How to Harness Rig Your Horse
Harnesses have played an important role in horse ownership for centuries. Originally developed as a means to attach the horse to a piece of equipment such as a plow or cart, harnesses are still common tools in many parts of the world. Used for everything from farm work to racing, harnesses come in a variety of styles, although they are all applied in a similar fashion. Harness rigging your horse is not difficult although it does take a little time to get the harness properly adjusted.
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Instructions
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1
Catch your horse, placing the halter and lead on him to make controlling him during the rigging process easier. Tie him to your hitching post or crossties to free your hands for grooming and tacking.
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2
Remove any bits of bedding and dust from his coat using your grooming tools. A stiff bristle brush works well to remove dried mud and grime, while a soft brush will take off any remaining foreign bodies on his coat. Comb through his mane and tail with a mane comb and clean his hooves with a hoof pick to remove any rocks that might cause lameness.
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3
Slip the collar over your horse's head, unhooking the lead rope to pass the collar down over the neck. Center the collar in the middle of your horse's chest, rehooking the lead rope to keep your hose tied securely.
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4
Lay the saddle over the horse's back, buckling the two front straps to the slats at the back of the collar. The wide band that wraps around the horse's body behind the withers is called a saddle, and helps keep your harness rigging from sliding back as he pulls. Pull the rear straps back towards the horse's haunches to prevent them from becoming tangled as you fit the breeching.
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5
Place the breeching over his hindquarters, centering it and pulling his tail aside to prevent his hair from tangling in the straps. Attach the long straps from the saddle to the breeching, taking care not to twist them as you buckle the straps.
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6
Unbuckle the halter and slide it off his head, buckling it around his neck to hold him secure as you fit the bridle. Hold the bit in one hand and the crownpiece in the other, placing the bit against his lips and into his mouth as you slip the bridle over his ears. Buckle the throatlatch, making sure you can fit at least two fingers between the neck and strap to prevent overtightening.
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Run the reins through the rein guides on each side of the harness, clipping them to the bit. Walk around the horse, checking all of the buckles to make sure they are properly tightened to complete your harness rigging.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your harness is well oiled and cleaned after every use. Horse sweat is very salty and can quickly weaken your harness if not properly cared for.
Never hook an untrained horse to a cart. Pulling can be very frightening to an untrained animal and a scared horse can panic and cause serious injury.
