paintponylvr
Well-Known Member
I'm finally starting to purchase new harness (good quality) and am looking at different ways of storing it... I have an "open" barn w/ a feed area sectioned off with cattle panels. During truly bad weather during the winter I can close the outside (extra large) doors and strap them shut so weather won't blow them apart. For milder weather, it's left open (simply easier!). I use the cattle panel area to hang bridle racks that most of our equipment hangs from. I do have 3 saddle racks that can be hung secured to wooden walls/posts - but haven't done that yet. Partially because not sure where I actually want them and partially because we lease this property and I want nothing that is "mine" to be considered permanent when our lease is over (we are trying to purchase it - but it hasn't happened yet)...
I currently have the metal bridle racks (temporary that hook over pipe or 2x4) and hook the bio saddle to it by hanging by the rein turret. I don't unhook the turnback or the breeching - but pickup the breeching and hang it on top of the saddle over the rein turret. The breast collar hangs on the hook next to it w/ the traces hung thru the slots. The bridle hangs by the bit over the breast collar.
Should I be unhooking the turnback/backstrap? What straps are better to disconnect and what are better to leave connected? On the leather breast collar, I also wind the traces up and tuck the ends thru rather than hooking them up by the slots. It's more fleible than the betathane ones and I prefer having it hung that way - however...?
I see your bridles are hooked by the crown like a "normal" bridle but have much more support than the moving hook mine is on. I was told by Draft horse drivers to hang mine by the bit to keep the blinders hanging nicely (draft horse blinders are HEAVY!). Right now - two of my bridles have blinders and one does not. My braided headstalls do not have blinders and they all hang on top of each other, LOL. So that you know - any leather and show type bridles and halters I've had (recently sold a bunch) WERE stored 'nicely" between towels in a rubbermaid bin in our house. Only "working, everyday" type bridles and halters were left in the barn. Everything in it is exposed to dampness from water condensation during high humidity and sometimes rain gets blown in. It's work to maintain the two western saddles and one english saddle that are leather! Soon selling the big saddle of mine - I haven't ridden in almost the full past year as I concentrate on driving the ponies... Our other saddles are all Wintecs both western and huntseat - much easier to care for and the weather (ing) taken in the barn isn't such a concern.
My draft style pairs harness is hung on a different type hook and isn't even on the hook itself but have a bungy cord that comes down and after I have the harness hanging the way I want it on my arm, I withdraw my arm bringing the bungy cord thru the harness and hames. Then hook it back up. OR I have a rope to do the same thing with - which I wrap around the hook and 1/2 hitch to hold in place. I then hang the bridle (by the bit) on another hook itself and the collar on over it (the work harness is hung on one of the 4 prong round hooks).
This seems to work - for now. But I DON"T want to damage the beta/bio-thane mini harness nor the leather harness that I have or any future harness(s) that I purchase.
Right now, the only harness (s) I'm condsidering to purchase will all be bio/betathane - as I prefer it to leather in our situation. Yes, after going to OH over the weekend of the 4th of July, I've been able to see even w/i the same harness shops differences in quality and level of "making" (lots of rivets & conway buckles vs sewing and "proper" buckles, different types/thicknesses of bio and beta vs leather). After returning home, I've had two different harness-s w/ conway buckles come loose while trotting down the road - and I'm giving some thought to how to turn those parts into buckle straps or just replacing them w/ buckle straps. It was quite an education and I'm sure I have lots more to learn in the future! This weekend while sick w/ the flu/cold, I've spent non-sleeping times perusing harness sites and making my own comparisons (I'd just started working two 2 yr olds in basic ground driving but that's on hold since I cough till I almost black out)... Well, if I have to miss beautiful driving weather - at least I can ask questions and study...LOL, and when head starts throbbing can put it up for a while, till can't stand sitting/resting quietly again!
When I go out to feed in a couple of hours, I'll see about taking some pics of my "mess"...
I currently have the metal bridle racks (temporary that hook over pipe or 2x4) and hook the bio saddle to it by hanging by the rein turret. I don't unhook the turnback or the breeching - but pickup the breeching and hang it on top of the saddle over the rein turret. The breast collar hangs on the hook next to it w/ the traces hung thru the slots. The bridle hangs by the bit over the breast collar.
Should I be unhooking the turnback/backstrap? What straps are better to disconnect and what are better to leave connected? On the leather breast collar, I also wind the traces up and tuck the ends thru rather than hooking them up by the slots. It's more fleible than the betathane ones and I prefer having it hung that way - however...?
I see your bridles are hooked by the crown like a "normal" bridle but have much more support than the moving hook mine is on. I was told by Draft horse drivers to hang mine by the bit to keep the blinders hanging nicely (draft horse blinders are HEAVY!). Right now - two of my bridles have blinders and one does not. My braided headstalls do not have blinders and they all hang on top of each other, LOL. So that you know - any leather and show type bridles and halters I've had (recently sold a bunch) WERE stored 'nicely" between towels in a rubbermaid bin in our house. Only "working, everyday" type bridles and halters were left in the barn. Everything in it is exposed to dampness from water condensation during high humidity and sometimes rain gets blown in. It's work to maintain the two western saddles and one english saddle that are leather! Soon selling the big saddle of mine - I haven't ridden in almost the full past year as I concentrate on driving the ponies... Our other saddles are all Wintecs both western and huntseat - much easier to care for and the weather (ing) taken in the barn isn't such a concern.
My draft style pairs harness is hung on a different type hook and isn't even on the hook itself but have a bungy cord that comes down and after I have the harness hanging the way I want it on my arm, I withdraw my arm bringing the bungy cord thru the harness and hames. Then hook it back up. OR I have a rope to do the same thing with - which I wrap around the hook and 1/2 hitch to hold in place. I then hang the bridle (by the bit) on another hook itself and the collar on over it (the work harness is hung on one of the 4 prong round hooks).
This seems to work - for now. But I DON"T want to damage the beta/bio-thane mini harness nor the leather harness that I have or any future harness(s) that I purchase.
Right now, the only harness (s) I'm condsidering to purchase will all be bio/betathane - as I prefer it to leather in our situation. Yes, after going to OH over the weekend of the 4th of July, I've been able to see even w/i the same harness shops differences in quality and level of "making" (lots of rivets & conway buckles vs sewing and "proper" buckles, different types/thicknesses of bio and beta vs leather). After returning home, I've had two different harness-s w/ conway buckles come loose while trotting down the road - and I'm giving some thought to how to turn those parts into buckle straps or just replacing them w/ buckle straps. It was quite an education and I'm sure I have lots more to learn in the future! This weekend while sick w/ the flu/cold, I've spent non-sleeping times perusing harness sites and making my own comparisons (I'd just started working two 2 yr olds in basic ground driving but that's on hold since I cough till I almost black out)... Well, if I have to miss beautiful driving weather - at least I can ask questions and study...LOL, and when head starts throbbing can put it up for a while, till can't stand sitting/resting quietly again!
When I go out to feed in a couple of hours, I'll see about taking some pics of my "mess"...