geehaw

Geehaw refers to a pair of traditional verbal commands used to steer a team of draft animals, especially oxen or horses. The command "gee" directs the team to go to the right, while "haw" directs them to go to the left. A separate cue such as "whoa" or "stand" is used to stop or slow the animals. These terms are most closely associated with historical farming, logging, and wagon driving, and they remain in use in some forms of modern horse driving and in recreational or educational settings.

Etymology and history regarding the origins of the words are not definitively documented, but the gee-haw vocabulary has long been part of North American draft-animal handling. The system relies on a combination of vocal signals, reins or lines, and sometimes driving aids like a whip or a goad to influence the movement of the lead animals, with the others following as a team.

In practice, a driver directs the team from a position at the front of the wagon or implement. For a multi-animal team, precise cues may be given to the lead animal and reinforced throughout the team to maintain alignment and avoid crowding. Training emphasizes consistent cues, calm handling, and positive reinforcement to prevent confusion and ensure safety for both the animals and the handler.

In contemporary contexts, gee-haw continues to be used in traditional farming and logging communities, in competitive driving, and in historical reenactments, where it serves as a practical technique as well as a cultural artifact of working-draft traditions.