PaintMeFancy
Well-Known Member
I recently acquired a 10 year old mini mare. I am hoping my justification for this isn't off... However, as experienced in horses as I am and normally fairly confident - I find myself in a humbled position of knowing little to nothing. I owned a mini about 8 years ago for a short while (a summer) - when an excessive heat wave caused him to colic and after a long battle I lost him. He was a pet and we didn't do much with him except ground work.
2 1/2 years ago I had my daughter and my horse life has been almost nothing. I thought a mini may be something to bring this back. I got an oversized mini - A black and white paint and she comes home on Wednesday. She is well trained to drive (love she knows all her verbal cues) and fairly easy going - they also used her for some basic small kid lead line. I feel she will train me well in driving and be good for my daughter - as she is so attentive and careful with the small kids.
So - Hello - My name is Ashley and while I have LOTS of questions - and little guidance around here - I am located in Northern California -
I have already bought my daughter all her equipment for riding - and a custom easy entry style cart for myself
However - as I have read some previous threads here - harness purchasing has become more challenging then I ever imagined.
My first concern is not knowing proper size - she is 38 inches (maybe a hair more) -- not sure how much these adjust to where if I get a B size I should be fine - or should I look at more pony - spending that type of money on tack - I want to be sure I guess.. however she is too far away right now to measure
My second concern is material - nylon, biothane, betathane, leather, synthetics -- wow - what a whirl wind - while I really don't have $600+ to put toward a harness right now - I would hate to buy something for $200-300 and be unhappy with it to only spend the $600+ later...
I have looked at Comfy Fit, Zilco, harness leather, - and who knows what all - Ozark, Star lakes, ronshorseharness.com, ebay, A&N harness, among others
I think I have decided no on nylon and probably biothane -
I need something easy to clean as sweat will happen!
I plan to be mostly on trails and the country roads around my house (paved), along with maybe some dirt irrigation/side of field farm roads (all dirt)
Any help, pointers, etc would be appreciated...
Thanks
2 1/2 years ago I had my daughter and my horse life has been almost nothing. I thought a mini may be something to bring this back. I got an oversized mini - A black and white paint and she comes home on Wednesday. She is well trained to drive (love she knows all her verbal cues) and fairly easy going - they also used her for some basic small kid lead line. I feel she will train me well in driving and be good for my daughter - as she is so attentive and careful with the small kids.
So - Hello - My name is Ashley and while I have LOTS of questions - and little guidance around here - I am located in Northern California -
I have already bought my daughter all her equipment for riding - and a custom easy entry style cart for myself
However - as I have read some previous threads here - harness purchasing has become more challenging then I ever imagined.
My first concern is not knowing proper size - she is 38 inches (maybe a hair more) -- not sure how much these adjust to where if I get a B size I should be fine - or should I look at more pony - spending that type of money on tack - I want to be sure I guess.. however she is too far away right now to measure
My second concern is material - nylon, biothane, betathane, leather, synthetics -- wow - what a whirl wind - while I really don't have $600+ to put toward a harness right now - I would hate to buy something for $200-300 and be unhappy with it to only spend the $600+ later...
I have looked at Comfy Fit, Zilco, harness leather, - and who knows what all - Ozark, Star lakes, ronshorseharness.com, ebay, A&N harness, among others
I think I have decided no on nylon and probably biothane -
I need something easy to clean as sweat will happen!
I plan to be mostly on trails and the country roads around my house (paved), along with maybe some dirt irrigation/side of field farm roads (all dirt)
Any help, pointers, etc would be appreciated...
Thanks