How to Measure a Pony for a Driving Harness

Pony

Cloth tape measure

Paper

Pen

Things You'll Need

  • A harness allows a pony to pull assorted vehicles such as wagons and carriages. Breastcollar or breaststrap harnesses, which place load weight more on the sternum, are used for light work or exhibiting in pony shows. However when used for pulling heavy loads, a pony should be equipped with a harness that includes a collar and hames to distribute load weight onto the shoulders.
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin at one corner of the mouth and measure over the poll to the opposite corner of the mouth.

    • 2

      Measure the entire length around the nose beginning two fingers below the protruding bone.

    • 3

      Place your tape measure across the forehead to measure the browband from the left of the left ear to just past the right ear.

    • 4

      Record the length of the pony from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump.

    • 5

      Starting at the ground just beneath the pony's front feet, take the measurement to the withers.

    • 6

      Measure the girth from the base of the withers to a couple inches behind the front legs, then under the belly and up the opposite side to where you began.

    • 7

      Place the tape measure in the position where the harness saddle will sit and measure the distance to the base of the tail.

    • 8

      Measure from shoulder to shoulder starting two fingers behind one shoulder and continuing to two fingers behind the opposite shoulder, then from flank to flank in the same manner.