[drivingpairs] Calender-Breast Collar

If you check out the September picture of the pair,
the breast collars show off-set rings, on pole head
marathon vehicle.  Having them even more off-set,
would reduce the pulling sideways, but need bigger
chested animals.  You don't want ring on point of
shoulder.
  I still think you need length, on pole/pole head,
for vehicle control.  That gets it beyond horse chest,
for tight (marathon vehicle) turns. Horses can lift
heads for clearance, not the pole end.   For US, the
yoke works better.  Short pole with straight pull, no
sideways pulling, centered chest ring attachments.  We
do have off-set rings on Tedman leader harness, to use
with traditional carriage pole head.  Works fine even
though that is a long pole, when driving dressage
carriage.
  In true, built-for-pair marathon harness, the
shoulder strap is very wide.  Our big horses have
almost 4" shoulder strap.  Not the same as a converted
single harness to pair.  The neck strap also has a
support strap that comes around lower neck, to hold up
the front of the heavy padded breast collar.  Visible
in picture, but loose with pole up.  This harness has
off-set support strap, with only one ring on chest. 
Our neck support strap is centered to hang on chest,
with one center ring on wheelers, and run thru both
leaders (we have two rings, right and left on both
leaders) offset rings, so coupler strap doesn't pull
breastcollars down.  Yoke works with off-set rings
too. WE just wanted centered rings, we think they are
better for US. Many designs available.

I think September, Calendar girl Tracy posted above,
on pole heads.  My take on Bellcrown's UK higher sales
of pole heads, over yokes, is training.  There are a
LOT of traditionally trained drivers, trainers of
drivers, who also do Pleasure Carriages and CDE. 
Began training in nice carriages, with pole heads, so
they buy the same thing when getting a marathon
vehicle.  Yokes are not commonly seen in UK except on
drafts.  Can be stuck in thinking because of training
ideas, how you were taught.  Yokes are draft thing,
not CDE!

More U.S. drivers, start with cart for fun, find
driving clubs.  Get exposed to buggy pairs, drafts,
before CDE. Makes it easier to see the efficiency of
harnessing system.  Less of traditional, pole head,
carriage driving exposure.  Also yoke is more common,
any style, in the U.S.  U.S. drivers are quite willing
to try new things.
  Using a yoke with a team of four is unusual, but we
have been happy with it, horses move well.  Little
more work to hitch, planning pole springing,
clearances.  This is where do-it-yourself is VERY
handy.  Husband considers it a training challange. 
Horses stay sounder when moving straight, not pulled
sideways.  Happy horses are less challenge in other
parts of training.

If your pole is moving A LOT, it may need adjusting or
change.  We started with a Warco pair marathon
vehicle.
Springs are flat, broke easily with certain movements.
Got an evaluation of spring metal and changed the
hardness, setting of height for pole to carry itself. 
Had several extra sets made for spares.  Made the pole
ride steadier, carries yoke weight but still moves
easily. Taught us a lot, fixing this problem.
Springs on used vehicle may be tired, worn, partially
broke?, set for smaller animals.  Evaluate what can be
changed.  What results do you want?  Yoke ends can be
made locally, just attached to pole end.  Use quality
metal, EXPENSIVE snap shackle fasteners for quick
release.  Quality is more dependable for wear.  Make
any rings, loops, large, to prevent binding of harness
or snap shackle removal.  Aluminum yoke not
recommended, fractures easily.  Pad yoke and pole so
horses are not bruised.

Pole should carry itself easily, sideways pull is
driver problem.
  Change harness system, get horses pulling better,
moving straight, not away from pole, leaning, working
together.  Drive BOTH horses, not just the eager one. 
Move Pokey up, might relax Speedy.
  Competition driving is very different than just
cruising down the road.  Both are great, but demands
of harness, horses, vehicle are way different.  A few
tweaks here and there can make it easier on all. 
Driving should be FUN.

Kathy Robertson 

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