Parts of Stagecoach Horse Harness

The stagecoach horse harness is a kind of horse tack that allows the horse to pull a horse-drawn vehicle such as a carriage, sleigh or wagon. A harness can also be used to attach horses to other loads such as plows and canal boats. The order of putting on the parts of the stagecoach harness can vary, but the horse collar is typically put on first.

  1. Collar

    • A horse collar allows a horse to push against a harness with the shoulders and chest.

      A collar is used to allow the horse to push against the harness with the shoulders and chest. There are two types -- the horse collar, which is a padded loop wound around the horse's neck, and the breastcollar, which is a padded strap running around the chest from one side to the other.

    Hames

    • The hames handle the entire force of the pull of a harness.

      The hames are two curved metal or wooden strips which fit to the collar and hold the traces. They handle the entire force of the pull of a harness and are padded by the horse collar.

    Breeching

    • Breeching around a horse's haunches attaches to a stagecoach's pole or shafts.

      The breeching is a strap around the horse's haunches used to regulate a stagecoach. It is usually attached to the shafts or pole of the vehicle. The breeching can be used for a single horse, a pair, or only for those horses that are closest to the stagecoach.

    Traces

    • Traces are the straps or chains which transfer the pull from the collar and hames to the load.

    Harness Saddle

    • The harness saddle is a small supportive piece of the harness that lies on the horse's back.

    Girth

    • The girth is a strap that tightly surrounds the horse's girth to attach the harness saddle. It wraps under the horse's belly.

    Belly-band

    • The belly-band is a strap that goes under the horse's belly more loosely, outside the girth. It keeps the shafts of the stagecoach from rising up.

    Back Band

    • The back band is a strap that passes through the harness saddle to connect to the belly band on both sides. It takes the weight of either the vehicle's shafts or pole.

    False martingale

    • The false martingale is a strap that passes between the front legs, starting from the collar's center and running to the belly band. It keeps the collar intact.

    Crupper

    • The crupper is a strap connected to the rear of the saddle that positions a soft padded loop under the bottom of the tail. It prevents the harness from sliding forward on the horse.

    Reins

    • The reins are long leather straps that run from the bit to the driver's hands. The reins are used to control the horse.