The whiffletree is made of a wooden rod, equipped with metal hooks in the center and at the ends.
The agricultural tool (plough, harrow, etc.) or the vehicle (cart) to be pulled was attached to the central hook, while the lateral hooks were secured with the traces (leather straps or iron chains) that ran along the sides of the draft animal and were secured to it (through the yoke or the collar).
The whiffletree was therefore positioned between the draft animal and the object that was to be pulled.