videos tell all (D-ring Harness Discussion)

[Ira]

@Neil Dimmock 2888 wrote:

Well that was fun , if you pull down on the tug it will pull down on the collar. ie, like when the belly band is to short,

Okay, I’m following you there

if set up right the d ring is not a bad harness

I mostly agree with that statement

but it is so rarely set right that all the extra weight added to the pole makes it worse

What extra weight is added???Where is it coming from??

and a small adjustment out of whack and its adding weight,

What adjustment and where is the weight coming from????

and most that drive rarely have a collar or a bridle fit right so for them to figure out this contraption !!!!

I’m not sure what you mean by this statement??

Ira

[Carl Russell]

Hey Ira, I think there is common misunderstanding about the relationship between the belly band, pack pad, d-ring, and front trace, so that it may appear to some, that weight added to the front side strap goes to the d-ring then back to the collar.

I know that you are aware of this, but I’ll throw in my two cents about d-ring adjustment.

If the collar is fit appropriately, and the back pad is adjusted so that the front trace is 90* off the hame, with a snug belly band then all weight on the front side strap goes directly to the back pad, because it is off-set by weight from the rear trace.

If the back pad is too loose, back side straps loose, britchen not high enough, and the traces are not hitched tight enough, pole weight will pull down on the front trace changing the angle at the hame, and putting weight on the collar/neck.

Collar fit, front trace 90* off hames, back pad and belly band snug, front side straps only extend to below the bottom of the collar, back side straps snug, britchen snug and up above the action with the side ring above the stifle, and traces hitched as tight as humanly possible, then the pole will float, and ALL the weight will be born on the back pad.

Carl

[Ira]

Thanks Carl, Point taken.

[Carl Russell]

Additionally, to continue description of fitting the d-ring for the sake of conversation, the collar should fit the neck, and hames fit the collar so that the point of draft (where the trace meets the hame) should be 6-8 ” above the point of the shoulder.

[Neil Dimmock]

Hey look at the video!! and you’ll see the problems if you what to!! talk is just talk but video dont lie!~
Neil

[Ira]

@Carl Russell 2906 wrote:

Additionally, to continue description of fitting the d-ring for the sake of conversation, the collar should fit the neck, and hames fit the collar so that the point of draft (where the trace meets the hame) should be 6-8 ” above the point of the shoulder.

Yes, I agree. If you look at Jennifer’s 3rd pic in her collar thread you see a good illustration of this. The tug marks on the collar are right above the point of the horses shoulder.

[Ira]

@Neil Dimmock 2910 wrote:

Hey look at the video!! and you’ll see the problems if you what to!! talk is just talk but video dont lie!~
Neil

I did, 3 times. Saw the same thing each time. The harness isn’t adjusted correctly.
Did you look at the pic that Dubba posted? (Thanks,Dubba,for posting that by the way) That is a pretty good depiction of how a Dring should look when properly adjusted. Compare it to the harness in the video.Then tell me what you think.

[jen judkins]

@Ira 2912 wrote:

Yes, I agree. If you look at Jennifer’s 3rd pic in her collar thread you see a good illustration of this. The tug marks on the collar are right above the point of the horses shoulder.

Ira, This is off the original topic…but I am curious. I looked at all my photos of the collar and the marks you refer to are more prominent on the left (3rd photo) compared to the right (2nd photo)…is this because this collar was worn by a horse in a team? And if so, is this a normal wear pattern?

Jennifer.

[Ira]

@jenjudkins 2917 wrote:

Ira, This is off the original topic…but I am curious. I looked at all my photos of the collar and the marks you refer to are more prominent on the left (3rd photo) compared to the right (2nd photo)…is this because this collar was worn by a horse in a team? And if so, is this a normal wear pattern?

Jennifer.

Yes that is normal wear, but I think that being able to see it better in that pic has more to do with lighting than any thing else. Does it show more wear on one side when you have it in your hands?

[Carl Russell]

I’m attaching a photo of Les Barden with D-ring harness adjusted correctly, showing all pole weight completely on the back-pad. Carl

[Ira]

Great picture.
Do you know if Mr. Barden has any plans/working drawings available for that cart?

[Carl Russell]

Yes he does. He lives in Farmington, NH 603-332-0082.

I know he is distracted for the next month or so with some hip replacement surgery, but he is generally quite approachable, and will gladly send you the plans.

It may be hard to reach him by phone, his mailing address is;
Les Barden
Barden Tree Farm
279 Meaderboro Rd.
Farmington, NH 03835

And to bring this discussion full circle, Les has made a very informative video about the D-ring harness. It is about 45 minutes long, and shows exactly how to adjust it to provide the attributes that make the D-ring a valuable and effective harnessing system.

Videos tell all!!

Carl

[TBigLug]

Does Les sell the D-ring videos or have it available for download somewhere? Always wanted a D-ring but no-one around here uses them so i don’t have any to look at closely.

[Carl Russell]

As of right now the D-ring Video is VHS only. I am pretty sure if you contact him, he can send you one.

As far as the harness, my needs are pretty low so I don’t know ALL the sources, but Meader Supply Corp. of Rochester NH does sell them, and has photos of them in their catalog.

It has been pointed out in this thread, and a couple of others, that the D-ring harness has some good attributes to offer, but if not adjusted correctly, it will offer little more than any other.

Purchasing the video would be a good investment to go along with harnesses, but certainly if you are only in the consideration stage, it would be an even better investment as it will answer many questions, and help you to decide if it is the harness for you.

Take care, Carl

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