What words would you use to tell a horse to turn right or left?

When directing a team of horses or other draft animals, a driver relies on simple, one-syllable voice commands. To instruct the animals to turn right, the term is "gee." To have them turn left, the command is "haw." These words are part of a specialized language developed between humans and working animals, clear and distinct enough to be heard and understood over the sounds of harnesses and equipment. The commands are not exclusive to horses; they are also traditionally used for mules, oxen, and even by mushers to guide their sled dog teams through the snow.

The origins of these commands are thought to trace back several centuries, with "gee" appearing in print in England as early as the 1600s. Etymologists suggest "gee" may have evolved from an earlier word, "ree," which was a corruption of the word "right." "Haw" is believed to have derived from "hayte," a 16th-century term for "left." In the United States, the driver traditionally walks on the left side of the team, so "haw" means to turn toward the driver and "gee" means to turn away.

These practical farm terms have also trotted their way into our everyday language. For instance, if two people are not getting along or working well together, they might be described as not being able to "gee and haw." The familiar, enthusiastic cowboy cry of "yee-haw" is also believed by some to have its roots in these simple directional commands used by generations of farmers and teamsters to guide their animals.