Collars, Driving Harness FAQ, Should I buy...
What is the Best Driving Harness for a Miniature Horse?
Jul
More and more people are becoming more serious about getting the perfect fit for their miniature driving horses – YAY! And with this, we are often asked “What is the best harness for a miniature horse?”
The answer to that question is not as simple as you might have hoped for, but it’s not too complex either! So, do not fear. Let me explain:
No harness is a one-size-fits-all for your miniature horse. Instead of asking what the right harness for your mini horse is, you should be asking “what is the best harness for the type of driving I plan to do?”. We answer that question in this article: Which Harness Should I Choose, so I will not go into too much detail here.
Simply put, the best harness for your miniature horse depends on what type of driving you will be doing, and your vehicle and its line of draft. You can learn more about that in this article, Which Harness goes with Which Vehicle.
However, there are a few other things to take into consideration when shopping for a miniature horse.
Harness Strap Width
You want to be sure that the harness you choose for your miniature horse takes into account that these smaller equines do need thinner strap widths in order to comfortably fit. You wouldn’t want to put a big bulky 3/4 inch strap on your dainty miniature horses face! Pictured below shows an example of the differences in our strap width sizes for different sized equines.
The Breast Collar
One area that you may need to take into account for your miniature horse when selecting a harness, is the breast collar. Miniature horses often do not do well in a straight breast collar. This is because there is not enough room in between their throat and the point of shoulder for the breast collar to lay straight across without coming into contact with one or the other. Instead, you may need to look for a curved breast collar.
Below are the three options you will typically find: a straight breast collar, a curved breast collar, and a deep curved breast collar.
The one that will fit your mini best is based on the conformation and conditioning of your mini horse. You can read some more about choosing the right breast collar for your mini horse in this article: What’s the Best Breast Collar for a Mini?
You may also take into consideration a Euro Style Breast Collar, or a Collar and Hames for your miniature horse. Again, dependent upon what you’re doing and what you’re hitching to.
If you want to know when you can use either of these style of collars, just click on the photos above!
Does the Harness Set Include a Bit?
Many harness sets come with a bit. This does NOT mean this is the best bit to use for driving your miniature horse. If your harness set comes with a bit, it will usually be a single joint snaffle or a straight bar bit. Often times, neither of these will be the best bit for your mini horse. Be sure to see if your harness set comes with a bit, and if so what type of bit so you can decide if that will be a good option for your horse.
You can learn more about choosing a bit for your horse in this article: How Do I Choose a Bit for My Horse?
What is the Best Harness for a Mini Donkey?
Now if you are shopping for a mini donkey – then you DO need a harness that is made specifically for a donkey!! You can read all about why in this article: WHY a Donkey Harness?
How to Choose the Best Harness for a Miniature Horse Checklist
To recap: there are a few considerations you need to take into account when choosing a harness for your miniature horse.
- What type of driving will you be doing? This will help you select the type of harness you will need.
- What type of vehicle will you hitch to? This will help you select what type of breast collar to choose.
- Is the harness scaled down to size, including the strap width?
- Does the harness include a bit, and is it the correct one for my mini?
As always, if you have any questions feel free to reach out to us by email, phone, social media, or here in the comments!
