Draft horses have been in our culture for many years. For the last 50 years draft horses have started to make a come back to modern society. One of the most popular of the 5 basic breeds is the “Budwieser” Clydesdales.
Clydesdale
The Clydesdale is well known as the “Budwieser horse”. The Clydesdale
originated and has developed in Scotland. The breed’s development is
probably that of the blood of both Flemish and English horses was used. In
1878 the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland was
organized. The first Clydesdales brought to North America were probably
imported to Canada where the Scottish were settled. In the early 1870s
Clydesdales were imported into this country both through Canada and by
direct importation. By 1880 they were imported in large numbers, and these
importation’s continued for a number of years. The Clydesdale Association
was organized in 1879 and operated under that name until 1934 when it
became known as the Clydesdale Breeders Association of the United States.
The Clydesdale is not as heavy as the Belgian or the Shire. In general
confirmation the Clydesdale lacks the width and the compactness of the other
breeds. Average mature Clydesdale in this country will weigh from 1,700 to
1,900 when in fair condition, with a height of about 16-3/4 hands. A mature
mare will weigh 1,600 to 1,800 lb. in fair condition, and be a height of about
16 hands. The most common colors are bay and brown with white markings,
but blacks, grays, chestnuts, and roans are occasionally seen.
Belgian
The Belgian originated in the country of Belgium (a small country in
Europe). Another name for the Belgian is Racede Trait Belge or Barbant or
even the Flanders horse. The breed originated in the 1st- 2nd century AD. In
1886 the Belgian Draught Horse Society was organized to encourage
breeding of the native draft horse and to maintain a stud book. The Belgian
was imported to this country during the half of the 19th century. But not
until the 20th century were the horses imported in great numbers. The early
trade was primarily stallions, only later were mares brought into the states.
The American Belgian was bred to look nice with a show wagon. Originally
the Belgian was bay, and hay brown. The Belgian was bred with the
Percheron to make chestnut, sorrel, and roan, now the Belgian is mostly
chestnut in color.
The Belgian is the most compact of the draft breeds. Their bodies are
short, wide, and deep. The head is medium in size, the neck is short and
heavily muscled in proportion to its enormous strength of its chest and
notably deep barrel. There is only some feathering unlike the Shires. Belgian
stallions stand about 16 1/4 hands, and the mares stand at about 16 hands
high. Legs are short and heavily muscled and free from long feathering. The
original Belgian had a round cannon bone which was weak, the American
Belgian has a flatter canon bone. The back runs into a characteristically
“double-muscled” croup and massive rounded quarters.
Percheron
The Percheron was originated in France and has been developed in a small
district in the northwestern part of that country known as Perche. This
district is about 1/15 the size of Iowa, and only Percherons born within it
boundaries are eligible to registry in the Percheron Stud book of France.
Percheron foals to be except for registry in the French book must be
registered during the year of their birth. They were originated in the 18th
century. The horse society of France was first started in 1883. Percherons
were brought to the United States in the 1850’s. The improvement of the
Percherons and other breeds in France is due to both private and public
interest in the breeds. The government has for a number of years has
maintained studs in which selected animals have been kept for breeding
purposes. One of the early stallions brought to this country that made the
greatest imprint on the breed was Louis Napoleon, imported in 1851 by Ohio
Firm. During the early 1870 the Percherons were imported in large numbers,
and these importation’s have continued to today.
The head of the Percheron is clean cut of medium size and more refinement
is noticed about the head and neck of the Percheron then in another draft
breed. The neck is rather short and well crested. The chest is deep and
broad. The back is short and the loin smooth and well muscled. The croup is
wide and on the average is some what more sloping then what is desirable.
But, great improvement in this respect has been made. The legs feet and
bone are on the average good. The legs are free of long hair or feather
characteristic of the Clydesdale and Shire. This breed maybe regarded as one
of the best movers and surpassed in style of action only by the Clydesdale.
The Percheron is not as large either the Belgian or the shire but as a class will
probably out weigh the Clydesdale slightly. Mature Stallions in fair
condition will usually weight from 1800 to 2000 lb.. In height a good
mature stallion with measure 16 h to 17 hands. The popular Percheron is
rather short legged compact and blocky in form, less so then the Belgian but
more so the Clydesdale or even the Shire. Colors common to the Percheron
are Black and Gray although bays , browns, chestnuts and roans are
occasionally seen. About 90% of Percherons are either Black or gray.
Shire
The Shire originated and developed in England. It is known that this type
of draft horse existed in England in early times. In 1878 the Shire horse
breeders of England were organized under the name of the English Cart
Horse Society. In 1884 the name was changed to the Shire Horse Society.
Shires were imported into this country in the late 1800’s. A small number of
stallions were imported in 1880 and these importation’s increased until 1887.
More then 400 Shires were imported at this time.
The Shire is a massive horse with a wide deep and long body and is equaled
in weight only by the Belgian. Shire stallions in fair condition weighting
2000 lb. or over are average. They are less compact then the Belgian. and in
height will average taller then any other draft breed. Stallions standing 17
hands or more are very common. In fact the average height of mature Shire
stallions in this country is close to 17 hands. Mature Shire Mares will
average about 16.1 hands in height and will in fair condition average about
1800 lb. in weight. Heavy bone and feathers are characteristics of this breed.
The common colors are bay and brown with white markings although blacks,
gray, chestnut and roans are occasionally seen.
Suffolk
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and
Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880
although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year
prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was
foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely
true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any
color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to
light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as
prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or
snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The
ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong
rather
short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a
arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are
muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The
Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide
and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s
stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the
furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality
known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great
importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
The Harness
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Works Cited
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Clydesdale is well known as the “Budwieser horse”. The Clydesdale originated and has developed in Scotland. The breed’s development is probably that of the blood of both Flemish and English horses was used. In 1878 the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland was organized. The first Clydesdales brought to North America were probably imported to Canada where the Scottish were settled. In the early 1870s Clydesdales were imported into this country both through Canada and by direct importation. By 1880 they were imported in large numbers, and these importation’s continued for a number of years. The Clydesdale Association was organized in 1879 and operated under that name until 1934 when it became known as the Clydesdale Breeders Association of the United States.
The Clydesdale is not as heavy as the Belgian or the Shire. In general confirmation the Clydesdale lacks the width and the compactness of the other breeds. Average mature Clydesdale in this country will weigh from 1,700 to 1,900 when in fair condition, with a height of about 16-3/4 hands. A mature mare will weigh 1,600 to 1,800 lb. in fair condition, and be a height of about 16 hands. The most common colors are bay and brown with white markings, but blacks, grays, chestnuts, and roans are occasionally seen.
Belgian
The Belgian originated in the country of Belgium (a small country in
Europe). Another name for the Belgian is Racede Trait Belge or Barbant or
even the Flanders horse. The breed originated in the 1st- 2nd century AD. In
1886 the Belgian Draught Horse Society was organized to encourage
breeding of the native draft horse and to maintain a stud book. The Belgian
was imported to this country during the half of the 19th century. But not
until the 20th century were the horses imported in great numbers. The early
trade was primarily stallions, only later were mares brought into the states.
The American Belgian was bred to look nice with a show wagon. Originally
the Belgian was bay, and hay brown. The Belgian was bred with the
Percheron to make chestnut, sorrel, and roan, now the Belgian is mostly
chestnut in color.
The Belgian is the most compact of the draft breeds. Their bodies are
short, wide, and deep. The head is medium in size, the neck is short and
heavily muscled in proportion to its enormous strength of its chest and
notably deep barrel. There is only some feathering unlike the Shires. Belgian
stallions stand about 16 1/4 hands, and the mares stand at about 16 hands
high. Legs are short and heavily muscled and free from long feathering. The
original Belgian had a round cannon bone which was weak, the American
Belgian has a flatter canon bone. The back runs into a characteristically
“double-muscled” croup and massive rounded quarters.
Percheron
The Percheron was originated in France and has been developed in a small
district in the northwestern part of that country known as Perche. This
district is about 1/15 the size of Iowa, and only Percherons born within it
boundaries are eligible to registry in the Percheron Stud book of France.
Percheron foals to be except for registry in the French book must be
registered during the year of their birth. They were originated in the 18th
century. The horse society of France was first started in 1883. Percherons
were brought to the United States in the 1850’s. The improvement of the
Percherons and other breeds in France is due to both private and public
interest in the breeds. The government has for a number of years has
maintained studs in which selected animals have been kept for breeding
purposes. One of the early stallions brought to this country that made the
greatest imprint on the breed was Louis Napoleon, imported in 1851 by Ohio
Firm. During the early 1870 the Percherons were imported in large numbers,
and these importation’s have continued to today.
The head of the Percheron is clean cut of medium size and more refinement
is noticed about the head and neck of the Percheron then in another draft
breed. The neck is rather short and well crested. The chest is deep and
broad. The back is short and the loin smooth and well muscled. The croup is
wide and on the average is some what more sloping then what is desirable.
But, great improvement in this respect has been made. The legs feet and
bone are on the average good. The legs are free of long hair or feather
characteristic of the Clydesdale and Shire. This breed maybe regarded as one
of the best movers and surpassed in style of action only by the Clydesdale.
The Percheron is not as large either the Belgian or the shire but as a class will
probably out weigh the Clydesdale slightly. Mature Stallions in fair
condition will usually weight from 1800 to 2000 lb.. In height a good
mature stallion with measure 16 h to 17 hands. The popular Percheron is
rather short legged compact and blocky in form, less so then the Belgian but
more so the Clydesdale or even the Shire. Colors common to the Percheron
are Black and Gray although bays , browns, chestnuts and roans are
occasionally seen. About 90% of Percherons are either Black or gray.
Shire
The Shire originated and developed in England. It is known that this type
of draft horse existed in England in early times. In 1878 the Shire horse
breeders of England were organized under the name of the English Cart
Horse Society. In 1884 the name was changed to the Shire Horse Society.
Shires were imported into this country in the late 1800’s. A small number of
stallions were imported in 1880 and these importation’s increased until 1887.
More then 400 Shires were imported at this time.
The Shire is a massive horse with a wide deep and long body and is equaled
in weight only by the Belgian. Shire stallions in fair condition weighting
2000 lb. or over are average. They are less compact then the Belgian. and in
height will average taller then any other draft breed. Stallions standing 17
hands or more are very common. In fact the average height of mature Shire
stallions in this country is close to 17 hands. Mature Shire Mares will
average about 16.1 hands in height and will in fair condition average about
1800 lb. in weight. Heavy bone and feathers are characteristics of this breed.
The common colors are bay and brown with white markings although blacks,
gray, chestnut and roans are occasionally seen.
Suffolk
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and
Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880
although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year
prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was
foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely
true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any
color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to
light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as
prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or
snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The
ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong
rather
short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a
arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are
muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The
Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide
and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s
stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the
furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality
known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great
importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
The Harness
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Works Cited
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Belgian originated in the country of Belgium (a small country in Europe). Another name for the Belgian is Racede Trait Belge or Barbant or even the Flanders horse. The breed originated in the 1st- 2nd century AD. In 1886 the Belgian Draught Horse Society was organized to encourage breeding of the native draft horse and to maintain a stud book. The Belgian was imported to this country during the half of the 19th century. But not until the 20th century were the horses imported in great numbers. The early trade was primarily stallions, only later were mares brought into the states.
The American Belgian was bred to look nice with a show wagon. Originally the Belgian was bay, and hay brown. The Belgian was bred with the Percheron to make chestnut, sorrel, and roan, now the Belgian is mostly chestnut in color.
The Belgian is the most compact of the draft breeds. Their bodies are short, wide, and deep. The head is medium in size, the neck is short and heavily muscled in proportion to its enormous strength of its chest and notably deep barrel. There is only some feathering unlike the Shires. Belgian stallions stand about 16 1/4 hands, and the mares stand at about 16 hands high. Legs are short and heavily muscled and free from long feathering. The original Belgian had a round cannon bone which was weak, the American Belgian has a flatter canon bone. The back runs into a characteristically “double-muscled” croup and massive rounded quarters.
Percheron
The Percheron was originated in France and has been developed in a small
district in the northwestern part of that country known as Perche. This
district is about 1/15 the size of Iowa, and only Percherons born within it
boundaries are eligible to registry in the Percheron Stud book of France.
Percheron foals to be except for registry in the French book must be
registered during the year of their birth. They were originated in the 18th
century. The horse society of France was first started in 1883. Percherons
were brought to the United States in the 1850’s. The improvement of the
Percherons and other breeds in France is due to both private and public
interest in the breeds. The government has for a number of years has
maintained studs in which selected animals have been kept for breeding
purposes. One of the early stallions brought to this country that made the
greatest imprint on the breed was Louis Napoleon, imported in 1851 by Ohio
Firm. During the early 1870 the Percherons were imported in large numbers,
and these importation’s have continued to today.
The head of the Percheron is clean cut of medium size and more refinement
is noticed about the head and neck of the Percheron then in another draft
breed. The neck is rather short and well crested. The chest is deep and
broad. The back is short and the loin smooth and well muscled. The croup is
wide and on the average is some what more sloping then what is desirable.
But, great improvement in this respect has been made. The legs feet and
bone are on the average good. The legs are free of long hair or feather
characteristic of the Clydesdale and Shire. This breed maybe regarded as one
of the best movers and surpassed in style of action only by the Clydesdale.
The Percheron is not as large either the Belgian or the shire but as a class will
probably out weigh the Clydesdale slightly. Mature Stallions in fair
condition will usually weight from 1800 to 2000 lb.. In height a good
mature stallion with measure 16 h to 17 hands. The popular Percheron is
rather short legged compact and blocky in form, less so then the Belgian but
more so the Clydesdale or even the Shire. Colors common to the Percheron
are Black and Gray although bays , browns, chestnuts and roans are
occasionally seen. About 90% of Percherons are either Black or gray.
Shire
The Shire originated and developed in England. It is known that this type
of draft horse existed in England in early times. In 1878 the Shire horse
breeders of England were organized under the name of the English Cart
Horse Society. In 1884 the name was changed to the Shire Horse Society.
Shires were imported into this country in the late 1800’s. A small number of
stallions were imported in 1880 and these importation’s increased until 1887.
More then 400 Shires were imported at this time.
The Shire is a massive horse with a wide deep and long body and is equaled
in weight only by the Belgian. Shire stallions in fair condition weighting
2000 lb. or over are average. They are less compact then the Belgian. and in
height will average taller then any other draft breed. Stallions standing 17
hands or more are very common. In fact the average height of mature Shire
stallions in this country is close to 17 hands. Mature Shire Mares will
average about 16.1 hands in height and will in fair condition average about
1800 lb. in weight. Heavy bone and feathers are characteristics of this breed.
The common colors are bay and brown with white markings although blacks,
gray, chestnut and roans are occasionally seen.
Suffolk
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and
Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880
although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year
prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was
foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely
true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any
color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to
light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as
prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or
snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The
ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong
rather
short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a
arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are
muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The
Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide
and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s
stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the
furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality
known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great
importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
The Harness
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Works Cited
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Percheron was originated in France and has been developed in a small district in the northwestern part of that country known as Perche. This district is about 1/15 the size of Iowa, and only Percherons born within it boundaries are eligible to registry in the Percheron Stud book of France. Percheron foals to be except for registry in the French book must be registered during the year of their birth. They were originated in the 18th century. The horse society of France was first started in 1883. Percherons were brought to the United States in the 1850’s. The improvement of the Percherons and other breeds in France is due to both private and public interest in the breeds. The government has for a number of years has maintained studs in which selected animals have been kept for breeding purposes. One of the early stallions brought to this country that made the greatest imprint on the breed was Louis Napoleon, imported in 1851 by Ohio Firm. During the early 1870 the Percherons were imported in large numbers, and these importation’s have continued to today.
The head of the Percheron is clean cut of medium size and more refinement is noticed about the head and neck of the Percheron then in another draft breed. The neck is rather short and well crested. The chest is deep and broad. The back is short and the loin smooth and well muscled. The croup is wide and on the average is some what more sloping then what is desirable. But, great improvement in this respect has been made. The legs feet and bone are on the average good. The legs are free of long hair or feather characteristic of the Clydesdale and Shire. This breed maybe regarded as one of the best movers and surpassed in style of action only by the Clydesdale. The Percheron is not as large either the Belgian or the shire but as a class will probably out weigh the Clydesdale slightly. Mature Stallions in fair condition will usually weight from 1800 to 2000 lb.. In height a good mature stallion with measure 16 h to 17 hands. The popular Percheron is rather short legged compact and blocky in form, less so then the Belgian but more so the Clydesdale or even the Shire. Colors common to the Percheron are Black and Gray although bays , browns, chestnuts and roans are occasionally seen. About 90% of Percherons are either Black or gray.
Shire
The Shire originated and developed in England. It is known that this type
of draft horse existed in England in early times. In 1878 the Shire horse
breeders of England were organized under the name of the English Cart
Horse Society. In 1884 the name was changed to the Shire Horse Society.
Shires were imported into this country in the late 1800’s. A small number of
stallions were imported in 1880 and these importation’s increased until 1887.
More then 400 Shires were imported at this time.
The Shire is a massive horse with a wide deep and long body and is equaled
in weight only by the Belgian. Shire stallions in fair condition weighting
2000 lb. or over are average. They are less compact then the Belgian. and in
height will average taller then any other draft breed. Stallions standing 17
hands or more are very common. In fact the average height of mature Shire
stallions in this country is close to 17 hands. Mature Shire Mares will
average about 16.1 hands in height and will in fair condition average about
1800 lb. in weight. Heavy bone and feathers are characteristics of this breed.
The common colors are bay and brown with white markings although blacks,
gray, chestnut and roans are occasionally seen.
Suffolk
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and
Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880
although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year
prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was
foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely
true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any
color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to
light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as
prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or
snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The
ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong
rather
short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a
arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are
muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The
Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide
and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s
stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the
furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality
known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great
importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
The Harness
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Works Cited
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Shire originated and developed in England. It is known that this type of draft horse existed in England in early times. In 1878 the Shire horse breeders of England were organized under the name of the English Cart Horse Society. In 1884 the name was changed to the Shire Horse Society. Shires were imported into this country in the late 1800’s. A small number of stallions were imported in 1880 and these importation’s increased until 1887. More then 400 Shires were imported at this time.
The Shire is a massive horse with a wide deep and long body and is equaled in weight only by the Belgian. Shire stallions in fair condition weighting 2000 lb. or over are average. They are less compact then the Belgian. and in height will average taller then any other draft breed. Stallions standing 17 hands or more are very common. In fact the average height of mature Shire stallions in this country is close to 17 hands. Mature Shire Mares will average about 16.1 hands in height and will in fair condition average about 1800 lb. in weight. Heavy bone and feathers are characteristics of this breed. The common colors are bay and brown with white markings although blacks, gray, chestnut and roans are occasionally seen.
Suffolk
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and
Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880
although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year
prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was
foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely
true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any
color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to
light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as
prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or
snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The
ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong
rather
short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a
arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are
muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The
Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide
and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s
stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the
furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality
known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great
importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
The Harness
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Works Cited
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Suffolk was developed in Anglia, the counties of Norwich, and Suffolk England. The first volume of the stud book was published in 1880 although horsemen in this district had kept private records for many year prior to that. Crisp’s Horse of Ufford the foundation Stallion of the breed was foaled in 1768. This Suffolk is the only draft breed that breeds completely true to color. Out of 12,000 matings investigated not a single foal of any color but chestnut was discovered. Seven shades ranging from dark liver to light golden sorrel occur. White markings occur but in general are not as prominent as in any other breeds. Most breeds being confined to a star or snip and white ankles or fetlocks.
Typically the head of the Suffolk is rather long very bold and bony. The ears are of moderate size, well placed and sensitive. The neck is strong rather short and very muscular, deep in the collar, with a fine silky mane on an a arched crested which tapers off to the setting of the head. The shoulders are muscular, with a well rounded barrel all the way from shoulder to flank. The Suffolk has a graceful outline of back, loin and hind quarters which are wide and heavily muscled. Height average 16.1 hands, but there are plenty of s stallions that stand up to 17 hands and even more. The Suffolk, breed for the furrow exhibits a ready willingness to work, great endurance, in the quality known ‘heart.’ They are fast walkers and easy keepers all factors of great importance to early day farmers.
Chapter 2
There are many types of harnesses in the world. People have tried many
ways of attaching their horses to the work they wanted done. The harness is
what people have developed to hook the horse to horse drawn implements.
There are two categories for harness, one is heavy harness, and one is buggy
harness ( or light harness). There are four types of heavy harness, the Western
brichen harness, the Boston backer, the Market tug harness, and the Plow
harness. There are only two types of buggy harness, the Breast strap buggy
harness, and the Collar buggy harness.
There are 5 different styles of collars. They are the Full face collar, the
Half sweeny, the Full sweeny, the Pipe throat, and the Regular collar. When
looking for a collar you have to measure your horse to find out what size
collar to get for it. First you put a ruler at the top of the neck towards the
back of the it, then measure down to the bottom of the neck where the neck
meets the chest. That is the size of the collar you should get. The way you
measure a collar is easy all you do is put a ruler from the top where the
buckle is to the inside of the bottom. The draft is measured around the
widest part of the collar.
The hames are usually made of steel or steel reinforced wood. It has a rib-like
design and two are used in a harness. They are strapped in top and bottom in
the groove of the collar. The tugs are attached to the hame (at the point of
draft on the collar), the breast strap to the bottom rings, the back pack and the
hip drops in the second ring up, and the driving lines in the third ring.
The hame strap is a short strap that holds the top and bottom of the hames.
These straps are usually made of leather but it is not uncommon to see them
made of nylon. The hame strap should be very strong and not break, because
if it breaks it will injure the horse seriously. You should have an extra hame
strap for each harness that is used.
The tugs or what is more known as traces, are attach to the hames with
pins, bolts or hooks. Traces are made of very heavy leather made up of 3
layers, some have nylon in the center, and others are made only of nylon.
Traces do practically all the work, that is why it is so heavy. They are
attached directly or not attached directly, at the other end of whatever is to be
pulled. It is critical that they are plyable, but strong. Tugs can be made of
chains or rope too. When the horse looks like it is pulling a heavy load it is
actually pushing it.
The back pad or saddle as sometimes called sits just behind the withers.
The back pad evenly displaces any down pressure or weight that might come
from the tugs or shaves (such as with a single horse hitched to a cart).
The belly band pretty much explains itself. This strap holds the back pad
and the tugs in the right position.
Billets are short heavy straps that go around a tug or fasten into the back
pad and have a free end to enter a buckle.
The breast strap is a wide, long, strong strap which fastens from the lower
hame rings on both hames. This strap is the first stage of the brake.
The back straps on a western style brichen harness run from the hip drop
assembly forward on both sides of the animal and fasten into the hame ring
just above the tug. These straps hold the whole brichen assembly on the
horses rump.
The hip drop assembly is a set of connecting straps which hold the brichen
in the right spot. From a centered, top ring 2, 3, or 4 hip drops come down
the hip to a fixed position on the brichen. The straps are adjustable to put the
brichen in the right position.
The brichen is a heavy strap that is made of multiple layers of leather or
nylon. The brichen is the brake. The brichen has to be in the correct position
to do its job correctly, if it is to low the brichen will push the legs out from
under the horse and will cause many injuries.
There are two quarter straps on a harness. These straps get attached to the
brichen and the breast strap. The only time that the quarter straps become
tight is when the horse is backing, holding something back, or stopping.
The cruper is a strap that fastens, not to tight, around the horses tail. In a
brichen less plow harness the cruper holds the harness on. The cruper is even
used on some brichen harness to do the same propose.
The trace carriers are self explanatory. The atach to the “D” ring on the
brichen to carry the traces from hitting the ground or to keep them high so the
horse doesn’t step over it.
The lines are the pieces of leather that goes to each horse(s) that you want
to control. Lines that you use with a single horse are just two pieces of long
leather that connect to each side of the bit. There are many types of lines and
if I started explaining them you would get bored.
Horses / By David Alderton POCKETS series
Copyright 1995 Dorling Kindersley Ltd. London
Horses / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards Eyewitness Handbooks
Copyright 1993 A Dorling Kindersley Book
Draft Horse Handbook / Washington university
Encyclopedia of the Horse / By Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Copyright 1977 Crescent Books
Draft horse Primer / By Maurice Teleen
Copyright 1977 Rondale
The Harness
Works Cited