"D" ring update

[Donn Hewes]

Here are some pictures from the cutting and reassembling of the first harness. I used it for the first time today plowing a little snow. I worked one D ring with two non d rings and that is a little hard to get it to hold the tongue up properly. All in all I was happy with the way the harness looked on the horse and am eager to make some more.

I was hoping to make them all the same size, but after setting this one on the mule he definitely needs a smaller front tug. Maybe two inches shorter.

I have worked him with blinders for the last two years but today I decided to try him with out. No conclusions ,but he went fine. Nice to work three open faced.

He got his curb chain hook caught on the ring of the neck yoke. Hard to get off, but I saw it happening and was able to get to his head (Maryrose helped) and free him before he got too upset. I have used a leather strap in place of the chain on many bridles and much prefer it. One thing the leather curb does is hold it shape witch makes it easier to put the bridle on and off.

[LStone]

Looks like the real thing Donn. Good for you!

[dominiquer60]

I don’t know enough about harness fit to comment on that at all, but i think it is slick how you were able to make the change without making a single stitch on the traces, great job.

Erika

[mitchmaine]

great photos of work in progress. easy to follow along. great job.

mitch

[CharlyBonifaz]

thanks big time! for the selfexplanatory pictures

[grey]

Oooo I bet it was hard to make the first slice through perfectly good leather traces!

Did you seal the cut ends on the stitching? Or tie them off?

[grey]

How did you attach the end of the fore tug to the D-ring?

[Donn Hewes]

Grey, I didn’t do anything to the cut ends of stitching. It probably would be a good idea to, but I couldn’t see an easy way to. The metal repair clip does cover and hold those thread ends though. Yes, it was a little hard to cut into good tugs. The repair clips obviously don’t go on the D ring so at first I was a little stumped. Mitch explained that after I cut it and repair it I can simply flip it end for end and put the repair clip at the hames and put the all leather end on the ring where they will absorb some of the shape. The D ring unbolts so you can slip straps on (the rear tug is attached at the bolt). You can see in the last picture the shine rivets are where the new repair clips are.

It is all ways interesting to see the under side of some of the parts I am taking off. One quarter strap was almost through. Other britchens will need a few more copper rivets before they go back out! I can make some nice new market straps from the breast straps I am taking off.

[Rod]

Nice job Donn and photos but I was trying to see around the horses in the picture to the plow. We are still waiting for our first snow but I have my plow ready and an anxious to try it out.

[simon lenihan]

Top class job.
simon lenihan

[Andy Carson]

Looks great! Have your horses been in a D-ring harness before? Did they take to it right away?

[grey]

@Donn Hewes 22756 wrote:

Mitch explained that after I cut it and repair it I can simply flip it end for end and put the repair clip at the hames and put the all leather end on the ring where they will absorb some of the shape.

OHH! Yes, makes perfect sense and now that you say it, it is perfectly obvious.

[TaylorJohnson]

Very cool , great job. Taylor JOhnson

[OldKat]

Donn,

Darn nice job on the D ring and also on the step by step photo documentation. Almost feel as if I could do it myself, just by looking at the pictures.

[Donn Hewes]

Those pictures were from the first few minutes of a D ring harness for any of my horses. Even with the tongue not being held up right (the suspension doesn’t really work well when only one of three is wearing a D ring harness), that mare seemed very comfortable with it. She is a pretty easy going horse.

I took off the trace carriers from her harness; so far I like that but would be interested in other opinions. Started my second harness, but it was in worse shape starting out. Hand to go to the collection of old tugs to find one I could cut. I am waiting for a Christmas present of copper rivets from Midwest Leather so I can make repairs to the britchen and spider straps.

Anyone not familiar with putting in a solid copper rivet to repair your own harness?

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