Driving Harness Explained

A horse driving harness is composed of many different parts that all work together to attach a horse to a driving cart. Knowing the function of each piece of a driving harness will ensure a fun, safe drive for both the horse and the horse owner.

  1. Bit &Bridle

    • Driving bridles include blinders that keep a driving horse focused only on what is directly in front of them. The most common driving bit is a driving snaffle bit. Snaffle bits come in half cheek and full cheek. Half cheek bits are commonly used for training new horses as they are milder on the horses mouth than a full cheek driving bit.

    Saddle and Crupper

    • The saddle sits a few inches behind the horse's withers and has O rings at the top and left and right sides. The side rings are used to run the driving reins through, while the top O ring is to attach the overcheck. Below the side rings are two larger loops which are for the cart shafts to attach to the harness. The crupper goes around the horses tail and attaches to the saddle to keep the saddle from slipping down the horse's back.

    Breast Collar &Traces

    • The breast collar is what enables the horse to pull the cart. The collar should sit slightly below the horse's neck so that it does not interfere with the horse's airway. The traces come attached to the breast collar and attach to the single tree on the driving cart.

    Breeching

    • Breeching is fitted over the hindquarters of the horse. Harness breeching is used to stop the cart from hitting the horse when the horse is stopped. The breeching attaches to the cart through a metal fitting on the cart, often referred to as a footmans loop.