Shortpig
Well-Known Member
I bought a set of thimbles for arena driving. I truly have no idea how or where to hook them into the harness.
Can someone explain to me please how to do this?
Can someone explain to me please how to do this?
Oh for sure! It never hurts to have an emergency braking system.Would they be a little insurance in case the hitch failed?
That is a given, but in this case I assumed there was a show harness in question, or a breeching would have been on it to begin with. (??)And of course the best assistance of all with backing up is BREECHING
And of course the best assistance of all with backing up is BREECHING.Thimbles are okay as insurance that the shafts do not slip forward through the tugs if you don't have shaft stops on your cart but they still place all the pressure of braking or moving backwards on the saddle. Unless you are showing, it is so much simpler and more comfortable for the horse to simply use breeching.
My understanding is that thimbles should be attached to the tug D (the ring the tugs/shaft loops hang from) and should be adjusted tightly enough to stop forward movement of the shafts.
Leia
[SIZE=10pt][/SIZE]Oh for sure! It never hurts to have an emergency braking system.Would they be a little insurance in case the hitch failed?
Most times I have seen thimbles used, it has been in a roadster or race cart...so the weight on the back saddle hasn't really been much of an issue...but with a heavy cart in the picture, yes, it can put a lot of extra pressure on the back saddle, but is STILL much better (IMHO) than simply wrapping those wrap straps so tight the poor horse is unable to move freely. You still need to wrap the straps, of course...just not so tight. IF the horse is in the proper position in those shafts, and there is no great "play", that too will greatly minimize the pressure on the backsaddle when the thinbles are brought into play.
That is a given, but in this case I assumed there was a show harness in question, or a breeching would have been on it to begin with. (??)And of course the best assistance of all with backing up is BREECHING
Myself, any time I drive, I use a breeching. Most times, I use false breechings, but have also tried thimbles in the past. I do, however, prefer using a standard breeching, or false breeching with tug stops on my shafts.
Technically, the real purpose of wrap straps is to keep the cart from flipping up over backward. Tying them down tight actually transfers the motion of the cart and bumps to the horse. I would think that would be uncomfortable. Using thimbles to help with braking is still a better setup than tight wrap straps, but breeching still uses the big, meaty hind end of the horse for stopping that vehicle over their bony withers. The study of equine ergonomics is a good thing.Myrna
Leia I checked out the harnesses at Chimacum and was a bit surprised to see that their saddle and tugs look like mine except for the tree. I've had my original harness for about 15yrs now. Maybe I need to get a picture of it and post it some how. It doesn't have wrap straps. On the old shafts on old cart I had two footman loops I was able to attach the breeching to the back footman loop and that worked great. Kept the cart from moving up on the horse.I love my sliding backband from Chimacum Tack and the open tugs that go with it.They're so much faster to hitch up than wrap straps! I'll have to try your false breeching one of these times as it really does sound like a good idea.
(For the new drivers, just remember: Do not use open tugs without breeching! Even if your cart has a set of shaft stops they could easily float forward through the tugs and allow the cart to roll up on your horse.)
Leia
No, it is NOTHING like a kicking strap. It doesn't go on or over the horse, but BEHIND it, where a proper breeching would go, there is no over strap. it is doing exactly as you want..."the less stuff one theses little guys the easier and free there movement is."Also the breaching in the picture I am not sure I like that attached to the cart. It looks more like a kicking strap. I think if you have your cruppers adjusted properly there would be know need to have a breaching strap. I think the less stuff one theses little guys the easier and free there movement is. Just IMO
Shorty...I think that what you need are called shaft stops. I just got a couple of sets, and will be putting them on my new carts this spring. They attatch to the shaft where the tug is, and the "knob" helps prevent the shaft from running through the tug.
I don't have a picture in my files, but here is a link that will show you what they are.
Tug Stop
It would be easier to have someone who welds add a peg to your metal shafts in the appropriate location. All my high-end metal carts came with welded tug stops and I don't think the broad brass after-market tug stops I put on my Graber would have sat very well on the narrow shafts of a Frontier. I have however seen several Frontiers and CTM's modified by screwing in a small coat hook or other appropriately shaped and sized object from the hardware store and that worked well. I can get some pictures from my files if you want.Shortpig said:Can you put those on metal shafts? Will it weaken the shaft by putting screws into it?Sue_C. said:Shorty...I think that what you need are called shaft stops. I just got a couple of sets, and will be putting them on my new carts this spring. They attatch to the shaft where the tug is, and the "knob" helps prevent the shaft from running through the tug.
I don't have a picture in my files, but here is a link that will show you what they are.
Tug Stop
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