Light Trade Harness
A light trade harness is essentially the same as harnesses used in private driving; however, there are notable distinctions. For single horses, the saddle is heavier, and the traces have chain ends. The harness is designed to be both functional and visually appealing, making it a popular choice for a variety of applications.
Materials and Maintenance
Furniture and fittings of the light trade harness can be made from brass or white metal. White metal is often preferred due to its easier upkeep. The browband features an attractive clenched metal front, adding to the harness’s overall appearance.
Key Features
- Full breeching: This essential component is always used in light trade harnesses, ensuring that the horse remains comfortable and secure during operation.
- Wilson snaffle bit: A defining feature of the light trade harness is the use of the Wilson snaffle bit, which provides optimal control and communication between the driver and the horse.
In summary, the light trade harness shares similarities with harnesses used in private driving, while offering unique features that cater to specific needs, such as heavier saddles for single horses and the Wilson snaffle bit. With its combination of functionality and aesthetics, the light trade harness is an excellent choice for various driving activities.
Coster Harness
Coster Harnesses boast a design similar to trade harnesses, with an added touch of flamboyance. These vibrant harnesses are often decked out with colourful ‘kidney beaters’, and directly reflect their lively spirit in their use in shows.
The Colorful Details
‘Kidney beaters’, attached to the crupper back strap, are typically coloured in bright scarlet or yellow. These colourful highlights are then matched with the leather on the face drop and under the saddle, creating a unified and visually appealing aesthetic.
Use in Shows
During shows, horses and ponies donning the coster harness are hitched to brightly painted vehicles. In keeping with the flamboyant theme, their manes and tails are often intricately plaited with wool and adorned with cheerful pompoms. This combination of vivid colours and striking details ensures that coster harnesses stand out, capturing attention and admiration.
Whips
Whips play a crucial role in horse driving, acting not as a tool for punishment, but as an instrument to direct and occasionally correct a horse’s movements. The design and construction of whips vary, with the materials ranging from various types of wood, providing different visual appeals and weights.
Usage and Handling
Typically, a whip is carried in the right hand, ensuring it is always accessible when required. However, correct usage is vital for maintaining a good relationship with the horse and ensuring effective communication during a ride.
Materials and Construction
Whips are commonly crafted from holly but can also be made from blackthorn, yew, or hickory. A standard driving whip comprises a long stick to which a quill is attached, forming a bow at the top. This structure is then covered with solid black thread, and a thong of plaited hide is attached, ending in a lash.
Color and Length Preferences
While colored lashes have been produced, it is more traditional for lashes on driving whips to be plain. Whitening is generally avoided. The size of the whip varies greatly, with options ranging from a 15m long stick for a four-in-hand team down to a shorter 7.5m lady’s whip for a pony single turnout.
Handle Details
At the whip’s base, a leather-covered handle adorned with a metal cap or ferrule can be found. These cap or ferrule accents can be brass or silver, often matching the harness and vehicle fittings, and frequently bear the crest or monogram of the owner.
Variation of Whips
Although the straight stick is the most common design for whips, variations do exist, offering different features to meet specific needs and preferences.
Driving whips come in a wide range of designs to suit the specific preferences and needs of the user. From ‘dog-leg’ whips to ‘rabbit-bitten’ whips, and from jointed whips to those equipped with parasols, the options are diverse and colorful, offering something for everyone.
‘Dog-Leg’ and ‘Rabbit-Bitten’ Whips
‘Dog-leg’ whips feature an angular bend, providing a unique aesthetic and grip. On the other hand, ‘rabbit-bitten’ whips have a scarred appearance, giving them a distinct texture and visual appeal.
Jointed Whips
For ease of transport — particularly on coaches where spare equipment is carried — jointed whips have been designed. These whips can be easily broken down and stowed away, providing a convenient alternative to standard, rigid whips.
Whips with Parasols
Another interesting category within the world of whips is those equipped with parasols at the end. Introduced primarily for ladies to use during summer drives, these whips offer dual functionality, providing shade while driving and adding an element of charm and elegance to the drive.
Managing a Whip
The driving whip, a key piece of equine gear, requires detailed management for optimal use and long-lasting preservation. From the way it’s held to how it’s stored, each aspect contributes to its performance.
Correctly Holding a Whip
Ensure you grip the driving whip just below the ferrule for maximum comfort and control. This positioning aligns the whip with your hand’s natural grip, allowing more precise handling while driving.
Achieving Balance
A well-balanced whip significantly contributes to its ease of use. To ensure your whip is balanced, it should comfortably rest on your finger about one-third of its length down from the top of the stick. This position signifies a well-distributed weight which enhances wield-ability, permitting effortless and accurate use.
Whip Storage
Storing the whip correctly can prevent damage, specifically to the sensitive quill at the top. When not in use, a whip should ideally be hung on a whip reel. The reel ensures the whip hangs in a position that does not distort its shape or structure over time.
Whip Reel Alternatives
In case a whip reel isn’t readily available, a round, flat can nailed to the wall makes an effective substitute. This makeshift solution can provide the necessary hanging space to ensure the whip retains its form when stored.
Gloves
The key accessory in equine driving is a sturdy pair of gloves. Designed to enhance grip and prevent discomfort or injury, they play an integral role in managing the reins, especially when dealing with hard-pulling horses.
The Ideal Gloves for Driving
Driving gloves should be constructed from leather, with dog skin being a preferred choice due to its softness and durability. Thickness is of utmost importance as it serves as a buffer against the reins cutting into the hands.
When selecting the size, it is smart to go for gloves that are half a size larger or approximately 25mm longer in the fingers. Tight gloves can restrict blood flow, causing numbness in the fingers, hence larger gloves ensure both comfort and flexibility.
Preparing for Wet Weather
Wet weather can have an adverse effect on leather gloves, making them slippery and compromising your control over the reins. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have a spare pair of gloves made of crocheted string on hand for such circumstances. These provide a useful alternative as they maintain grip even when wet.
Quarter Sheets
Apart from rugs and aprons that ensure the driver’s comfort, the horses also necessitate some level of protective clothing. Quarter sheets, primarily designed to cover the horse’s loins, emerge as an effective solution against elements when the horses stand still.
The Benefits of Quarter Sheets
While full-size rugs might be the first thing that comes to mind for providing horses with cover, they can be bulky to store and challenging to put on or remove in a hurry. On the contrary, quarter sheets are compact, easy to handle, and offer efficient protection for the horse against elements such as wind, rain, or cold.
Securing the Sheets
Quarter sheets are typically secured under the backstrap, ensuring they stay in place even during movement. Alternatively, they can also be attached with a loop hooked onto the pad or saddle. This flexibility in fastening allows for quick adjustments and ensures the horse’s comfort at all times.
Spares Kit
A fully equipped spares kit is a driving essential, ensuring preparedness for unforeseen emergencies. A well-stocked kit can be the difference between a minor setback and a ruined day, preserving safety and peace of mind.
Essential Components
Key items to have in your spares kit include hame straps, traces, and reins. As critical parts of the harness, having these extras on hand can quickly rectify any unexpected equipment failure, helping to maintain control and safety.
Additional Useful Items
Alongside these harness components, a few other items can prove highly practical in case of trouble. A good, sharp knife can help manage all sorts of issues, from cutting off tangled pieces to adjusting makeshift solutions.
Pieces of leather are versatile materials that can help mend a range of equipment issues. Lastly, a set of matches can be beneficial, especially in colder weather conditions when the need for creating warmth might arise.
Rugs and Aprons
Knee rugs and aprons, although optional, often define the aesthetics and functionality of driving attire. They preserve the tidiness of the driver’s clothes, sheltering them from dust, flying horse hairs, and dirt from reins.
Aprons: Convenience and Design
Aprons secured with a leather strap provide the utmost convenience during the ride. To ensure maximum comfort and protection, aprons should be designed wide enough to wrap around the body completely.
These essential garments vary based on the seasons. Light, linen aprons with a Tattersall check pattern serve as perfect summer wear. For colder weather demanding additional warmth and protection, Bedford cord aprons in a shade known as ‘drab’ are often preferred.
Rugs: Protect and Impress
Large rugs, specifically crafted from boxcloth and lined with either checked tweed or fur, were traditionally created for use with coachmen-driven carriages and coaches. For greater resilience to weather, rugs made of waterproof materials were also manufactured.
Personalization is a popular way to add a touch of elegance to rugs and aprons. An owner’s crest or monogram can be incorporated, provided the emblem is small and subtly positioned.
Dressing for Show Day
On show day, a Hackney pony driver must present themselves in a tidy and smart outfit. A sharp jacket and hat— a bowler hat, to be specific—add flair. A knee rug or apron not only protects the clothes but also maintains the cleanliness of the overall appearance.
Gloves, made of dogskin and half a size too large to allow the fingers to move freely, are essential for a good grip on the reins.
