[drivingpairs] Harness--Details
- From: kathy robertson <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 07:13:25 -0800 (PST)
>I would want my equipment and horses to
> be equal to the task. I do admire the turnouts that
I see in the driving magazines.
> I appreciate your opinion about the breast
> collars and neck collars. I am very cognizant of
keeping my equines clean and comfortable. When I
started
> driving I prevailed upon DH to install a hot water
> heater in the barn so the horses could have warm
water. I think your comments about the fit of harness
are very valuable, so much so that I am printing out
> your post.
Lucky You! Hot water in the barn! It is on the list
here, of maybe, someday...
I mentioned the full collars, fit, cleanliness,
because it takes so very LITTLE time to burn a horse
under the collar. Seems to be much less time, than
any other stuff not perfectly clean, like saddle
blankets, girths.
> I probably will purchase the pairs harness from
> either Camptown or Nearside Harness. I like the
styling and apparent fit better than what is available
> at the Amish shops.
Camptown Dave is on this list. Barb Lee of Nearside
Harness might be, she is working on a pair. I have
also heard great things of both shops products.
Measurements are the great factor in getting good fit.
Telling harnessmakers what you plan to do with
harness. They might have suggestions for alternate
designs, that would suit you better.
> Ansley,
> I know what you mean about the downward pressure
> on the neckstrap. Darn!
> Here I was becoming pretty satisfied with the idea
> of breast collars until you posted. Hmm, I think
I'll go with breast collars and pads for right now.
> Then, prehaps I'll drop by the local driving club at
> one of their competitions and see what I can learn
about the neck collars. I like the idea of freeing up
> the shoulder area, although I haven't had any rubs
> from my breast collars.
> Judy
Ansley's remarks are good to consider. Also visiting
shows, competitions to look at turnouts. This goes
back to driver looking at vehicle, animals, what kind
of job horses are expected to perform.
The neckstrap is needed for breastcollars. HOWEVER,
many folks do not drive their pairs using PAIR
designed harness. They have two single harnesses,
that are converted to pair driving with strap
modifications. It is less expensive, fast. This
leaves the smaller, single horse neckstrap, on the
breastcollar. This strap is taking a bigger load than
designed for, so it can dig in more. Not wrong, just
something to remember.
In a Pairs harness, especially the modern Marathon
type harness, the neckstrap is much wider than single
horse harness. Front of heavier, padded breastcollar
is supported with a second support strap running thru
the loops on chest. The neck strap going over
shoulders, is very wide. Ours is at least 4 inches
wide. As much or more surface on horse, as a full
neck collar. Full collar also pulls the top of neck
for halts, turns of carriage, in a pair.
Each kind of harness is designed to work with
appropriate vehicles, it is a whole system. Using too
short a pole on antiques is very hard for horses to
control load, pulls harness sideways, not forward.
However having a long pole on a marathon vehicle, is
changing the leverage factor, probably poor choice for
spring pole support going over sharp, short hills.
Can break the flat springs holding pole up. Short
pole, full collars, might work if driver helps with
brakes to prevent sideways pull for halts, downhills.
Lot of motion in marathon type conditions, spring
pole, moving collars around neck. Long pole also
makes whole outfit longer for short hazard turns, will
change how you can fit. Drop poles with yokes, all
pull down on neck, whether collar or neck strap. Not
really a problem on light surrey going down the flat
road. Not good when going on hills, harness has to be
tighter to prevent pole dropping out of yoke, as
horses manage the load. Horses never get relief from
neck pressure, carrying pole and holding vehicle.
This is why I said lots of knowledge is good. You
can tweak or change styles, to suit what you are doing
now.
Some horses have a good shoulder angle, carry collar
well. Others do not. Maybe shoulder is layed back
too far. Perhaps ready-made hames have eye in the
wrong place, making a poor angle for THIS horse, in a
full collar. Depending on shoulder angle, a collar
can free up the shoulder, or really bind horse up,
sore him. Fitting full collar is everchanging. Fat
neck, conditioned neck, developing neck, all will fit
the collar differently. Some folks use pads. It can
get expensive having different collar sizes for each
condition of neck, to maximize horse power, comfort.
Job demands can change what is acceptable for driver.
Drafts in farm, daily use, use pads more often. Pace
of work is often slower, but steady. Light horses
usually go quicker, more motion of horse and harness.
Chafing and poor fit can be much more irritiating to
animals, sore them quickly.
As said, lots to consider, look at, when harnessing.
Just don't pick something specific and critisize it.
The whole outfit is what you have to view. Lots of
folks are very happy with full collars, used
comfortably for many years. Others have the same good
experience with breastcollar harness. We don't use
breeching 99% of the time!! Wrong, right? Depends
on what we are doing, what carriages we are driving,
WHO IS LOOKING!
I enjoy discussing harness, details. Gives me a new
look at why we do it this way. Sometimes doing
something a bit different is the only way to see if it
will/won't, work in your job.
Kathy Robertson
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