This guide takes you through the essential steps of harnessing a horse for a vehicle, offering easy-to-follow advice for a safe and efficient setup.
Proper Harness Fitting
Ensuring a fitting that is both safe and comfortable is paramount in the successful connection between a horse and its rider. Understanding the different parts of a harness and their correct positioning is key to achieving this balance.
Evaluating Comfort and Equipment
Assessing a horse’s comfort level with the harness is the first step. The horse should be calm, with no signs of distress or pain. Secondarily, evaluating the equipment involves a well-maintained harness in good condition, free of wear and tear, with all parts present and correctly assembled.
Adjusting the Headpiece and Face Attachments
Begin by checking the fit of the headpiece. The piece should sit comfortably on the horse’s poll, neither loose nor overly tight. The browband should lie properly over the forehead and must not pinch, while the blinkers should position to effectively limit peripheral vision without interfering with straightforward sight. Both the cheekpiece and noseband should keep snug but not tight – you should be able to slide a finger beneath them with relative ease.
Fitting the Bit and Reins
The Liverpool bit must sit correctly in the horse’s mouth. It should not injure the mouth’s sensitive corners or press too hard on the tongue or palate. The attached reins must have enough slack to permit natural head motion while remaining taut enough to allow clear signaling.
Aligning the Harness Body
The hame and collar should wrap around the horse’s neck snugly but not tightly, and the hame straps or chains should secure these without causing chafing. Similarly, the false martingale should offer enough leeway for the horse to move its head naturally, but it should prevent an overly high head carriage. The placement of the trace must align with the center of the horse’s chest, and the back band should lie flat against the horse without causing discomfort.
Securing the Lower Harness
Both the tug (shaft) straps and girth should comfortably secure the harness to the horse’s midsection. You should be able to insert a hand easily between the horse’s belly and the girth. If the belly band feels too tight or loose, adjust this until it offers sufficient support without causing discomfort.
Positioning Long Supports Adequately
Lastly, the pad should center over the horse’s back, neither sliding nor pinching. The crupper should fit under the horse’s tail, coming neither too far down nor too high up into the base of the tail. The breeching should snugly wrap around the horse’s hindquarters, unobtrusive but ready to act during stoppage or reversal. Proportionate tension on the breeching straps will prevent these from rubbing on the horse’s skin or causing any discomfort.
Now we’ll go into more detail on some of these parts of the harness.
Properly Fitting Collars
Achieving an appropriate fit for a horse’s collar is crucial to their comfort, safety, and performance. A well-fitted collar balances secure placement without causing harm or injuries due to improper contact or friction.
Ensuring Comfortable Placement
It’s essential to ensure that a neck collar fits evenly over the horse’s shoulders without rubbing. Avoid collars that are too tight and difficult to place, or ones that press excessively on the neck in front of the withers.
Checking the Space and Fit
When evaluating collar fit, use the following guidelines:
- At the top of the neck – There should be sufficient space for the flat of your hand to fit comfortably between the collar and the horse’s neck.
- On the sides – Aim for enough room to fit the flat of your fingers between the collar and the horse’s neck.
- At the bottom – Ensure there is space for your hand and wrist to fit between the horse’s neck and collar.
Addressing and Preventing Injuries
Injuries at the top of the neck, in front of the withers, often result from pressure and friction caused by improper collar placement or ill-fitting equipment. To alleviate and prevent these injuries, adjust by selecting collars with a more precise fit—either narrower or wider, depending on the horse. Avoid relying on temporary solutions like pads or “chambering” (removing stuffing over the injured area), as these do not properly address the root cause of the issue.
Proper Placement Technique
When placing the collar on the horse, first invert it, so it’s upside down, and slide it over the head and beyond the ears. Once the collar clears the horse’s ears, reverse it to bring it to its correct position. This is a vital step, as attempting to put the collar on the wrong way up can be uncomfortable or harmful to the horse and reduce the effectiveness of the harness system.
Understanding the Hames Function and Importance
In the world of equestrian driving, hames play a crucial role. Let’s delve into what hames are, how they should be fitted, and why they are so important for the overall functionality of the harness.
Defining the Hames
Hames, for those unfamiliar with horse harnesses, are the collar-shaped, often metal branches that bridge the gap between the fore- and afterwale of the collar. This aspect gives them their distinct U-shape structure, tailored to fit seamlessly onto the collar of the harness.
Importance of the Correct Fit
One critical task of the hames is to ensure the harness fits impeccably. Their form must mirror the collar for optimal effectiveness and horse comfort. If the hames aren’t perfectly shaped to align with the collar, they can disrupt the fit, leading to improper contact, undue pressure, diminished control, or even potential injuries.
Function in Harness Setup
Hames are not just structural components; they also facilitate critical connections for driving. They secure the trace bar, a critical link in transferring the horse’s pulling power to the carriage or load. Additionally, they hold the driving rings in place. These rings, where the reins pass through, are critical for the communication between the horse and driver, allowing guidance and control. In this way, the hames contribute significantly to both the power transmission and steering mechanisms of the driving harness.
Importance of Hame Strap or Chain Maintenance
Proper care and maintenance of all harness components lead to better horse performance, safety, and comfort. One often-overlooked piece of equipment is the hame strap or chain. Understanding its purpose and ensuring it functions optimally can significantly improve your horse’s well-being during work.
Function of the Hame Strap or Chain
The hame strap or chain serves to connect the sides of the collar at their top end. This crucial connection ensures the collar maintains its proper shape, distributing pressure evenly across the horse’s shoulders and preventing any pinching or discomfort.
Regular Inspection and Adjustment
To maintain a well-fitting harness, it is vital to regularly examine the hame strap or chain for any signs of wear, stretching, or damage. A neglected strap or chain that stretches over time may allow the collar to loosen or open slightly, leading to discomfort or, worse, potential injury to the horse’s neck. By keeping a close eye on the hame strap or chain, drivers can promptly address any issues that arise and ensure their horse’s continued comfort and safety.
The Crupper in Horse Harnessing
In the equine world, the crupper holds a crucial role in securing the saddle and ensuring a comfortable riding experience.
Defining the Crupper
A crupper is a piece of tack used in horse harnessing or riding to keep the saddle in place. It connects to the saddle through a strap known as the back or crupper strap.
Understanding Its Role and Adjustment
The primary function of the crupper is to prevent the saddle from shifting forward during activity, maintaining its position for the comfort and stability of both the horse and rider. It achieves this by passing under the horse’s tail, providing a counterbalance to the forward pull of the reins.
Ensuring proper adjustment of the crupper is essential. It should be set so it effectively controls the saddle’s movement without causing discomfort to the horse. In other words, it should neither be too tight, causing unnecessary pressure on the horse’s tail, nor too loose, failing to hold the saddle in place. The ideal tension allows just enough flexibility for the horse to move freely while effectively preventing the saddle from slipping forward.
Remember, a well-adjusted crupper contributes to a more comfortable and safer ride for both the horse and the rider, while also enhancing control and performance.
Breeching in Horse Harnessing
The breeching is a crucial component of horse harnessing that ensures safety, control, and comfort during various activities.
Purpose and Placement of the Breeching
Breeching refers to the part of the harness that is designed to help control the horse’s motion and prevent the saddle or harness from sliding forward under certain conditions. It’s typically positioned just slightly above the level of the shafts and should hang horizontally. Its primary function is to provide resistance when going downhill or backing, which helps the horse maintain balance and avoid undue stress on its body.
Adjusting the Breeching with the Loin Strap
To ensure the breeching is placed correctly, adjustments should be made by using the loin strap. The proper fit is essential to achieving the desired balance of control and comfort. When properly fitted, the breeching should:
- Prevent the saddle from being pushed forward when going downhill or backing.
- Allow adequate freedom for the horse’s hindquarters to move without restriction.
- Maintain a comfortable space of about four inches between the horse’s buttocks and the breeching when the horse has its weight in the collar.
Benefits of a Well-Fitted Breeching
A well-fitted breeching contributes to the overall comfort, performance, and safety of the horse during a variety of activities, such as driving, riding, or pulling loads. By ensuring correct placement and adjusting the breeching with the loin strap, the horse can move more freely and comfortably, while the rider maintains better control and communication with their equine partner.
Proper Use of Traces in Horse Harnessing
In the world of horse-drawn vehicles, traces play a significant role in maintaining a safe and comfortable distance between the horse and the vehicle.
Understanding the Role of Traces
Traces are straps or chains connecting the harness to the vehicle being drawn. They transfer the horse’s pulling power to the vehicle, making them integral to the process of horse harnessing for pulling vehicles.
Ensuring Correct Trace Adjustment
The adjustment of the traces is vital in harnessing. They should be hooked into the trace attachment at a length that consistently keeps the horse a safe distance from the footboard or dashboard of the vehicle. This safe distance is essential as it:
- Prevents potential injuries to the horse from contact with the vehicle.
- Allows the horse to move comfortably and efficiently without constraint.
- Provides a clear line of vision for the driver when controlling the horse and maneuvering the vehicle.
Remember, the proper positioning and adjustment of traces can lead to a much safer and smoother ride for both the horse and the driver.
Fitting and Choosing the Right Bridle in Horse Harnessing
Selecting and fitting the appropriate bridle is central to horse harnessing. It impacts not only the comfort and safety of the horse but also the control and communication between the horse and handler.
Bridle Selection and Bit Choices
The principles for selecting the right bridle are common with those of riding bridles. The bit, which is the metal piece placed in the horse’s mouth, plays a significant role. Single bits are often used for driving horses, with the Liverpool Driving Bit and the double-ringed snaffle being the most common choices.
For double harnessing, wherein two horses are placed side by side, another popular option is the “Buxton” bit. This type features an additional metal bar between the two cheeks. This bar helps prevent a rein from becoming tangled with the pole, a useful feature when managing two horses simultaneously.
The Role and Adjustment of Blinkers
When used, blinkers must be appropriately fitted to ensure they fulfill their purpose without causing discomfort or distraction to the horse. Blinkers, also known as blinders, are panels attached to the bridle that prevent the horse from seeing to the rear and sides. Their goal is to restrict the horse’s field of view to stop them from being frightened or distracted by the following wheels or other sights.
These should allow free vision forward without being too loose and flapping, and their width can be adjusted by the blinker stays—the straps attached at the forehead area of the bridle.
Interestingly, blinkers were traditionally not part of the harness equipment for army draught horses, suggesting that their use might be a matter of custom rather than necessity. But, as always, proper training, communication, and trust between the horse and handler are most critical for safety and comfort.
Harnessing-Up a Horse for a Vehicle
Harnessing-up a horse for a vehicle involves a series of steps that must be followed judiciously to ensure optimal functionality and safety.
Starting with the Collar
The collar, often having the hames and traces attached, is the first piece of equipment to be put on. This process sometimes requires the collar to be turned upside down and stretched over the horse’s ears. The collar may need to be widened by stretching it on the knee or a bracket. A crucial aspect of this step is to keep the housing strap as tight as possible.
Fitting the Saddle, Crupper, and Breeching
The saddle, crupper, and breeching are the next components to add. The saddle is placed slightly behind its final position which allows the crupper to be passed over the horse’s tail. After securing the crupper, the saddle is then cautiously adjusted and girthed up. It’s important to note that the belly band is left unbuckled during this stage.
Attaching the Bridle
The bridle is added afterwards. This involves passing the reins through the terrets (ring-like attachments) and fastening them to the bit with the spare end folded through the near terrett. This arrangement ensures the driver maintains control over the horse when in motion.
“Putting-to” the Horse and Harness
“Putting-to” refers to lining up the horse before the vehicle, raising the shafts above the horse’s back and pulling the vehicle forward. The shafts are then lowered and slipped through the tugs until they reach their stops. The traces are hooked in, the breeching is buckled, and the belly band is adjusted.
Unharnessing the Horse
When unharnessing a horse from a vehicle, safety is paramount. Experience shows that some horses might “make a dash” as soon as the traces are undone. Hence, it’s advisable to save undoing the traces for last while taking off the rest of the equipment. Once back in the stable, the gear can be removed in the normal way, and most people prefer to take off the bridle before leading the horse back in.
