Thank you, Trish, for taking the time to respond to my questions-I appreciate it very much! So-is the harness I describe, assuming proper fit of the collars and the remainder of the harness, suitable to use with a vis a vis? (Remembering that this is a mini-sized vehicle, and that the owner will likely NEVER do more than travel a parade route with it)...this harness 'came with' a little pair she just bought, and she did say the previous owners had driven them to a (mini)surrey. My friends does want to do things 'correctly', and has due consideration for the horses-something not always evident!( I am seeing more and more people driving minis who don't know ANYTHING about any part of it, esp. multiples...there seems to be this widespread perception that 'anyone' can train and drive minis-and IMO, it leads to a fair bit of misery for the horses, and often, unrecognized, and unacknowledged, danger to the drivers, and passengers, and even onlookers-it sometimes makes me crazy!) I want to say that I, too, very much agree with and support Dana's view regarding VSE breed organizations and their positions/traditions on things like overchecks, and breeching. I well recognize where 'fine harness' is called for, and the reasoning behind that--but also found Jan Tobey's points valid to consider.... In a different vein--Another question, Pair Listers, if you will--I do understand that bigger, heavier carriages, of the types used in elegant turnouts by pairs, four-in-hands, and the like, have brakes, and experienced and knowledgable drivers(or should, I am sure!), and that therefore, breeching can be 'done without' in those kinds of situations-perhaps, even with VSEs. My question is-are these vehicles required to be backed when in competition-and if they are, how is this accomplished, without breeching? Thanks in advance for your consideration in answering. Margo C-T