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A horse is a very strong creature. For years humans have used horses for their strength. Over many years, simple straps and ropes made of leather have evolved into specialist pieces of equipment to allow a horse to use its strength and/or agility to its full potential. This page is a guide to the different pieces of harness and its function. At the moment, only one type of harness is listed.
Plough / Trace Harness
A common set-up. Used when ploughing and pulling implements such as chain harrows. Click on a piece of harness to view it in more detail
| The bridle lets a horseperson guide the
horse. The straps are fastened around the horse's nose, forehead and
throat. The bridle holds the bit in the mouth of the horse which, along reins
or lines to either the rear of the horse or its back for riding, provides
the means to steer, start and stop the horse. The bit is used for
controlling the horse and is used mostly in conjunction with vocal
commands. Well trained horses will react mainly to voice commands and very
little reins.
Their are many different types of bridle in different local designs. Another type of bridle, normally used with working horses is the blinkered bridle. This type is most commonly used with working horses as it narrows its field of vision. It has a various functions such as eye protection in wooded areas and to help the horse concentrate and stop if being distracted by traffic or other distractions. The pros and cons of blinkers are numerous and most horsemen have their own preference. As well as the reins or lines coming from the bit, a bearing rein leads from the bit to the Hames. There are also various types of bit, which like horses used for riding, each have their own specific variations making them more effective on a certain horse. These vary from a simple straight bar to a Liverpool bit which has varying degrees of severity. |
 |
| The Collar and Hames are the parts of the
harness that take the weight of what is being pulled. The Hames, normally
made of metal, wood or a combination of the two are held tightly against
the body and the forewale and hold the chains which are attached to the implement
or vehicle.
The Collar itself is solidly stuffed with rye straw but its rigidity is provided by the hames. The Collar sits against the horses breast. The Horse pushes into the collar so it extensively is pushing the weight of what is behind it, not pulling it. There are various replacements for old English collars, each with its own merits but for those who are able to either find one or buy one new, an traditional English collar is a tried and tested piece of equipment. Their are various different types of traditional collar, including Scottish collars which are very popular (amasingly) in the north. |
Crupper and Back-band (Trace Harness)
| The trace harness consists of a back
band, which is a wide piece of leather with metal fittings that hold up
the plough chains. The crupper strap is a length of leather that is
attached to the collar, leads down the back and around the dock of the
tail. The crupper holds the back band in position and stops the collar
falling forward. The hip straps hold the chains away from the feet when
they are slack.
A belly band is used to keep the collar below the wind pipe when in a strong pull. |