I just went and looked at the collars/hames at Chimacum. Not sure what they are calling that set of hames but in this area that would be titled "buggy or carriage hames" - not the same as the draft style that I have. Can't tell what type of collars they have - would be interesting to know. I haven't talked to anyone at Chimacum as to what their various types of collars/hames are...
I have the #310 with all of my new collars made by Coblentz Collar Company out of Millersburg, OH. The style # 310 is also made by other collar companies in other Amish communities in PA and IN. I have my first two that I'm sure are # 310, but they were made by a collar company out of PA that I don't have the name of. It is called a buggy collar and in the bigger horses wouldn't be acceptable for field work as it's not heavy enough or wide enough. It woud actually be used with the style of hames that Chimacum carries. The harness/collar companies have/carry different styles w/ different style numbers - all of which appear to be standard - at least thru the Amish communities. In the various catalogs that I have from different harness companies, the other styles/numbers aren't made small enough to fit Shetlands and Minis. The smallest they would go would be Hafflingers and maybe some welshies (various full and 1/2 sweeny and "true" field collars w/ a much wider swale and deeper groove to hold the hames). I'm not sure which of the various companies that I have catalogs for would custom make different styles of collars for the VSEs. I haven't asked since what they have works for me... I do now have a company in IN that will custom make a collar to fit my "un-fitable" mare, but also talked with my harness guys on Friday and they told me to call Coblenz directly as they felt sure they could also custom fit my mare (my 3 - 14" collars are too big and the 2 - 13" collars are too small).
If the style number is the same as mine - mine cost $45 less per collar than the ones at Chimacum...
I have the draft style of hames - but two different types. Don't ask what I was thinking... I went with the "black" hames the first two times around. They turn out to be painted steel - and when wear/friction takes off the paint, they instantly rust! UGH. These two mares are 40.5 and 41" tall and are wearing 14" collars. The hames are adjustable to fit collars from 14 - 16".
The new sets I just picked up are the same style - but they are completely stainless steel (bright silver - no paint). Today is the first time they've been used... This picture was taken while I took a break from doing adjustments to the new harness. The check rein isn't hooked up yet, the bridle is still "off" (I adjusted it several times after this pic - while ground driving), the breeching is hanging too low in front resulting in the back being too high. Can't remember what other adjustments I did and I'm thinking I'm not done yet...
This is a 40" stallion that is very petite. He is wearing a 13" collar w/ adjustable hames and the harness is Mini size - had to let out 2 sets of straps on each side (one involved the check rein and the other is the one from the hip spider, thru the square ring on the back saddle and up to the hames - on each side). Need to tighten the quarter straps while no equipment is being used - he DID get his hind legs (one at a time) caught when he swept it up and out getting a fly or two...
The mare below is 38" (at the withers) and is not built the same as the stallion above. She is also wearing the mini sized 2 hip strap harness but is wearing a 12" collar w/ the adjustable stainless steel hames. I also had to let some of the straps out on her - haven't done the check rein yet in the pic... I did let it out at the breeching - I think i also may let it out at the bit end. The work harness on my ponies and the ones on the draft horses that I've gone and seen at the various events haven't had full cavesons - just the 1/2 noseband as on these. I missed the full cavesons that I was used to, but it hasn't been an issue. I can get some custom made for each pony if I'd like and feed it thru right above the bit in the fold of the cheek piece.
I typically leave on the "dog collars" that I've made when at the events I go to. These are what I use to catch and tie every pony 2x daily to feed. Halters are typically left on and are expected to be under the headstalls at most Draft Horse events (considered a safety issue). Usually you'd also carry the lead rope which would then be attached to the hames so that the horse can be tied up if necessary. My NH style leadropes are too long for this to work well/easily - so am thinking about getting shorter lead ropes. I'm using no hardware, tie halters and they don't fit well under the mini sized bridles. I may have to play a bit to get things to work. No, niether of these ponies is currently clipped.
My harness (s) aren't marathon/CDE style. They are draft style and are styled after the big teams harness's for working in the fields pulling plows, disks, cultivators, cargo wagons, seeders, fertilizers, manure spreaders. That is how I use my harness as well - now that my pairs and teams are starting to get there. The mini harnesses will be a while before the ponies wearing them will actually be hooked to equipment - as they are just starting to wear this type of harness &/or are literally just starting their training as 2 yr olds.
When I was in OH on Friday - I drove past several farms using draft horses to pull farm equipment - a pair was hooked to a pulley - pulling a load of corn "sheafs" up into a loft. There were men in the loft, two men in the wagon that the corn stalk/sheafs were on and one man on the ground handling the team. In another corn field, a 4 abreast of drafts were pulling a "harvestor" - it was cutting the corn at ground level and then spraying it out of an arm and into another wagon attached at the back of the forecart the horses were hooked to. No, I didn't get pics - while the speed limits are much slower than other areas, I was making everyone mad just slowing down as much as I was to check them all out - didn't have the chance to stop and take pics, though I wish I had!!
