Horse harness

A horse harness is a special piece of equipment used to connect a horse to a horse-drawn vehicle or some other kind of load so the horse can pull it. There are two main types of horse harnesses: the breast collar and the full collar. These harnesses are made by special workers called saddlers or harness makers.

When a horse needs to pull something very heavy, a full collar is used because it spreads the weight over more of the horse's body. However, if the collar does not fit well, it can hurt the horse's skin or even make it hard for the horse to breathe. This can also happen if a breast collar is put on too high.

Getting a harness onto a horse is called harnessing or harnessing up. When the harness is then attached to the vehicle or load, it is called putting to in places like the British Isles, or hitching in North America. Different jobs may have their own way of putting the harness pieces on, but if a horse collar is used, it is usually put on the horse first. Harnesses made for other animals, like a yoke for oxen, will not work well for horses.

History

Main article: History of horse-drawn transport

Early horse-drawn vehicles used simple harnesses that limited a horse's breathing and pulling ability. Over time, better designs were created to help horses pull heavier loads. In ancient China, new ideas like the breast strap made horses more effective at pulling carts and chariots. Later, during the early medieval period, the rigid horse collar was invented. This design spread the weight across a horse's shoulders, not its neck, allowing horses to pull even more. These improvements helped create heavier vehicles and supported transport across Europe and Asia.

Parts

Different regions and purposes lead to variations in harness designs, but many parts are common across all harnesses.

The collar and traces are key for pulling loads. The collar fits around the horse’s neck and shoulders, with two main types: the breast collar, which rests on the chest, and the full collar, which wraps closely around the neck. The traces are straps that connect the collar to the vehicle or load.

The head section includes the bridle and bit for controlling the horse. Harness bridles often have blinders to keep the horse focused. Bits can vary, and reins guide the horse—two for a single horse, more for teams. The mid-section includes the saddle or pad that supports the weight of shafts or other parts of the harness. The rear section helps keep the harness in place and can help slow or stop the vehicle.

Types

Show harnesses for light cart driving use a breast collar and are made from strong, polished leather. They are often used in draft horse showing and combined driving.

Carriage or van harnesses are lighter but still strong, used for pulling passenger vehicles like buggies or carts. They can have either a horse collar or a breast collar, and the traces attach to the vehicle or its shafts.

Racing harnesses also use a breast collar and attach the horse to a lightweight two-wheeled cart called a sulky. They often include a standing martingale and an overcheck, and horses may wear blinkers or an open bridle. Specialized equipment called hobbles or hopples may be added to help race horses maintain their gait.

Cart or wagon harnesses always have a horse collar and are used for pulling heavier vehicles. The traces are often made of chain and attach to loops on the vehicle's shafts.

Plow harnesses are similar to wagon harnesses but are used for dragged loads like plows, harrows, canal boats, or logs. They attach to a whippletree behind the horse. There are two main types: the New England D-Ring, which uses a metal D-shaped ring, and the Western harness, which has a strap to prevent the pull from hitting the horse's face on steep slopes.

Main article: Harness racing