How to Identify Parts of Horse Harnesses

From the Romans and their chariots to early pioneers and covered wagons, harnessed horses have played an important role in society. All harnesses have the same, basic components: bridle, collar and saddle with crupper and breeching. Harness styles include work, parade, light and fine driving, logging, hitch, competition, and show and come in pony, horse, light and draft size. Finding and identifying the pieces is best done starting at the top of the horse̵7;s head and working toward the tail.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse harness
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Instructions

  1. Bridle

    • 1

      Locate the part of the harness that goes over the horse̵7;s head. This is the driving bridle. The top of the bridle is the head- or crown-piece. Look for the straps on each side of the headpiece. These are the cheekpieces.

    • 2

      Find the rectangular piece attached to the middle of each cheekpiece. This is a blinker or blinder, intended to keep the horse focused on the road.

    • 3

      Follow each strap of the cheekpiece, heading down from the head-piece, to a strip at the bottom of the bridle that extends across the nose and attaches to each cheekpiece. This is the noseband.

    • 4

      Look at the buckles at the bottom of each cheekpiece, below the noseband. They hold the driving bit.

    Collar and Saddle

    • 5

      Look past the bridle to just before the horse̵7;s shoulders where the collar rests. Types of collars include the breast collar, hame and neck collar, adjustable collar, buggy collar and draft collar. Some collars encircle the neck.

    • 6

      For a breast collar, look for a reinforced strap that runs across the front of the horse̵7;s chest at the base of his neck. Follow the strap up and around the shoulders of the horse to the top of the breast collar fitting.

    • 7

      Go back to the top of the horse to the collar, several inches toward the tail. The wide band encircling the horse is called the saddle. Examine the bottom of the saddle and find the bellyband and girth which keep the saddle in place.

    • 8

      Find two metal rings at the top of the saddle. These are rein terrets, through which the reins are threaded.

    • 9

      Look at the long strap attached to the top of the saddle that runs back toward the tail. This is the backstrap. Find the loop at the end of the backstrap, the crupper dock that encircles the base of the tail.

    • 10

      Examine the middle of the backstrap for a piece that hangs down either side. This is the loin strap that attaches to the breeching.

    • 11

      Locate the loop that runs parallel to the backstrap, open at the front. This is the breeching, which runs behind top portion of the horse̵7;s legs. Look at the open end of the breeching and find two loops called the breeching straps. Breeching straps hold the traces, straps attached to the vehicle being pulled.