Gee and haw are voice commands used to tell a draft horse to turn right or left when pulling a plow or other farm equipment, or to direct sled dogs pulling a sled or sleigh. For horses, in the U.S. gee (pronounced jee) generally means turn right, while haw means turn left. In England, the meanings are reversed, but as James Lloyd Clark points out, "Generally, work horses are not subject to a lot of international travel so the fear of great confusion on the farm is minimal."[1] The English meanings are used for sledding in Alaska and Canada.
In popular culture
The song Pony Time, recorded in 1961 by Chubby Checker and a number one hit that year, includes the lyrics
Now you turn to the left when I say gee,
You turn to the right when I say haw,
Now gee, ya ya little baby,
Now haw, ya oh baby, oh baby, pretty baby,
Do it baby, oh baby, oh baby,
Boogety, boogety, boogety, boogety shoo.
