Among these horse-drawn vehicles, we can distinguish primarily between state coaches used for ceremonies and three other varieties: mail coaches, road coaches — also known as stage-coaches, and private coaches, often referred to as drags.
Varieties of Coaches: More Than Just Carriages
Mail coaches and stage coaches were essential for communication and transportation in yesteryears, while private coaches or “drags” were a symbol of personal wealth and style.
The Artistry of Harnesses: An Exception for State Coaches
When it comes to the harnesses used for these vehicles, the ones for state coaches and chariots stand out with their distinctive ornate design. You’ll see them heavily adorned with crests and decorative elements, breaking the conventional rule that harnesses should be uniform black or brown.
In fact, state harnesses can appear in a variety of vivid shades such as dark blue and maroon. You might even spot a vibrant yellow one on occasion. However, it’s worth noting that such colorfully resplendent harnesses are solely used for ceremonies and state occasions, adding a final touch of grandeur to these events.
Harness Variations: A Look at Different Coach Types
The harnesses used for different coach types—specifically mail coaches, road coaches, and private drags—have certain unique characteristics. At first glance, they may seem quite similar, but upon closer inspection, their distinct nuances become evident.
Mail and Road Coach Harnesses: Strength and Functionality
The harnesses used for mail and road coaches are slightly heavier – and thus stronger – than those meant for private drags. Often, you’ll notice these harnesses featuring brown collars, in striking contrast to the rest of the black harness. This differential color scheme augments their robust character, symbolizing their functionality and durability.
Private Drags Harnesses: Elegance in Black
Private drags, on the other hand, sport matching black harnesses, enveloped often in glossy black patent leather. The winkers, collars, and pads boast the same color coordination, showcasing a sense of unity and elegance.
Moreover, these private carriage harnesses may be ornamented with embellishments like the owner’s monogram or crest, typically designed in silver or brass. These personalized decorations correlate with the fittings on the coach and, interestingly, even the groom’s livery buttons.
Road Coaches: Marked and Sturdy
Road coaches historically bore either the badge or the initial letters of their manufacturer. The harness designated for these coaches comes with steel pole chains, painted black. These pole chains are fastened with an open hook that is secured by a rubber band or a strap made of leather.
Private Coaches: Burnished Accessories
The pole chains on private coaches reflect a different aesthetic than those on road coaches. They’re burnished, featuring spring hooks and add a gleaming touch to their overall appearance.
Other Vehicles: Harness Comparisons and Preferences
For other four-in-hand vehicles—not just coaches—the harness similarities and differences offer an intriguing insight into the specific requirements of these different vehicles.
Four-in-Hand Harnesses: Flexibility and Function
The four-in-hand harnesses for other vehicles bear a striking resemblance to those used for private coaches. The key variance lies in the choice of pole straps over chains. This modification suggests that these vehicles often need less pulling power compared to their coach counterparts, or prefer the added flexibility pole straps might offer.
The Choice of Bits: Buxton, Liverpool, and Elbow
Fascinatingly, the choice of ‘bits’—the part of the harness that goes into the horse’s mouth for control—also differs between vehicles. It’s common to see Buxton bits employed in drags, while Liverpool or elbow bits are preferred for the horses driving road coaches.
Breeching and Traces: Practical Details
Breeching, a part of the harness that prevents a vehicle from pushing forward against the horse, is often used with road coaches plying hilly districts. This utility-oriented element would not be considered appropriate, however, for drags—vehicles generally used on flat, smooth terrains.
Moreover, road coaches traditionally use chain-end traces or French-loop traces—straps that connect the harness to the vehicle. In contrast, drags often employ the running-loop or quick-release patterns, again evidencing differences in practical needs and traditional preferences.
Wheelers and Leaders: Coach Harness Variations
The nuances involved in harnesses for coach wheelers and leaders illustrate how distinct functional requirements can determine the design of these essential pieces of equipment.
Coach Wheelers’ Harness: Rein Support
The harness used for coach wheelers closely resembles that of pair-horse harnesses. However, some additional features make them more appropriate for their specific role. For instance, there are extra rings in the center of their pads to support the leaders’ reins. Similarly, roger rings are found on the outsides of their bridles to aid in this purpose.
Leaders’ Harness: Lightness and Efficiency
The leaders’ harness is designed to be lighter than the wheelers’. On a road coach, pads can be left out and traces can be held down using a light bellyband, eliminating the need for cruppers. The reins are coupled in a manner similar to pairs: the leaders’ draft reins pass through the roger rings on the wheelers’ bridles, while the coupling reins go through the tenants on the pads and rings on the names. They are then buckled to their bits, just as for a pair.
International Reining Techniques
All reins are held in the driver’s left hand, arranged in a specific order. This method is utilized in numerous countries. However, in Hungary — the birthplace of coaching — a distinctive approach for handling reins is employed.
The Hungarian Method
The Hungarian method consists of a unique rein arrangement. All reins are coupled together to two draft reins, further connected with a short strap referred to as the ‘frog.’ The driver holds the frog in their left hand, with knuckles facing upwards. To execute turns and direction changes, they draw back the coupling reins using the right hand or move the left hand’s position on the frog.
Although this method is well-suited for Hungary’s open countryside, it is often considered less appropriate for busy city streets when compared to the more prevalent style. That said, Hungarian coachmen have enjoyed exceptional success in international competitions that involve navigating complex driving obstacles.
Cock Horse: A Special Aid in Four-In-Hand Driving
In the realm of four-in-hand driving, the cock horse stands out due to its unique role and the distinctiveness of its harness. Traditionally deployed as additional support to help coaches ascend steep hills, the cock horse carries a fascinating history of its own.
The Purpose and Positioning of the Cock Horse
The cock horse was historically a crucial component of teams tasked with driving coaches up steep gradients. Unlike other horses in the team, it was ridden by a handler and positioned ahead of the leaders. This particular horse was connected to the team using a rope, running amidst the leaders and hooked up to the pole head—effectively serving as a front-line support for the entire team.
The Cock Horse’s Harness: A Blend of Riding Gear and Pulling Support
This specialized role necessitates a specific kind of harness, different from those on the wheelers or leaders. The cock horse’s harness consists of several elements: a collar, a bridle equipped with winkers to restrict the horse’s field of vision and keep it focused on the task ahead, a riding saddle to accommodate the handler, a crupper to prevent the saddle from slipping forward, and traces.
However, what sets the cock horse’s harness apart is the inclusion of a bar, supported by two straps extending from the backstrap. The traces—straps attached to the horse’s harness and used for pulling—are, in this case, tied to this pulling bar. By doing so, the cock horse is able to exert its force via the rope, significantly aiding the team in hauling their load uphill.
