How to harness a horse: ways, consistency and recommendations

A horse is a beautiful and intelligent animal, which can be easily trained by a skillful approach. Owning a stallion is an expensive pleasure that not everyone can afford. In addition, in the city there is no need to keep it, 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 transportation, transportation of goods, arable land.

What do you need to know about the harness?

In order to harness the horse, you will need the skills, knowledge and experience of handling this animal. A horse is unlikely to trust a man who does not know. Harness the animal usually in a cart or sleigh. Learn this difficult craft quickly, if you are smart and remember the sequence of actions along the way. A horse is a popular animal in the village and households. Owners use stallions as draft force, because they are hardy and patient.

In contact with this animal, a person receives emotional benefits. Correct harness horse - an art that can harm an animal, if it is not honed by the 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 (subdivided four, six, eight in Europe), steam and single-window. The harness itself can be transported, arched, arid, or mobile. For example, the harness is actively used for agricultural work and other purposes. A plow and a crew can be attached to it. The manager of the cart or sleigh should be careful when the horses are harnessed. Sledding before the trip must be inspected: the health of the animal depends on its safety.

Composition of the harness

Even before getting to know the nature of the horse, understand what the team consists of. The main elements of the harness - a bridle, a yoke, a saddle, a cinch, a glue, a stripper, an abdominal, a reins, an arc.

• The bridle is used to control the horse. There is a bridle of several belts (on cheeks, nape, forehead, chin) and rings.
• With the help of a free clamp, traction from the animal to the cart is transmitted.
• Saddle is a mechanism in the harness that supports and fastens the harness.
• The girth keeps the saddle.
• The glue is the belts that hold and regulate the position of the horse, hold the clamp.
• Cross-country - a belt that is attached to the shaft. It holds a yoke, arcs and shafts on the horse's back.
• Reins - with their help, a person controls the movement of an animal.
• The arc connects the clamp, shafts through the crochets (soft belts).

Ways of harnessing

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

• Oglobelno-arc method. Before harnessing one, two or more horses it is important to check the sledge or cart, the carts on the yoke. The length of the mug should be adjusted so that the rider has the opportunity to pull off the mites and attach the arc to the shafts. Then the bridle is put on the horse, the strap is tightened on the chin, the bit is inserted into the mouth. If you harness the horse in the winter, in the cold, it is recommended to heat the bit in the palm of your hand. After that the saddle is put on by movement from withers to back. Then spreads the helmet, from under it and the yoke gets mane and tail.
• Constructional-shaft method. A pair of harnessed horses by a fork-and-shaft method is called a steam room. This method is used in the farm for tools and wagons with a drawbar. The cart for the harness must be with a single shaft (drawbar), which is in the middle. The horses are fastened to her.
• Five. A method suitable for harnessing six or more horses. Animals are placed in pairs. Five is used for solemn processions, productions, events, the farm is not used.

Sequencing

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

• When the verification phase is completed, take a stripper and an abdomen connected by a ring, pass belts through it. Pull the resulting eyelet on the shaft.
• Put a saddle, a bridle and a yoke on the horse. The saddle should be at the bottom of the withers. The clamp is tipped with mites up, then it is lowered and turned over.
• The helmet is put on the withers and straightened. Belts are combined with buckles.
• After the first actions the animal should go into the shaft, step over its pole.
• Take the arc and stand in front of the horse. Lean the arch to the right hoof, with your left hand twist the ridge.
• The arc is inserted into the left edge of the hinge loop. It should be in the cutout of the arc.
• Tighten the yoke and wrap around the mites soup (strap to tighten the yoke).
• Tie the horse to the left shaft and insert the clamp.
• Fit a neck around the occasion, attach a stick to the bush (belt, loop). Throw straps through the shafts.
• Attach the reins to the bit (bridle straps).

Steam harness

How were the horses harnessed to one harness in Russia? In the old days, the animals, working in harness next to each other, were called spouses. An interesting fact, considering that the pair harness remains one of the most popular today. 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), strips (wide strap from the yoke) and lining (the strap that connects the wad and the yoke). Then on the horses put on yokes and bridles. Depending on the position of the animals in the harness they are placed to the left and to the right of the drawbar. The nylon is put on the front fender or the end of the drawbar and fixed on the ring. They fix the clamp and distribute the tension. Posters are fixed on the wahlke in the following sequence: internal - external. The animal is carefully unplugged and in the reverse order.

How to train a horse to harness?

Before the horse is harnessed for the first time, it is necessary to accustom it to this procedure, to teach to obey. First, teach the animal to understand and execute commands: "right", "left", "stop." Lead the horse on the reins without a cart, gradually accustoming to the saddle. You need to do this with an assistant in an open area. Sitting in the saddle, it is much easier to learn the stallion. Great value during training has a voice, an arrangement of the person.

After learning the horse is important to praise and give your favorite food. In this case, the animal will remember the positive moment of training. Next time to sit in the saddle you need longer, leisurely ride horseback. Classes in the saddle can be alternated with accustoming to the wagon. Harness the horse, which has become accustomed to the saddle, easily, if you prepare for it. Pay attention to the length of the shaft (two poles that connect the wagon and the horse): the animal should not hit the cart with its hind legs.

The first arrivals must be done in the most empty area, where there are few people and an even 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 a treat near the neck or so that the animal can not reach it. Repeat the command "back". A horse harnessed in a cart (and also during a harness) should not be near children. Before riding or training, give the horse more hay and less oats. Thus, she will have a desire to take a treat while she is learning.

Recommendations of specialists

Experts advise beginners to first learn what the harness consists of, and to find an approach to the animal. A horse harnessed in a sleigh or a cart is a simple mode of transport that is used in different regions of the Russian Federation. First, study the instructions, see how the horses are harnessed by professionals. When choosing the harness, be guided by the individual characteristics of the horse, size, physique. The harness should be new, high-quality and not discomfort to the animal.