FWIW, I bought two single harnesses from Claudette Robinson of Country Carriages and drive them as pair so I will share the differences I see. #1 is the breastcollars (if that is what you use single). The pair would have a ring on the breast collar to attach the pole strap. Now if I were sure of the horses, I would purchase one of those huge caribeaner-type snaps that would go around the breastcollar I have and hook my pole straps temporarily to that. To keep the breastcollar comfortable for the horse, I would then put on a pad (if you don't customarily use one anyway). The traces are the same but you run them through the tugs/shaft hangers (which ever you call it) to support them on the way to the singletrees. I would also add a small strap to the breeching ring to act as a trace hanger there as well. Now of the breeching. I got two straps that fasten to the breeching rings but are longer than the breeching straps that would normally wrap your shafts. These new straps are long enough to reach the buckles of the breastcollar and buckle in to the same buckle as (and under) the traces. Be sure you have a false martingale on the breastcollars so that when the horses stop, the pole doesn't just pull the breast collars over their heads (but breeching should stop that). Now that is about it as far as the differences. I bought new breastcollars that are wider and heavier than the single ones but if you have good quality single ones and they fit well, you could make some arrangement like I suggested. PLEASE note, I haven't driven pair much and are just starting out again after a long dry spell so these are only observations from my own limited experience and a summary of some professional advice I recieved. You have to know your horses and if you believe this to be safe. There was an article on this list about 6-9 months ago about how to make a single harness work for pair so you should look that up. If you can't find it, let me know because I think I saved it somewhere. Good Luck Linda Ocala,FL >From: "Anya Getman" <agetman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Reply-To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [drivingpairs] I'm your 2nd worst nightmare >Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 09:40:28 -0400 (EDT) > > >While we're at it, I'm a currently single horse Doctor's Buggy driver, >strapped for cash (absolutely broke, about to get married July 6, just >built 10 stalls, a 16' wide culvert, and enclosed an extra 5 acres in >electric fencing while working a day job), with a wonderful black 24 year >old standardbred mare I'm losing soon, after the wedding, to a new owner >(zoning and an annoying neighbor who insists on my keeping my numbers >legal, while I'm trying to keep Uncle Sam happy with a business, leasing >mares to produce marketable warmbloods). > >I have a pair hitch for the Doctor's Buggy (meant for the fully restored >Doctor's Buggy, even, with a new shaft), and would like to hitch a few of >my breeding mares up as a pair with the old girl while I still have her, >as she will keep them from running into a ditch the first few times (and >we have some big mother drainage ditches here in SE Michigan). I have 2 >single harnesses, in wonderful condition, but don't have $1000+ to spend >to get a "proper" pairs harness, just to transition these other horses to >drive single once they have the feel. I can't find an affordable used >pair harness to save my life, anywhere! I don't have yokes. I'll happily >buy pairs reins (I can swing a couple hundred for something I can always >convert later), but I've been looking in vain for a reference, or a few >sentences, that can help me "properly jimmy" the two single harnesses to >fit the pair hitch. I would gladly buy $50+ heavy duty quick releases to >accomplish this, as long as someone, somewhere, has a decent clue about >what I should and shouldn't do ... also, does anyone know of a reasonable >source for pairs reins, preferably 3/4 inch and black, but if someone has >used purple polka dot ones for a reasonable price, I'll take them! The >mares range from 15 to 16.3 hands, and my harnesses are cob and full sized >to accommodate these size differences. They'll only be paired at the walk >and slow trot on gravel and grass (some paved), all on the flat. > >Can anyone help? Time is running out to try this pairing before my >wonderful old girl has to find another home. > >I was offered by a nice perosn in Lansing to some see her set up, and I >might find time to take her up on it someday, but I have been swamped >between wprk and side business to take the time to drive to lansing to >take her up on her offer. At hjome I can take out an hour here or there >to actually harness, and my boarders help harness and ride along. > >Thanks! >Anya > > > >_________________________________________________________ >To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: >http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html >````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` > _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail _________________________________________________________ To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````