How to harness a horse: methods, sequence and recommendations

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

A horse is a beautiful and intelligent animal that is easy to train with a skillful approach. Having your own stallion is an expensive pleasure that not everyone can afford. In addition, there is no need to maintain it within the city, because the movement is carried out with the help of a car and other mechanical transport. In rural areas, for example, leisure and work are directly related to horses, they are used for transportation, transportation of goods, arable land.

What you need to know about the harness?

In order to harness a horse, you will need skills, knowledge and experience in handling this animal. A horse is unlikely to trust a person he does not know. The animal is usually harnessed to a cart or sleigh. They learn this difficult craft quickly if they are smart and memorize the sequence of actions along the way. The horse is a popular animal in the village and households. Ownersuse stallions as a draft force, because they are hardy and patient.

By contacting this animal, a person receives emotional benefits. Harnessing a horse correctly is an art that can harm an animal if it is not perfected by a master. During the harnessing procedure, it is important to be careful, consistent, not to scold the stallion if something does not work out.

Types of harnesses

Specialists use three main types of harness: multi-window (subdivide four, six, eight in Europe), double-window and single-window. The harness itself can be transport, arc, arcless, traveling. For example, a trail harness is actively used for agricultural work and other purposes. You can attach a plow and a carriage to it. The driver of the cart or sleigh should be careful when the horses are harnessed. The team must be inspected before the trip: the he alth of the animal depends on its safety.

Composition of harness

Before you get to know the nature of the horse, figure out what the harness consists of. The main elements of the harness are a bridle, a collar, a saddle, a girth, a harness, a saddle, an underbelly, reins, an arc.

• The bridle is used to control the horse. The bridle consists of several straps (on the cheeks, nape, forehead, chin) and a ring.
• With the help of a loose clamp, the traction is transmitted from the animal to the cart.
• A saddle is a harnessed mechanism that supports and secures the harness.
• The girth holds the saddle.
• Harnesses are straps that restrain and regulatehorse position, hold the yoke.
• The crossedel is a belt that is attached to the shaft. Holds the yoke, bows and shafts on the horse's back.
• Reins - with their help, a person controls the movement of the animal.
• The arc connects the yoke, shafts through tugs (soft belts).

Harness methods

There are several known methods for harnessing a horse. Each of them requires skill and experience. In Russia, the most popular types of harnesses are drawbar and shafted.

• The deafening-arc method. Before harnessing one, two or more horses, it is important to check the sleigh or cart, the tugs on the yoke. The length of the tug should be adjusted so that the rider has the opportunity to pull the pincers and attach the arc to the shafts. Then a bridle is put on the horse, a belt is tightened on the chin, a bit is inserted into the mouth. If you have to harness a horse in winter, in frost, it is recommended to heat the bit in the palms of your hands. After that, the saddle is put on by moving from the withers to the back. Next, the harness is straightened, from under it and the collar, a mane and a tail are obtained.
• Line by line drawbar method. A pair of harnessed horses in a line-drawing way is called a steam room. This method is used in the economy for tools and carts with a drawbar. The cart for the harness must be with a single shaft (drawbar), which is located in the middle. Horses buckle up to it.
• Pyaterik. A method suitable for harnessing six or more horses. Animals are placed in pairs. Pyaterik is used for solemn processions, performances, events,au pair is not used.

Sequence of actions

Before harnessing a horse, it must be carefully inspected and cleaned. Then check the integrity of the harness: it should not have scuffs, cracks, breaks. If the tugs are of different lengths, they should be made the same.

• When the verification step is completed, take the seatbelt and underbelly connected by a ring, pass the belts through it. Pull the resulting loop on the shaft.
• Get a saddle, bridle and collar on the horse. The saddle should be on the lower part of the withers. The clamp is put on with pincers up, then it is lowered and turned over.
• The helmet is put on the withers and straightened. Straps match with buckles.
• After the first steps, the animal must enter the shaft, step over its pole.
• Take the bow and stand in front of the horse. Lean the arch to the right hoof, twist the tug with your left hand.
• The arc is inserted into the left edge of the tug loop. It should be in the cutout of the arc.
• Tighten the clamp and wrap the supon (strap for tightening the clamp) around the pincers.
• Tie the horse to the left shaft and insert the collar.
• Throw a h alter around your neck, attach a lanyard (belt, loop) to the tug. Throw the straps over the shafts.
• Attach the reins to the bit (bridle straps).

Pair team

What was the name of the horses harnessed to one team in Russia? In the old days, animals working in harnessnext to each other, called spouses. An interesting fact, considering that the pair team remains one of the most popular today. The steam room is used in the village for plowing. The first stage of harnessing begins with the alignment of the bibs (light harness), shoulder straps (wide strap from the yoke) and lanyards (the strap that connects the vale and the yoke). Then collars and bridles are put on the horses. Depending on the position of the animals in the harness, they are placed to the left and to the right of the drawbar. The stripe is put on the front roller or the end of the drawbar and is fixed on the ring. They fix the clamp and distribute the tension. The lines are fixed on the roll in the following sequence: internal - external. The animal unharnesses neatly and in reverse order.

How to train a horse to harness?

Before harnessing a horse for the first time, it is necessary to accustom it to this procedure, to teach it to obey. First, teach the animal to understand and follow the commands: "right", "left", "stop". Lead the horse on the reins without a wagon, gradually accustoming to the saddle. This should be done with an assistant in an open area. Sitting in the saddle, it is much easier to teach a stallion. Of great importance during training is the voice, the location of the person.

After learning, it is important to praise the horse and give him his favorite food. In this case, the animal will remember the positive moment of training. The next time you need to sit in the saddle longer, leisurely ride on horseback. Training in the saddle can be alternated with getting used to the wagon. Harnessing a horse that is already used to the saddle is easy,if you prepare for it. Pay attention to the length of the shaft (two poles that connect the cart and the horse): the animal should not hit the cart with its hind legs.

The first races must be done in the most empty area, where there are few people and a flat road. The cart should not rattle and frighten the animal. It is best to travel in dry weather. To teach a horse to back away, hold a treat near the neck or where the animal can't reach it. At the same time, repeat the “back” command. The horse harnessed to the cart (as well as during the harness) should not be near the children. Before riding or training, give your horse more hay and less oats. This way, she will have the desire to take the treat while learning.

Recommendations from experts

Experts advise beginners to first study what the team consists of and find an approach to the animal. A horse harnessed to a sledge or cart is a simple form of transport that is used in different regions of the Russian Federation. To get started, study the instructions, see how professionals harness the horse. When choosing a harness, be guided by the individual characteristics of the horse, size, physique. The harness must be new, of high quality and not cause discomfort to the animal.