MIAMI VALLEY CARRIAGE ASSOCIATION

 


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   Additional Information

   Here is some information on harness and cart fitting.

 

Table of Shaft Lengths and Widths for Traditional Style Vehicles 

for Traditional Style Vehicles for Single Turnouts

Measurements in inches

Animal Height (in Hands)

17H

16H

15H

14H

13H

12H

11H

10H

Length of Shaft from Swingletree to Tip

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

Height from Ground under Shafts at Back-band Tugs

55

52

49

46

43

40

36

32

Width between Shafts at Back-band Tugs

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

Width of Swingletree

36

34

31

30

28.5

27

25.5

24

Length from Back-band Tug to Shaft Tip

24

22

20.5

19

17.5

16

14

12

Length from Back-band Tug Stop to Trace Hook

56

53

50

47

44

41

38

35

Distance from Breeching Staple to Trace Hook

30.5

29

27.5

26

24.5

23

21.5

20

Wheels - Diameter

51

48

45

42

39

36

33

30

Source:  American Driving Society  -- See their site for more information.

 

 

Form for Recording Measurements for Fitting a Harness (breast-collar type)

Height:  ____________ Weight: ___________

 

a.       head:  corner of mouth to corner of mouth over poll  ____________

b.      nose:  just above the top of the bit                             ____________

c.       brow:  to back of headstall strap                               ____________

d.      throat:  rear of jawbone under ear                             ____________

e.       over withers:  collar line to collar line                        ____________

f.        chest:  rear of elbow muscle to same                         ____________

g.       girth:  all around                                                       ____________

h.      over croup:  breeching level to breeching level           ____________

i.        breeching:  stifle to stifle, taut                                    ____________

j.         back length:  rear of pad to top of tail                       ____________

k.       croup to tail                                                            ____________

l.        shaft length of vehicle (shaft tip to trace hook)           ____________

m.     belly band to trace hook                                          ____________

 

n.       shape of back:  make a template with coat hanger, electric cable or similar.  Mold it to shape where pad will lie (be firm).  Draw inside shape onto paper without distorting.

 

 

Form for Recording Measurements for Fitting a Harness (neck-collar type)
 

Bridle and Harness Measurements

A. From corner of mouth, over poll, to other corner of mouth.

B. Length around nose, taken about two fingers width below the prominent cheek bone.

C. Length of girth.

D. Length of back from position of harness saddle to base of tail.

E. Length of horse, from point of shoulder to buttock.

F. Height at withers.

Collar Measurements

G. Length from top of base of neck at proper position of collar. Line should be straight, not conforming to horse's body.

H. If possible, measure collar which fits the horse, using the inside dimensions of the collar, as shown.

Measuring a Collar   

·         Place the ruler against the collar cap and measure to the inside brim of the throat as illustrated. For size of draft, draw a tape line around the collar at the heaviest part, as illustrated.

·         When fitting a horse with a collar there should not be any more space between the horse's neck and the throat of the collar than will allow your four fingers, when laid flat on the inside of the throat of the collar, to pass freely.

·         Hames should be ordered 2 sizes larger than your collar.  The hames should be adjusted so that the hames tug comes over the center of draft.

Source:  various sources.

 

Harness Parts and Names
 

 

1. Browband

2. Winkerbrace

3. Blind

4. Nose Band

5. Bit Strap

6. Bit

7. Crown

8. Bridle Cheek

9. Throat Latch

10. Line (front part)

11. Hame

 

12. Breast Strap

13. Pole Strap

14. Collar Strap

15. Trace Safe

16. Belly Band

17. Back Band

18. Collar

19. Back Strap

20. Rump Safe

21. Back Band Billet

22. Loop on Trace

 

23. Belly Band Billet

24. Quarter Strap

25. Lazy Strap or Mud Carrier

26. Trace or Tug

27. Heel Chain

28. Layer Loop

29. Breeching

30. Hip Strap

31. Line (hand part)

32. Trace Carrier

Source:  various sources.

 

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This page was last updated Sep 2008.