English Harness

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  • April 7, 2013 at 9:50 am #78326
    JaredWoodcock
    Participant

    The simple chain english harness has always appealed to me from the pictures I have seen in the small farmers journal, It seems easily constructed from common things you have around the farm and also easily adapted to different horses. Some versions seem to carry the line of draft like a d ring harness but they use chain instead of leather.

    http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/suffolk%20punch

    Does anyone on here have experience using these harnesses and are willing to share their opinions?

    Jared

     

    April 11, 2013 at 6:54 am #78454
    Jeroen
    Participant

    In France you often see a similar type of harness: collar, chain tugs, straps to hold them of the ground and a cruper to keep the hame and these straps in place. Worked with it and its easy to harness, but the chains rub the schoulders when you don’t have wide hames and because there is no belly band you often have a line of draft  that is not good. Especially when logging this bothers the horse.

    Horseloggers use this style of harness which does not have that problem, very easy harness, no contact with the shoulders while pulling:

    For other work I use the farm harness with rope tugs, also used when pulling carts, then a pad and breechen is used. These are from Holland, but you also see them in France:

     

    April 11, 2013 at 9:50 pm #78491
    Mac
    Participant

    I use wood hames and chains with backbands only for plowing and heavier work, and sometimes for mowing, raking, and pulling a wagon. Its easier to throw up on them and drag off at the end of the day. Jeroen, one thing I admire about the French and Dutch style of working horses is the use of only one line. Well, that and the bells. I’m the only one around here that puts bells on their team.

    Mac

    April 12, 2013 at 1:20 am #78492
    Jeroen
    Participant

    The one line is fantastic, you have to teach man and horse and its not easy. Have seen it a lot, but never succeeded myself. Never found a mentor.

    The bells we have, but use only for carriage rides. Especially the sound of the big ones on top is great:

     

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