S. Lenihan’s harness

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  • December 29, 2010 at 8:49 pm #42251
    near horse
    Participant

    I was looking at Simon’s website and saw some pics of his harness – Varmland is the “maker” I think. Interesting D-ring style (?) from Sweden. Better off to go to his website than to have me post a pic here.

    http://www.celtichorselogging.com/?Harness

    December 31, 2010 at 8:07 am #64366
    simon lenihan
    Participant

    Geoff,
    It is said that the new england d- ring harness was developed from the swedish design. The varmlands harness has been around for over two hundred years and has not changed in design up to the present day. This harness is light, durable, strong and has many advantages over other collars used today. regards, simon lenihan

    December 31, 2010 at 11:10 pm #64365
    Gabe Ayers
    Keymaster

    Simon,

    I thought you used a Sugar Valley Collar on Sultan? I know the harness is different from anything we have in the states – simple, strong and long lasting. We hope to convert some of our harness to use the Norweign back pads on our Yankee d-ring some time this spring.

    January 1, 2011 at 1:40 am #64367
    simon lenihan
    Participant

    jASON,
    The varmlands harness is mostly used on geldings and mares being similar shape wise to american half sweeney collars. The finn harness which is similar to the varmlands in alot of ways except for the design of the hames which are curved more on top to allow for a heavly crested neck like you get on stallions. This finn harness is not made in sweden any more so we switched to the sugar valley full sweeney pulling collar, excellent collar. The design of the swedish harness has not changed in 200 years, the cloth material on the face of the collar wicks away sweat. The front of the collar is open to allow more air to circulate and the bottom hames strap can be easily opened during breaks and pushed back to expose the shoulder without unharnessing. The back pads are pivoted on a steel bar which allow for free movement and again leaves air circulate over the back and withers.
    simon lenihan

    January 1, 2011 at 2:42 am #64372
    mitchmaine
    Participant

    Simon,
    I was looking through you photos on your website, trying to see differences and similarities in your harness and the d-ring. The obvious thing to me was not seeing any kind of a neckyoke or sidebackers. It was difficult for me to see how your team held back the load on a pole? Nice looking harness. Clean and simple. Wondering if you could elaborate a bit more on the harness. It doesn’t seem to have a tug. But rather the shafts clip into the ring? And when you are twitching single on the ground are there chains to the spreader? From the same rings? I can make the leap from your harness to ours. Pop a ring in where the sidebacker crosses the tug and you have a d-ring harness.
    Congrats on winning your forestry award. The prince of wales as well. Wow.
    I got a chance to meet Your second place winner, Frankie woodgate, while she was tuning up one of her horses at jon waterers farm in devon. Great people. Beautiful country. Hope your new year is a good one.

    mitch

    January 1, 2011 at 9:44 pm #64368
    simon lenihan
    Participant

    Mitch,
    The varmlands harness is very similar to the d-ring harness.The collar / hames / front tug and back band are one piece. The britchin clips on to the o ring as does the rear tug. The reason for this is that you can work the horse on a wagon using a shaft set up, remove the shafts and then just clip on the rear trace. The harness can be used with a pole or shaft
    plus points.
    very light and strong, easy to harness and unharness, in case of an emergency you can remove the harness quickly by slipping of the bottom hames strap and cutting the girth strap and belly band and lift the harness straight off. Very quick to convert from working in shafts back to ground skidding. Air circulates around collar and keeps horse cool. Can work in steep ground using shafts. Back pad flex with horses movements. The front tugs can be adjusted, there is up to 3 inches adjustment in the hames to get the correct tug point. I hope the pics come out all right.
    simon lenihan

    January 1, 2011 at 10:49 pm #64370
    Does’ Leap
    Participant

    Simon:

    How much is varmlands harness?

    George

    January 1, 2011 at 11:50 pm #64369
    simon lenihan
    Participant

    George,
    Approx $2200 for a size 5 [ 25 inch collar ] expensive i know but i have seen 35 year old varmlands harness in sweden used daily.
    simon lenihan

    January 2, 2011 at 2:38 am #64371
    Simple Living
    Participant

    In searching I found this website that has some very nice PDF’s of the Varmlands Harness. A good harness maker could make one here in the states with just a copy of these.

    http://tarnsjogarveri.se/arbetsselar.php

    Gordon

    January 2, 2011 at 2:53 am #64373
    mitchmaine
    Participant

    simon,
    thank you for the photographs. interesting collar and hames. the throat is very open. wonderful harness. thanks again.

    mitch

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