[drivingpairs] Re: Tandem Bars (long)

Ansley, the dimensions of tandem bars must be carefully calculated.  You know 
the 
old saying, measure twice, cut once?  Well in this case measure three or four 
times, cut a little long, and then trim to fit.

To ANY style harness, neck or breast, the strap in the middle of the wheeler 
bar 
supports the bars.  It can be looped around the base of the collar or through 
the 
kidney link, if so equipped.  This strap should be long enough so it never 
takes 
draft, but only supports the bars when OUT of draft.

Another critical measurement is the length of the straps from the end of the 
wheeler bar to the trace attachment point.  This would be where the traces 
buckle 
to the breast collar or to the short tugs on the hames of the neck collar. 
Tandem keys are appropriate in both cases. The bars should float a few inches 
in 
front of the wheelers chest.  The wheeler bar should be just long enough for 
the 
straps to run straight back from their ends to the point of attachment.  Not 
too 
long, or they might swing enough to slap the wheeler along side its face, which 
MOST critters do not like much!  <VBG>  I won't even try to give precise 
measurements, because it really depends on the conformation of the wheeler, and 
the style of harness you are using.

I changed the pivot a couple of times before I got what I wanted.  In the pics 
in 
my album at Picture Trail I used a quick link, which worked OK but let the 
leader 
bar swing too much.  I ended up with a double clevis of the type used to 
connect 
anchor chains to anchors.  Remember Buck's article about the connections to 
sailing?  <VBG>

Hope this all helps.  I can't wait until I get my new pony well enough trained 
to 
work into the tandem as a wheeler!

Drive Safely

Jay E Hubert
Coffing Oaks Welsh Ponies
Galt, CA

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good 
with ketchup.

And I STILL drive too fast to worry about cholesterol! 

_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.shtml
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: