Lots of you know me as the "mad scientist" of harnessing, and have put up with my theories and progress reports as my "partner in crime," Rob Johnson in Australia and I have worked together at optimizing harnessing methods and techniques.

Well, the sum of our experience of working together for six years on "balanced draft" is finally available in a slim new volume of about 60 pages entitled "Balanced Draft - Breast Collars - Neck Collars".

This book is not like any other book available on harnessing, to my knowledge. It collects information that is sometimes only identifiable as "gut level understanding" from the past as well as the present, and articulates it all in one place, perhaps for the first time. It explains firstly the urgency of harnessing the horse to the vehicle so that he is in balance with his equipment, as a saddle horse must be in balance with his rider to achieve optimal comfort and performance.

This philosophy is called "Balanced Draft."

"Draft" in this context basically means traction.

"Balanced Draft" means that the horse is harnessed to the vehicle in such a way that he is comfortable, and "balanced," so that he can best apply his strength to pull the vehicle without pain, discomfort, or insecurity from feeling unbalanced.

It explores the history of how we came to understand Balanced Draft, how we researched and tested it to prove it to ourselves, and how to easily identify Balanced Draft when it is achieved. The rest of the book is devoted to dispelling the myths and mysteries of selecting a breast collar or a neck collar, how each is correctly paired to a vehicle based on performance and comfort as opposed to "turnout", and how each affects the horse's locomotion. It examines the whys and wherefores of some vehicle types and how they are either limited or appropriate in their intended use. Finally, there is a section on fitting neck collars and hames.

The text has been examined by experts in the field of equine locomotion and draft, for both editorial appeal and fundamental accuracy and the sentiment has been "this needs to be out there."

There are lots of photos and illustrations and the text is in very plain, non-technical language.

The book is $18.85 with postage, and can be paid with check, MO or PayPal. If you'd prefer, you can order one from the American Driving Society or the Carriage Assn. of America.

Barb Lee Nearside Harness, Inc.
18555 S. Lyons Rd.
Oregon City, OR 97045-8611
rlbl73@easystreet.com
503-631-2862