RhineStone
Well-Known Member
The difference between a mini and the fine harness horses of the big horse show ring (saddlebreds, arabs, etc.) is that those horses are pulling a totally different ratio of weight. Your typical Arab or Saddlebred is about 900-1000 lbs. The Jerald cart they are pulling or holding back is about 150 lbs. and let's say the average human is 150 lbs. So that is 300 lbs. to 900 lbs. or a 1:3 ratio. The average 300 lb. mini is pulling and holding back a cart of about a 100 lbs. (I took a guess) and the same 150 lb. human (or more in many cases). So the weight ratio is about 1:1 or at best 1:2. I would say that is comparing apples to oranges.
In the process of braking without breeching, the wrap straps on a fine harness engage which are attached to the saddle through the tugs. The saddle rotates some, and unless the saddle has gullet clearance, this rotation can actually pinch the spine. We had a AMHR National Top Ten mare that started to refuse to back for seemingly no good reason. It's not that she wasn't taught properly, she had placed at Nationals. Until we figured out that the saddle was rotating and pinching her 16 yr. old spine, it was an actual battle to get her to back even on a hard surface backing downhill. When we finally analyzed the mechanics of how the harness was fitting (the same harness and cart that had been to Nationals), we added the breeching. The mare initially refused to back up until she realized that the process didn't hurt. Then she took another step. Backing problem was solved and she went back to being a successful driving horse again. We have NEVER not used breeching since. We don't find it just useful. We find it a necessity. We learned the "why" for the equipment and it had absolutely nothing to do with looks.
When using breeching, the breeching straps are attached to the cart. When the horse slows or stops, the breeching "pushes" on the horse's big meaty haunches instead of rotating the saddle into the spine or pushing on the horse's withers. Muscle and fat can take a whole lot more "blow" than bone can. And the breeching pressure is distributed over a greater surface area. It also helps the horse stop with more "rounding". Properly fitted breeching does nothing to restrict the horse at all. If it did, the World-level carriage drivers that showed at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in Oct. wouldn't have used it when Driven Dressage is a major part of the score. I guarantee it.
I really don't think that using breeching or not has much to do with feeling safe in the breed ring. It is done all the time. As far as looks go, I find that secondary to the comfort and performance of my horse. This practice of keeping the traces slack or using a quick hitch and having the mini pull the cart with their ribs I find inhumane as well (see above weight ratio). It is my wish that mini exhibitors would ignore what goes on in the big horse ring and do what is good for their horse. Do what you want, but please understand what you are doing.
Myrna
