[drivingpairs] Re: Tjeerd Velstra Book or Tapes--Bar Design

Kathy,

Thanks for the detailed explanation. Can you get some measurements from your
bars. What material did you say they were made of?? I also used a marathon
vehicle in the clinic with Sterling. Being a newbie I want my groom to have
quick access to my horses . I think I will be using a neck collar on my
wheeler. I like the idea of quick release buckles.

Thanks Again

Ansley
----- Original Message -----
From: kathy robertson <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 1:07 AM
Subject: [drivingpairs] Tjeerd Velstra Book or Tapes--Bar Design


>
> Hi Dave,
>
> Can you get a copy of the Velstra book or tapes to see
> the leader bars he uses?  Also gives you a good view
> of how he connects the bars to wheeler breast collar.
> There is a center clip on one centered breast collar
> ring, then a strap arrangement with quick
> release-BUCKLE straps for the sides of breast collar,
> holding up ends of tandem bars.  We did the center
> ring and clip, had a team horse neckstrap, attached to
> shoulder strap, to hold up front of breast collar
> weight.  I don't think I would want heavier bars, in
> stainless.  I don't know if wood could stand up to
> what WE want leader bars to do.  More power and bigger
> load than Jay's ponies have to manage.  (NOT a pony
> slam here!!)
>   We didn't have any have quick-release BUCKLES, so we
> just made regular buckle-in-straps, to hold up the
> leader bar ends, on the breastcollar, and tie into the
> traces for pulling loads.  This holds the wheeler side
> of bars vey quiet, allows leader traces to pull
> straight back, to vehicle, if leader is put in draft.
>   We used square stock, painted, with ring loop ends
> holding quick-release SHACKLES, on the leader,
> singletree side.  Velstra shows a collared leader
> singletree end, to slip his loop-end traces over.  We
> are big on quick-release SHACKLES, consider them a
> faster release.  Painted is easy to maintain, quick
> shot of spray paint, look like new!  Dark color is
> good!
>
>   Connection of leader and wheeler pieces was wide
> nylon seatbelt strapping, wound around both bars,
> centered and bolted closed.  Not much space between
> the two bars, just enough for the strap's bolt.
> Length of both bars was the width of wheelers chest
> (big horse!).  Strapping width prevented much of the
> terrible swinging of leader singletree.  Never had the
> wheeler get whacked with the leader bars, in the face
> or his knees. When leader was just standing, lead bars
> hung down wheeler's chest to end, just below his
> breast collar material.  Shackles hung lower, but were
> closed on D of leader traces.  We used our regular
> team horse, leader traces, in the last hole, for
> correct length.  Still got leader way out, where she
> stayed out of wheeler's way, but traces did not get
> down on the ground or curl around to catch a leg, even
> on tight turns.  I will try to measure how much length
> we gained with bars, tomorrow.
> We did not use the belly straps for leader traces.
> Something else to catch on hazard parts, or put a hoof
> in during a water crossing.
>
> Something else we did, was use the four-wheel vehicle,
> not a two-wheel cart.  Husband built vehicle.  Wheeler
> had the short, independent shafts, so no chance of
> shaft catching in leader bars.  He really liked the
> short shafts for bending.  Put no weight on his back,
> while spreading out his load onto four wheels.  We
> considered it easier on the horse and driver, than a
> cart.  Quieter ride and quiet hands was a plus.
> Quick-release BUCKLES on wheeler tug loops from
> Richard Holyoak, with large, flat, leather pads behind
> the short-shaft ends.  Wheeler could not get poked by
> shaft ends, even on tight turns.
>
> Our whole setup was designed with CDE in mind.  Not
> very traditional.  Horses liked and it worked well for
> us.  Kept tweaking it as we went along.  Haven't had
> it out for a while, memory is not 100% accurate.  I
> will try to measure up the rest of the harness, but we
> have BIG (17h) horses, not sure measurements will be
> of aid for smaller animals.
>
> We never used neck collars for Tandem in this pair of
> horses.  Not sure how I would attach the leader bars
> on neck collar setup.  Only used breast collar
> harness.
>
> Kathy Robertson
>
>
> > Further: The tandem bar
> > requires correct placing and harnessing, so that it
> > doesn't hit the wheeler
> > in the mouth, nor his knees nor the leader in his
> > hocks, so is another piece
> > of equipment needed which then can get in the way if
> > not properly set up. It
> > also adds a little extra weight which the wheeler
> > has to carry on his neck.
> > If done too heavy it ads more weight, if done to
> > light, may break.  All these
> > are the downsides of the tandem bar.
> >
> >
>
>
>
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