (old days) rope held by the Teamster on the Wheel animal. Being Freighters, you made money by how much load could be moved in the wagons, so driver weight could be carried by the animal instead of on the wagon.

The Borax folk had their own system worked out for moving the borax from mining site to the shipping location. Did not follow other companies ideas. There were several people making the trip, not just the teamster, so animals could be cared for on the trip, along with keeping the men fed. Heck harnessing 20 mules each morning, unharnessed at night, fed and watered, probably all feisty mules, is going to take a while! One man could not manage the job and get on the road in a timely fashion.

The Conestoga Wagon drivers of early freighting history used the jerk line method of driving long before the West got explored. They were the ones using Team bells on their 6-8 horses to warn others they were coming on the trail. This is the origin of the old saying (many versions) “We will be there with bells on”. Having no bells on arrival meant there was trouble along the way and driver surrendered his bells to the person helping him out.

[SLW]

Adding to goodhors I found this narrative of the role of the mule pairs and the 3 pairs that jump the chains. Fascinating to me.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/historyculture/twenty-mule-teams.htm

[Gestalt]

In a story I read years ago the two leads were horses (mares like he says in the link above) and the reason for the horses in lead as my story went is because mules will follow mares. I don’t know anything about mules, but I had friends that went camping for weeks at a time into the Idaho mountains with their mules and they always brought one quarterhorse mare. When they camped the mare stayed tied to a picket line and the mules (7 of them) were left free. The mules would not leave that lead mare.

Anyway, thanks for posting this info. The Rose Parade is my favorite and I will be sure to look for the 20 mule team. I wonder if there will be 18 mules and 2 horses in the parade team.

[goodhors]

Thanks for even more information on the Borax Team. I read about the mare keeping the mules together, though it was old and I think in one of the old U.S. Cavalry manuals. I was quite interested in mule training at that time, but proved “unworthy” of the mule and sold her to a true Mule Man. They recognized each other at first glance, a sure case of love! He called back to see if I had MORE mules to sell, she worked out so well! Had to disappoint him on that. One was enough for us!

Thanks SLW for the links to enjoy, more information to learn. I will be looking for the mules and wagons. Hope the TV doesn’t skip over them. We don’t have cable to catch the RFD coverage which will probably show all the equines! Parade starts at 8A, PST time Monday morning. No Rose Parades on Sundays, old tradition to prevent folks missing Church. I never knew that.

[2DogsFarm]

Fascinating!
goodhors & Gestalt:
I used to go horsecamping with a bunch that rode mules.
My TWH gelding - a Big Guy at 17h - was so enamored of one of the Mollies he would follow at her side, gazing down at her. She tolerated him.
One of the couples would not put up fencing or even highline their mules, just left them loose.
One of the jacks would run around a bit away from the rest, but always came back to camp.

Parade is just starting here, so I am off to watch for the mounted groups & of course, the 20 Mule Team!

[Rackonteur]

Rose Parade Repeat on Hallmark Channel Now

The Hallmark Channel is just starting their rebroadcast of the parade. This one is on for three hours so maybe I will get to see the 20-mule team!

I found a link to info about them in the parade–

http://www.borax.com/rose-bowl/

I remember the 20-mule team from a program my parents used to watch when I was little, “Death Valley Days” –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyQiSrZfyB4&index=10&list=PLWPw7rM-AkBjx2t1EZSjfmwuPvEJ_ws-g

[Rackonteur]

They are #63 in the lineup I saw online but it doesn’t name them in the heading, just Brad Ratliff.

[Rackonteur]

Wow, that parade footage was disappointing. No wonder I missed them in the live broadcast. Lengthy closeups of the humans and the flowers and none at all on the mules that IMO are the main feature of the “theme” of this group. Not one word about them or their history or the history of the wagons they pull. Nope, just humans.

Just said Brad is pulled by mules. Period.

Bummer.

[RMJacobs]

I lived on the Rose Parade route for quite a few years. BTW, for fellow purists and football haters, it is not “the Rose Bowl parade.” The parade significantly predates the football game. I think the official name is the Tournament of Roses.

Anyway, I used to wander up to Colorado Boulevard to watch the parade, cup of coffee in hand. That way I saw everything, including the mishaps. Floats stalling and needing a tow was most common I saw, as they used junker cars for motive power.

It’s been 24 years since I lived there, and I haven’t watched the parade on TV since. I finally had seen it enough times in person.

Rebecca

[goodhors]

I watched ABC, NBC, which both had terrible coverage of the horses. I think I saw 6 units total, though there were teasing glimpses in long shots of approaching units. Neither set of commentators was good, even with notes to read.

I did not hear Borax mentioned once when they talked about the wagons. There was a momentary clear view as the mules and wagons turned a corner. Meantime, Al Roger is saying “there are not any 20 mule team drivers left” as the driver is clearly making the turn with all good looking mules under control and unperturbed in the Parade setting. I thought the mules were well turned out, well behaved, well driven and a credit to poeple who had them on display in the Parade. I got a look at the jerkline too!

I was really hoping to see the Spotted Saddlebreds that Michelle Scribbs, Miramar Farms (I think that is the name) presents in the Parade. Photos from past years are stupendous, she and her crew put on a great show. She has a marvelous collection of vehicles she uses with the horses. Friend of a friend sent her a couple of Spotted Saddlebred horses to use, so was really hoping to see them on TV.

Maybe the cable folks did a better job of showing horses.

[2DogsFarm]

goodhors: Agreed! :mad:

I did the same channel-flip between NBC & ABC & what we got was mostly “Ooh! Horses!” and very little info.

Maybe YouTube has better coverage?

[SLW]

I am way too geeky about this rig and hitch so bear with me. This article provides a diagram of the hitch and the role each pair play in pulling.
https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/borax-history-of-mining-crystal-death-valley-mojave-desert

A video on the Death Valley Conservatory FB page showed the hitch during the parade and provided a clear view of the jerk line. Sure enough, it is attached to the lead pair but only travels alongside of the other pairs.

I owned mini’s that I drove single and now I drive a 12.2 donkey single so the idea of driving 100+ feet of horse/mule flesh is beyond my imagination. What skill!

[red_mares]

Michelle Macfarlane, of Scripps Miramar Ranch has the spotted saddlebreds.

[goodhors]

Thanks for the name corrections on the Saddlebreds.