| Author | Message | ||
     Ginny White Member Username: Ginnyw Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2009 |
Hi Jackie, I have a set of cob Zilco Classic, which replaced a foreign leather set of well looked after harness, which came with my first 2 wheeler, and did the job for 5years, b4 the Zilco which up to recently has been used to compete in and hack out with for nearly 6 years. Other than wear on the Q/R tugs and i have replaced a girth strap on one side, it cleans up with warm water and or baby wipes and looks like new. I would agree with other thoughts that if you had leather and synthetic side by side for long livety leather would win if looked after. However with a busy life and practicality i would choose, snythetic every time, i have no experience of other makes, i recently acquired a tedex cob set which i now use for every day wear, i would only say about this that the sizing is not generous and unlike the Zilco the reins are very short. So what every you can afford or choose, check the sizeing. | ||
| Diane Phillips Member Username: Dianephillips Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2010 |
What an excellent video. Bought a smile to my face on a gloomy November day. It's good to see that a few of the faces survived and are still competing and putting their grooms necks on the line today! There is one thing. No money on earth would have got me in the suicide seat as a referee on a team!!!! Those brave people are made of much stronger stuff. | ||
| John Stafford Member Username: Bbbertie Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2011 |
Dear Wilf, Please log on to Clare Iveagh's link of "Old Skool Driving"....to nearly 7 minutes....where you have a "mishap". I have lived with this since 1995....."John you must have been on the wrong side". 2011 "Wilf your drivers side front wheel is airborne & I am on the right side". Aahhhhhhh. Thanks John Stafford. | ||
| Rosemary Neale Member Username: Rosemaryn Post Number: 17 Registered: 03-2007 |
HI Jackie, Don't know what size your ponies are but I have a set of barely used Keiffer harness for sale. I chose it because of all the things Clare said ie leather in all the right places and padded in all the right places. I only used it twice and then sold the pony. Give me a call if you are interested 07977 226330 | ||
| Clare Iveagh Member Username: Clarei Post Number: 8 Registered: 08-2007 |
http://vimeo.com/31256145 I think this video illustrates why the quick release was invented  | ||
| Joe Hodgson Member Username: Joehodgson Post Number: 75 Registered: 07-2010 |
Would your 2 sets of harness then be for sale? I am looking for a new set to use in HDT for dressage and cones. Please email me carriage-driving@idnetZZZ.com Remove the ZZZ | ||
| Jackie Jackson Member Username: Foxtrotbravo Post Number: 7 Registered: 02-2011 |
Thank you for your replies. Joe, the Duraweb is a well used harness, but I think that the previous owner always undid the traces at the carriage end as the Q/R buckles do not release very quickly! The same applies to the tugs. The Classic is a new set that I have used about a dozen times, so maybe it will become more pliable with use. I totally agree that safety is paramount, my aims are just to drive around the farm at first and get back quietly and in one piece! Clare, thanks very much, lots of helpful advice here. I have the quick release shackles at the carriage end, and parrot clips on the breeching and crupper/backband connection. I don't have loop end shafts, so, I guess the Q/R tugs are not crucial. I was not aware that Kieffer made harness, I have looked up their website and also Ashfield's, I think that I will change to a leather set, it would be more comfortable for the ponies and easier to handle, and it would not be a chore for me to look after it as I find tack and harness cleaning very theraputic! | ||
| Clare Iveagh Member Username: Clarei Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2007 |
I am not an expert on any of this but I think that even though these kind of fittings are referred to as “quick release” perhaps another way of looking at them are alternative or safety release fittings. I believe they were introduced to allow you to get the horse or pony out in the event that you don’t have access to one side or if the straps are caught and tight. For example with the traditional pig tail trace connectors you need some play in the trace to be able to unhitch because you need to unwind it round the pig tail. If the trace is taught because it is caught round a leg or another object you couldn’t undo it. So people started to use the quick release clips that undo no matter what the tension on the trace. They were quicker to release than cutiing thought the trace. Equally I think you can have ones at the point at which the collar meets the trace and these obviously allow you to remove the trace without having to stick your head near a possible pair of flying heals. Any buckle strap is difficult to undo if the strap is under tension. Quick release tugs offer an alternative for getting your horse out if its shafts, they are also particularly for looped shafts, used by driving trial competitors . If your looped shaft needs to be undone it is quicker with these tugs than traditional ones . They are probably less important on a traditional shaft and often too big. I don’t use parrot clips on my breeching straps but put one on the point of connection behind the back pad to the crupper. If my pony went down on it’s side I could undo this clip and that basically is the same as undoing the breeching ( I undo the breeching straps in the traditional way outside of an emergency) , equally I could probably get to at least one of the quick release tugs and undo those and the quick releases I have on my traces at the carriage end. This sort of speed and ease of access might be a life saver if my pony was down on his side in water??? These are all great however, we always carry a very sharp knife just in case. No doubt some of those who used traditional harness for this sport will have a better insight. Personally I have found that Zilco has less of a shelf life than leather and tedman and I don’t like its plastic feel, coupled with the fact that it tends not to fit well on my section Cs. I have found that leather is the most durable harness and well worth the extra money. When I next go harness shopping and if I was looking for off the peg personally I would go for the Keiffer leather/synthetic harness. All the bits that touch the horse are leather and well padded. No doubt there will be differing views. Ultimately you should go for the harness that fits your horse best and your pocket )) You can buy Kieffer from Ashfields…. Good luck | ||
| Joe Hodgson Member Username: Joehodgson Post Number: 74 Registered: 07-2010 |
Hi Have you used both these sets of harness quite regular as if so the straps will become more softer and easier to put into keepers ect. I do agree most of us now use quick release in the appropriate places as needed really to be able to get the horse or horses out in an emergency as quickly and as calm as possible. It depends as well what your aim is in driving. It's not the looking very smart or nice it's safety first. With Tedex or Zilco they are easy kept clean and with leather you have to keep on top of it to prevent leather damage or stitching becoming rotting | ||
| Jackie Jackson Member Username: Foxtrotbravo Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2011 |
I am a low key novice driver. I have a set of both Tedex Duraweb and Zilco Classic harness for 2 cobs. Before purcahsing the harness, I did quite a lot of research and chose these because I wanted to have as many safety features as possible. Both sets have quick release tugs and trace fittings. I also have Q/R snaps on the swingle trees and parrot clips on the breeching straps, I am thinking now that these are the most necessary items for getting a horse out in a hurry, do you agree? Both sets of harness look very nice and smart, but I find the straps quite stiff and difficult to handle, particularly the Q/R tugs and trace fittings, as they do not appear to be quick to release at all. I am considering changing this harness for a set of leather, English or Ideal, and I would be very grateful for any input from the very experienced people on this forum. Thank you. |