Harness Fit Opinions Wanted

Looks pretty good. The top of the britchen could come forward abit. The flat piece at the top of the britchen should sit in that flat hollow ahead of the rump. The shaft loops look like they could be a bit lower or snugged down a bit. Definately need a belly band for the shaft loops. You could likely order one from meader supply.

I am pleased with the placement of the britchen body itself. Neither too high nor too low. If you do tighten the straps that go from the britchen spider to the hames, you will need to let out the straps on the britchen spider so as not to bring the britchen body up.

In the first photo where the horse is stationary, the slack in the traces makes me wonder if maybe you could go one hole tighter on the holdbacks. But looking at the second photo, I’m not sure. Might be just fine.

No crouper/crupper?

The loops that carry the shafts look like they allow for quite a bit of vertical travel. With this kind of cart the shafts are going to have a tendency to raise up a bit, particularly when stopping. If you stay with your current shaft carriers, you might want to construct what is called a “wrap strap”. This is a strap that snugs around one shaft (usually by take a couple wraps, then buckling to itself), goes under the horse, then snugs around the other shaft. Basically anchors the shafts down. But then you would have THREE straps passing under the horse in the girth area.

Wondering at the shaft carriers you have there. Is there a buckle on the other side and you are two feet shy of being able to fasten the buckle? Or is there a piece missing – a 2′ long belly band with a buckle on either end?

Perhaps instead of getting a belly band for these shaft carriers, you should trade them out for a new set that are adjustable-height and have a belly band.

http://www.mydrafthorse.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=333

Make sure you clip them to the back pad with the tongue of the clip facing toward the horse and not facing out. Easy to get a line trapped in there.

Looks pretty good, all-in-all!

Carl, could also be that the collar is new. Sometimes with a new collar it stands up off the shoulder like that until some of the convexity of the back of the collar is broken-in. Then it seems to rest more naturally against the shoulder.

Here is a picture with shafts closer to the point of the shoulder. It’s closer than it looks, he has a very thick winter coat. Carl go ahead and correct me if I am wrong.

Here is a picture of something similar to or exactly what Grey is talking about. Just behind his shoulder there are two loops. One closest to his arm that goes down towards his belly (wrap strap) and the one behind that goes up towards his back pad where it is connected. My belly band happens to have a loop of leather that wrap strap was run through (like a belt loop) so that it is secured to the belly band. This way there are not two straps in contact with my horses stomach.

I have it sitting here on the floor next to me if you want a picture of it, I still need to get it repaired.
Does everyone prefer a link to the photo or the thumbnail in the post?

Grey,you could be right about the collar,hard to tell without being there.

fogish,your right.

CT, I usually run my tugs inside the loop straps and outside the backpad cinch. You could lower the loops by using one of those screw together chain repair links(never can remember what they’re called).

carl ny

@fogish 39075 wrote:

Does everyone prefer a link to the photo or the thumbnail in the post?

Where is the photo? Sorry im a bit jurrasic when it comes to computers

I’m glad you posted that, fogish – I couldn’t find the links either. The color of the linked text blended in with the rest of the text. I had to look for my mouse pointer to change to find the link.