A horse is a beautiful and intelligent animal that can be easily trained 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 in the city, because the movement is carried out using a car and other mechanical vehicles. In rural areas, for example, leisure and work are directly related to horses, they are used for movement, 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 sled. Learn this difficult craft quickly if you are smart and remember the sequence of actions along the way. The horse is a popular animal in the village and households. Owners use stallions as draft force, because they are hardy and patient.
By contacting this animal, a person receives emotional benefit. Harnessing a horse correctly is an art that can harm an animal if it is not honed by a master. During the harness procedure, it is important to be careful, consistent, not to scold the stallion if something does not work out.
Types of Harness
Specialists use three main types of harness: multi-window (divided into four, six, eight in Europe), pair of windows and single-window. The harness itself is transport, arc, arcless, exit. For example, a post-trim harness is actively used for agricultural work and other purposes. You can attach a plow and crew to it. The cart or sleigh operator should be careful when horses are harnessed. The team before the trip must be examined: the animal’s health depends on its safety.
Harness Composition
Before you get to know the nature of the horse, figure out what the team consists of. The main elements of the harness are a rein, a collar, a saddle, a cinch, a harness, an interweek, an underbelly, a reins, an arc.
- The bridle is used to control the horse. The bridle consists of several belts (on the cheeks, nape, forehead, chin) and a ring.
- With the help of a free clamp, traction is transmitted from the animal to the cart.
- A saddle is a mechanism in a harness that supports and fastens a harness.
- The cinch holds the saddle.
- Harnesses are belts that hold and regulate the horse’s position and hold the clamp.
- Devil is a belt that attaches to the shafts. Holds a collar, arches and shafts on the back of a horse.
- Reins - with their help, a person controls the movement of an animal.
- The arc connects the clamp, shafts through the tugs (soft straps).
Harness Methods
There are several well-known methods to harness a horse. Each of them requires skill and experience. In Russia, the most popular types of harnesses are drawbar and shafting.
- Shock-arc method. Before harnessing one, two or more horses, it is important to check the sled or cart, tug on the yoke. The length of the tug should be adjusted so that the rider has the opportunity to tighten the pincers and attach the arc to the shafts. Then the bridle is put on the horse, the belt is tightened on the chin, the bit is inserted into the mouth. If you have to harness a horse in winter, in cold weather, it is recommended to heat the bit with your palms. After that, the saddle is put on in a movement from the withers to the back. Then the harness straightens out, from under it and the collar the mane and tail are taken out.
- Line-drawbar method. A pair of harnessed horses in a row-drawbar method is called a pair. This method is used on the farm for implements and drawbar carts. The cart for the harness must be with a single pole (drawbar), which is located in the middle. Horses are fastened to it.
- Five points. A method suitable for harnessing six or more horses. Animals have pairs. Five are used for solemn processions, performances, events, is not used in the household.
Sequencing
Before harnessing a horse, it must be carefully inspected and cleaned. Then check the integrity of the harness: it should not have scuffs, cracks, tears. If the carts are of different lengths, they should be made the same.
- When the verification step is completed, take the interweek and the abdomen, connected by a ring, pass the belts through it. Pull the resulting loop on the shafts.
- Put a saddle, a rein and a collar on a horse. The saddle should be in the lower part of the withers. The clamp is put on with ticks upwards, then it is lowered and turned over.
- The hat is laid at the withers and straightened. Belts combine with buckles.
- After the first actions, the animal should go into the shafts, step over its pole.
- Take the arc and stand in front of the horse. Lean against the right hoof, twist the tug with your left hand.
- An arc is inserted into the left edge of the tug loop. It should be in the notch of the arc.
- Tighten the clamp and wrap the tongs around the tongs (strap to tighten the clamp).
- Tie the horse to the left shafter and insert the clamp.
- Throw a reason around your neck, attach a lanyard (belt, loop) to the bucket. Throw the straps over the shafts.
- Attach the reins to the fishing rod (bridle straps).
Pair harness
What was the name of horses harnessed to the same team in Russia? In the old days, animals working in teams alongside each other were called spouses. An interesting fact, given that the pair of teams remains one of the most popular to date. A steam room is used in the village for plowing. The first stage of the harness begins with the alignment of the bibs (light harness), stripes (wide belt from the collar) and lining (the belt that connects the roller and the collar). Then, clamps and reins 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 fixed on the ring. They fix the clamp and distribute the voltage. Patterns are fixed on the roll in the following sequence: internal - external. The animal harnesses gently 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 to obey. To begin, teach the animal to understand and execute commands: “right”, “left”, “stop”. Get the horse on the reins without a wagon, gradually accustoming to the saddle. Do this with an assistant in an open area. Sitting in the saddle, it is much easier to learn a stallion. Of great importance during training is the voice, the location of the person.
After learning the horse, it is important to praise and give your favorite food. In this case, the animal will remember the positive moment of training. Next time you need to sit in the saddle for longer, slowly ride on horseback. Classes in the saddle can be alternated with accustoming to the wagon. Harnessing a horse that is already used to a saddle is easy if you prepare for it. Pay attention to the length of the shafts (two poles that connect the wagon and the horse): the animal should not hit the cart with its hind legs.
The first races must be done in the most empty terrain, where there are few people and a level road. The cart should not rattle and frighten the animal. It is best to travel in dry weather. In order to teach the horse to back away, keep the treat near the neck or so that the animal could not reach it. Repeat the “back” command. A horse harnessed to a cart (and also during harnessing) should not be near children. Before riding or training, give the horse more hay and less oats. Thus, she will still have the desire to take a treat during her teachings.
Recommendations of specialists
Experts advise beginners to first study what the team consists of and find an approach to the animal. A horse harnessed to a sled or cart is a simple form of transport that is used in different regions of the Russian Federation. To start, study the instructions, see how professionals harness the horse. When choosing a harness, focus on the individual characteristics of the horse, size, physique. The harness should be new, high-quality and not cause discomfort to the animal.