Harness makers

[jen judkins]

I’m thinking about ordering a second custom D-ring harness. Can anyone recommend a harness maker in the Northeast? I have heard good things about Peach Lane and have their number. I want biothane, not leather. Thanks.

[Mark Cowdrey]

I have had good luck w Peach Lane altho I have never ordered anything big from them. I find them prompt & reasonable.

Mark

[bradley]

I think that is what you call them. on D ring harness from hame to d ring. meader doesn’t have them and they said they will be getting to 25″ which is still too big. I guess from an ad that peach lane doesn’t do leather. thought maybe might have some used parts laying around.. Thanks, Bradley

[Plowboy]

Our local shop isn’t a d ring believer so I guess Peach Lane is probably a good source given that they do make the parts. I have been to their shop and they make good nylon harness for decent prices. I am not sold on Biothane although they say it is improved now. Many early biothane harness tore where the stitching went through. It always sticks in my mind so I stick with leather and nylon. There are also good biothane shops in Ohio but I would have to get there contact info from a friend but I don’t think you’ll go wrong with Abner at Peach Lane.

[Mark Cowdrey]

Bradley,

You can cut down your own front tugs to the size you need and re-install the trace clip W/ rivets or small machine screws/”stove bolts”. No need to buy them exactly the right size.

Mark

[Gabe Ayers]

Bradley-
I have recently cut and re-adjusted my d-ring harness and Jen Judkins as well (both ordered in biothane from Meader Supply) to make the front tugs about 18″ in length. This measurement is critical to fit on that type of harness, as the d-ring should be positioned just behind the front leg, and the belly band should make contact with the back of the legs as the horse strides forward. Most harness makers with stock d-ring harnesses make the front tugs much, much too long, which places the d-ring in the middle of the flank. This adjustment will make your horse more comfortable as well as really improving the draft. Let me know if you want more details, or and check out Les Barden’s materials on d-ring harness fit – he offers a wealth of good information on this subject.
-Brad

[Mark Cowdrey]

Brad,

A direct side shot photo showing the D-ring location would be helpful if you can post one.

Thanks,

Mark

[jen judkins]

Brad, As we discussed this weekend, I don’t know anyone who has been happy with the length of the front hame strap from Meaders. So while its nice to be able to adjust the harness…I enjoyed operating on mine with you this weekend immensely:D,… it would be even nicer to get some feedback back to Meaders and its suppliers, so we wouldn’t have to:eek:.

[Carl Russell]

jenjudkins;12843 wrote:

…… it would be even nicer to get some feedback back to Meaders and its suppliers, so we wouldn’t have to:eek:.

Good luck with that. You wouldn’t be the first. Les Barden lives a little over 3 miles from there. They just sell whatever people keep buying. I have gotten every pair of traces I have ever bought custom made. I get 3 layers of seat belt nylon continuously wrapped covered by leather. Stronger that leather, more comfortable than nylon. The only thing I buy from Meaders is bits and shoes. They buy all their harnesses from one-size-fits-all Amish manufacturers. I even tried to talk with one of their suppliers, and they just don’t know the D-Ring harness and I couldn’t get what I asked for, and had to send it back….twice.

[Carl Russell]

Oh by the way Jen, I know you mean “Front Trace”.

And I know everybody has their right to a preference, but in my mind horse harnesses are made out of leather. I just can’t imagine the point in having anything but a leather harness. Do you have biothane saddles?

Carl

[Mark Cowdrey]

While I would not contradict anyone’s experience, and while I have sometimes bought from “away” rather than pay Meader’s prices, I try to make sure that I buy a portion of what I need each year from them as I want them to be there (meaning, here) when I need them. I also find the there staff courteous & helpful when I do shop there.

Mark

[Carl Russell]

I meant nothing different, just that because they sell a lot of harness does not make them a good or knowledgeable source for harnesses.

Carl

[Gabe Ayers]

We had a thread on this once somewhere.

Peach Lane made our shorter front traces to be 18-19 inches, upon request,

BUT you have to remind them to make the back trace longer to make up for what they take off the front. They forgot or didn’t recognize the need to make the back trace longer on ours. On a big long mare with enough room in her barrel to carry groceries and a foal – the overall length gets to short after correcting the front to keep it from blousing out excessively and letting the back pad and belly band ride to far back. When you working a low hitch or dragging a double tree around these shorter traces on a long horse sometimes hits their heels, even when let out all the way.

So make sure you make the back ones longer when you custom shorten the front ones. These fellows are making this harness off patterns they have and unless we specify the changes piece by piece they will make them exactly like the rest of the patterns.

I’ve heard Les Barden has arch plans now, maybe we can get him to make a Dr. D-Ring harness pattern?

[Livewater Farm]

after reading all these comments about how hard it is to get the type of harness that we in the east like and want I am playing with the idea of setting up my harness shop once again
FOR 15 YEARS BETWEEM 1985 AND 2000 I operated a full service harness shop on my farm in Whitingham Vermont made everything from dring traces to basket britchings and complete harmness as well as repairs closed it down and stored it away when I moved to my present farm and set up an organic dairy now that the farm is established I HAVE MORE TIME for a new project
I quess I am looking for a little push here to invest in materials and get set up again is there enough local interest out there to support this project I have sewing machines and all the necessary hand tools and such would need to convert a space buy leather and beta materials oils and it would be quite an investment feed back please

Bill Acquaviva
Livewater Farm
Westminster West Vt

[Carl Russell]

Sounds really good Bill.

I can’t say my business would float you, but I miss the days of walking into a little harness shop and getting exactly what you are looking for.

I have been playing with the idea of setting up enough equipment to I have is pretty rudimentary.

At the very least I would definitely call on you for some work, and probably want to get some of your knowledge and skill to rub off on me.

Carl

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