• HubertManne@piefed.socialEnglish
          2·
          3 months ago

          just that if other animals were available im not sure if they would work out as they might go through ice or snow. So the sleds can only be so heavy and same with the animals and its all relative to how much surface area is in contact with the ground. Like they could likely breed goats to survive the conditions but they likely would not work as well.

    • PugJesus@piefed.socialOPMEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      During WW1, many areas of Europe had their horses purchased or just outright seized for the ‘war effort’. Horses were a major component of military logistics at the time, and WW1 would see literal millions of horses die in the muddy fields along with unlucky men. Artillery doesn’t discriminate, unfortunately.

      Belgium, in particular, was in the thick of the fighting, so both the Belgian (and allied Entente) armies, and the occupying German forces, both were grabbing all the horses they could. Farmers, naturally, were some of the hardest hit by these seizures. Not only that, but most of the fit men would have been conscripted for the war as well, and many of the young, healthy women would have been serving in various war industries, leading to further labor shortages.

      Belgium has a tradition of working dogs that are bred for hard labor - though not usually for farming! - so the farmer here is ‘making do’ with what he has!