We've been hooking our mares to our wagon now for the last few weeks and THOUGHT we had our new harness adjusted right to fit each one...at Christmas, we had a friend visiting from middle TN, that is a very experienced teamster, to help adjust everything. Yesterday (1/19/15), we hooked up, never made any changes, and midway in our drive, one of the mares' britching slipped all the way up under her tail...the other mare's almost made it that far. When this happened, there was lots of slack in the straps at the shoulders and a little other places...that HADN'T been there to start with...Is there a video available anywhere to show EXACTLY how the harness is supposed to be adjusted and fitted?

Here's a couple videos.

Neil Dimmock Harness 1


Neil Dimmock Harness 2

I would think your quarter straps are too long if the britchen slipped up. Britchen should sit at flat point of rear and no higher.

Do you use a crupper?

I suspect your quarter straps and also the lazy straps were too long.

your quarter straps might be too long

Seems like for that to happen they would have to really be hanging their heads and the collars sliding up their necks. Never heard of that. What kind of harness?

My harness is betathane work type...the collars seem to stay in place...AND, here I go sounding stupid...I've looked EVERYWHERE I can and can't find what a quarter strap is...is it the piece that hangs down off the britching and connects to the tug?? If it is, that piece is mighty loose looking!! Please overlook my ignorance...I thought I had found help with someone out here to show me how to adjust everything, but there's still some "tweeking" that needs to be done!! Thanks so much!!

quarter strap hooks britchen to yoke strap on western style harness

We have produced a dvd on how to adjust every piece of harness from collar to crupper. It's called Harness Up and we'd be happy to send you a copy.
Phone 931-788-2402
Mari

I'm glad to see that Stitch 'N Hitch is still around. I bought a team harness from you in 1993 and it's been used a lot, neverthelss still in very good condition. Black and green webbed nylon.

Just got back from PA Draft Horse Sale and some of the harness shops had displays. Some catalogs show a drawing with all the harness parts numbered and named. Makes it pretty easy. They also show how to fit a collar...use the flat of the hand at the throat...not a fist.
Lots of books out on the topic also.
Have fun.

Those loops that the tugs run thru that connect to the britchin are called Lazy Straps. The quarter straps hook to the breast strap that runs between the front legs.These are also connected to the britchin. One on each side goes under the belly. Hope this helps.

When butt britching is set right, dropping the head lifts it above the proper point and without a crupper it can ride up. This is why most set it too low and it tries to take legs out if the load is big enough.
The quarter strap goes from britchen to pole strap.

call me

Jeremy...how can I reach you? Thank you ALL so much for taking your time to help!! There wasn't a crupper with the set of harness, when I ordered it made, so I've never used one...I will be attempting the adjustments with the next hookup!! We've had beautiful weather here this week, but the last 3 days, we've been trying to get rid of the mud situation at our barn...hopefully once and for all (or at least, for a couple of years...lol!!!) I love hooking my mares and want to make sure their harness is fitting right!! I've had this team for 8 years and because of various reasons, have JUST in the last few months, been able to start driving them...(although they came to me broke)...so I'm not stopping now!!! I hope to post a video soon...when I figure out how!! Thanks again!!

A crupper should stop that problem. Do you have them on the harness?

573-480-1126