How to Hook Horses to a Stagecoach

A stagecoach is a kind of covered wagon that is usually drawn by four horses. Although they are now mostly used at historic or tourist sites, they were one of the most common kinds of transportation before cars and trains. Once you identify all the parts of a stagecoach harness and how each one functions, it is not too difficult to harness your horses to a coach. However, if your horses are just learning to pull weight, or if you are just learning to drive, you might want to start with a small, one-horse carriage first before you switch to the stagecoach.

Things You'll Need

  • 4 Horses, trained to pull
  • Stagecoach
  • 4 Harnesses
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your horse is securely tied and that you have all the pieces of the harness.

    • 2

      Put the collar on first. This round wooden and leather piece goes around the horse's neck on his shoulders. Slip it over the horse's head upside down so the widest part passes over his eyes.

    • 3

      Place the hames over the collar and buckle the hamestrap. The hames is a leather strap that attaches the collar to the traces, which in turn attach to the stagecoach.

    • 4

      Turn the collar around so it is right side up, turning it in the direction the horse's mane lies. Tighten the hamestrap to keep it in place.

    • 5

      Buckle the false martingale over the collar and hamestrap. This piece also goes around the horse's neck and helps keep the driving saddle in place.

    • 6

      Buckle the traces, the leather straps that attach to the stagecoach, to the hames and collar.

    • 7

      Find the driving harness saddle. Unlike a riding saddle, it has no seat, but it has metal rings on top for the reins to pass through, rings on the side for the wooden shafts and a girth that secures it around the horse's belly. Place the saddle just behind the horse's withers.

    • 8

      Buckle the crupper to the driving saddle and place it under the horse's tail. This padded leather piece prevents the driving saddle from slipping forward onto your horse's withers.

    • 9

      The final piece is the breeching. This piece goes over the horse's hindquarters, attaches to the stagecoach and prevents the coach from hitting the horse when you stop moving.

    • 10

      Run the girth of the driving saddle through the false martingale and tighten the girth. Leave the belly-band, the second girth strap, loose until you have attached the horse to the stagecoach.

    • 11

      Put on the driving bridle. First put the bit in the horse's mouth while holding the top of the bridle in your other hand. When the bit is in his mouth, quickly slip the headstall over his ears.

    • 12

      Thread the reins through the rings on the driving saddle and buckle them to the bit.

    • 13

      Bring the stagecoach to the horse and thread the shafts through the tugs. The shafts are the metal or wooden pieces that run between the horse and stagecoach, and the tugs are the rings on the collar for the shafts.

    • 14

      Run the traces inside the belly-band to the stagecoach and tighten the traces and the belly-band.

    • 15

      Repeat the above steps with all the horses.