Tuesday Tip – All Things Equal

When harnessing your horse, pony, donkey or mule, it’s important to make sure all the harness adjustments are the same on each side.

So if you are on hole #3 on your girth on the right side, then you need to have your girth adjusted on the #3 hole on the left side. This is especially important when you have a ring you snap your martingale to. This ring should always be centered between the horse’s front legs so the martingale isn’t pulling one way or the other.

If your crupper is on the 1st hole on the left side then it also needs to be adjusted on the 1st hole on the right side.

And so on and so on.

If you can’t adjust something evenly then you may need to punch a few holes so you can.

When you have things adjusted so they are not even you run the risk of causing sores, muscle soreness and uneveness in your horse. Also if your horse is reluctant or acting out, take a second look and be sure things are even. This can be the difference between a happy driving horse and a driving accident.

I will add there are horses out there that are complete saints and will never argue or show when they are uncomfortable, they will simply put their head down and work. We owe it to them to make sure everything is as comfy as we can make it!