Development of Horse Harnesses

The development of the horse harness led to the use of the horse for transportation, farming, and military endeavors, leading to great progress in each area.

  1. Early History

    • The earliest harnesses were found by archaeologists with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on a dig in Botai, Kazakhstan in 1993. They were dated to 3500 BC and made of rawhide.

    Strap Harness

    • Harnesses were first used to pull chariots in ancient Mesopotamia. This was the initial use of strap harnesses which allowed for better weight distribution of the load. Before strap harnesses, hitching equipment put pressure on the esophagus and restricted the horse's breathing.

    Collar Harness

    • The use of the collar harness began in fifth century China. The collar worked with the strap design, making weight distribution even more efficient by allowing the horse to pull a heavier load with its shoulders. One horse could do the work of two.

    Industrial Revolution

    • By the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, the US Patent Office held 300 patents for horse powered machines, all employing the use of harnesses, now being primarily constructed of leather and using the collar design.

    Modern Developments

    • As the use of horses decreased in the 20th century, harness makers began to focus on lighter weight harnesses used for pleasure driving and showing. The Zilco Harness company of Australia was the first to replace leather with synthetic materials in the early 1960's.