Good job, guys! You've picked out the worst things right away.
I'm assuming that halter and lead are on there just for taking the picture so I don't take too much issue with that.
I expect you're right but since he has no one at his head to hold that line why not just remove it?
It surprises me that several of you said the overcheck was too long. First of all, if you look at the front of the face there
is no overcheck
, so I'm assuming it's a sidecheck, and secondly, in my opinion it's barely long
enough.
Remember that the horse has his head turned towards the camera so it appears looser than it really is, and I think there's just enough slack that when that horse attempts to round up and actually go on the bit he will be able to. This would be a good length of sidecheck for preventing grazing but not interfering with the horse's natural carriage. Given that this is a carriage-style harness rather than a show harness it really shouldn't have a check at all- especially an odd one that seems to only go to the crown!
(I don't see sidecheck rings either.)
The lack of sidecheck rings led me to think overcheck but I admit to not noticing the lack of anything on his face...so what the heack is that strap for? I consider it too long because it hangs off to one side and isn't tidy to look at that way. That said I haven't used a check in several years since I switched from breed shows to ADTs
The breastcollar, IMO, is actually hung a bit too low. What makes it look so poor is that the weight of the trace buckle is too far behind the supporting straps and thus will tend to sag when the horse isn't actually pulling. That's a fault of the construction, not the fit, but I'd still adjust at least the rear neckstrap fairly high to try and correct it. Be sure when you're looking at buying harness that the supportive straps are attached in the best location to carry the weight! So many times the hipstrap is all the way up by the breeching ring so the rear dips down off the meaty part of the haunch and you can see here what happens when the neck straps are too far forward. The front of the breastcollar currently rests correctly at the junction of the windpipe and the chest but will probably come down a bit when the rear of the strap pivots up under draught, making it too low overall.
The backstrap to me appears more stiff and new than too long, although it does look like the crupper may have rotated a bit which would indicate it could be a bit tighter. When breeching is used the backstrap can be merely snug, not tight as it must be when the horse is braking with the saddle. I'd probably bring it up a hole to take up the slack but that's about it.
What I was looking at here was the slack behind the saddle as well as the appearance of the crupper position but your points are noted.
You guys covered most of it.
The saddle appears too far forward although some of that could be his pinto markings and roached mane combining for a visual illusion, but if it really is then it will push on his withers and the overgirth could interfer with the horse's elbows in motion. The backstrap will need to be shortened when the saddle is set further back but isn't too bad right now. The hipstrap is okay but could be a little bit further back. The breeching needs to be raised but appears to be the correct length, however as others have noted it won't do any good when it's not attached to the shafts.
I think when the shafts are dropped level you'd find the slack in the traces would be taken up and would fit just about right at the point of the shoulder. The shaft tiedowns appear to be an overgirth arrangement rather than wrap straps (which is fine) but it should have more keepers to keep the billet in line with the tug straps and will be WAY too long once you've let out the tugs.
I'm not even sure what the thing dangling off the footman's loops is! It doesn't appear to be attached to anything.
The bridle appears quite nice and is correctly adjusted.
If I'm not completely mistaken that strap is used to run the trace thro so it doesn't sag. It keeps the traces in line with the shaft and I have seen a number of people in our area use them. I can actually see the benefit on occasion, it does look neater and as long as they aren't interfering with the freedom of the traces to tighten or slacken I haven't seen anything to tell me they are a bad idea.
I'm with you on that. The Amish guy who makes the harness might very well make a fine product, in fact it looks like he does for the price, but why should I trust a company to send me the right size parts and assist me with their product when it's obvious they don't have a clue about harness? There's one mini company I love that always has at least one product turned upside down or fitted in a dangerous fashion in their catalogue and it always makes me groan.
The shots of Lancelot hitched and driving in the "Mini School" book engender a similar reaction. She does a fabulous job of training him in long-lines, but clearly is not familiar with driving!
Leia
Is there anything that you see that the rest of us didn't?
