An ill-fitting harness decreases the performance of a work horse. Without proper fitting of the harness, a horse could become discouraged and even balk when being asked to pull a load. A harness consists of three parts: the breast collar to pull the load, the tug and girth to hold the load and the breeching to stop the load. A breast collar, rather than a collar, alleviates the pressure on the horse's windpipe and prevents choking, according to Discover-Horse-Carriage-Driving.com.
Step 1
Measure for the driving bridle from the corner of the horse's mouth over the top of its head behind the ears to the opposite corner of its mouth using a sewing tape measure. Wrap the tape measure around the horse's face just below the cheekbone for the nose band and obtain the brow band measurement by measuring across the forehead just below each eye.
Step 2
Wrap the tape measure around the horse's girth area just behind its withers at the base of the neck and behind the forearm near the abdomen.
Step 3
Obtain the measurement from the base of the tail along the horse's back to the girth area. This length is necessary for the back strap that attaches to the girth at the saddle.
Step 4
Measure the horse for the breast collar and breast tug from the girth area around the front of the horse's chest to the other side at the girth. The breast collar and tug keeps the girth from sliding back as the horse pulls the load.
Step 5
Measure the horse for the loin straps from below the point of the hip and across the hip to the other side. Measure the horse for the breeching from the point of the hips, around the buttocks, below the tail and around to the other side.
Tips and Warnings
- The girth is central to the harness and also supports the load. A small saddle attaches at the top of the girth and holds the rein turrets, small loops that the reins thread through from the driving bridle to the driver. The back strap attaches to the crupper strap along the horse's back and the crupper dock that wraps around the horse's tail. The loin strap holds the breeching strap on the horse, while the breeching strap keeps the girth from sliding forward and holds the load back from the horse.
Things You'll Need
- 120-inch flexible vinyl or fiberglass sewing tape measure
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