[drivingpairs] Re: Harness for VSE pair?

I would also like to get the advice of this community on Harness.  I'm in 
the market for a pairs harness for 15H Morgans.  I echo the concern about 
cost of the Smuckers for my pleasure use.  I've been using a Zilco for my 
single harness for 8 to 10 yrs and I'm seeing a fair amount of checking or 
weathering.  While I have enjoyed the easy care (hose it off), I'm feeling 
a little disappointed in it's longevity.  Many of the Biothane products 
look very nice and I would be very happy with them as new products, I'm 
sceptical based on my experience.  I'd be happy to hear of other's 
experience...  Have the products improved greatly in the last few years? 
Did I not care for them as well as I should have?
At this point I'm leaning toward purchase from Village Harness Shop in 
Bird in Hand PA.  I will be visiting my daughter in College in that area 
in a couple weeks.  It seems I can get their top of the line pairs harness 
in leather or leather Biothane combo in the $1,600 to $2,000 range.  I had 
them make a bridle to go with my Zilco harness way back and have been very 
happy with the product.

Rick Vanderploeg






"MARGARET TOWNSEND" <NAMGO@xxxxxxx> 
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02/02/2005 12:48 PM
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[drivingpairs] Harness for VSE pair?






  I would like to ask those here who drive multiple VSEs what 
recommendations you would make regarding harness-
and, versatile vehicles-I am actively 'shopping' for a mini pair harness, 
and would love to hear your experiences/recommendations! I have one set of 
pair harness-breast collar, patent accents, breeching system where the 
straps go under the belly to fasten to a ring on the end of the false 
martingale 'loop' around the girth. As pair vehicles, I have both a 
back-to-back trap from Golden Carriage(the harness I have was 'made' to 
use with this, and works just fine), and also a buckboard, for parades and 
such. 
  Though I don't anticipate being able to be a 'serious' CDE competitor-am 
too far from competitons,too old to get fully involved, have no one to 
help, live on a limited income,and honestly, am kind of reluctant to have 
what I do for fun be too much work(as in all that 'spiffing up' for the 
dressage/presentation portion of such competitions)-just to mention a 
few...however, I am one who will do without lots of things to be able to 
have something I REALLY want---and as long as I can balance that with the 
realities of my finances, I will 'go for it'!
  I have given thought to getting neck collars instead of breast collars, 
but wonder if I dare, given the difficulty in getting a correct fit that I 
read so much about! I want this harness, BTW, to use with the buckboard, 
but also possibly with a marathon-type vehicle, or at least, something 
light, tough, yet comfortable, that I could trail drive, but also use for 
at least "fun" marathon-type events-in other words, don't feel I need 
harness specifically 'pointed toward' marathon use, but more versatile? 
Here is where I would also appreciate your opinions and experiences 
regarding vehicles, as I have outlined above! I would like to hear 
thoughts about beta vs. leather,too,please! 
I do love brass, but realize that stainless is probably 'better' for ease 
of care-and I certainly am all for that(see above!)
  My horses are 34" and 32"; that is the size range I will stay in, as all 
of my other horses, whom I might pair up to drive, are also in the 33+" to 
34" range, and very similar in body build. My 'everyday' singles harnesses 
are Smuckers Lite, in russet-in use for many years now-a Smuckers 
Pleasure, in black, and a Lutke fine show harness(Dale Lutke is a highly 
regarded maker of patent over betathane show harness for small ponies and 
minis.)I like them all; am in the process of selling the Lutke, because I 
am pretty much through with the mini breed show ring. I am very fond of 
Smuckers, but simply can't afford a Deluxe pairs harness from them(which I 
what I 'think' I would love to have!?)
  Sorry this is so long, but wanted to give everyone a good idea of where 
I am 'coming from'...any and all responses will be deeply appreciated-off 
list, if it seems prudent, so as not to clutter things up here? My email 
is NAMGO@xxxxxxx .
  Thanks to all!
  Margo Cox-Townsend


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