Chimacum Tack Glossary:
In an effort to provide our customers with the best service by providing the information you need before making a purchase, we offer the following glossary of horse and tack related terms for your reference. Please feel free to call or email with any questions that aren't answered here or on our FAQ's page. To browse, simply scroll down this page. To navigate to a specific term, simply click the letter it begins with from the text below. Additionally, you will find a diagram of harness parts at the end of this page. Feel free to skip ahead to the diagram by following the link below.
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Back Band
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A backband is used as a saddle on a team harness
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Back Band Billet
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Back Strap
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Belly Band
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Belly Band Billet
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Betathane
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A category of synthetic products designed for use in horse tack.
Betathane comes in several grades - all of which are a fine
webbing impregnated with a synthetic materials which makes them
look very much like leather. Beta does not stretch, shrink,
absorb water nor change texture in differing temperatures. It is
several times stronger than leather. Beta also feels supple in
your hand, has no stiffness or sharp edges.
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Biothane
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A category of synthetic products designed for use in horse tack.
Biothane or Bio sheeting are very shiny like patent leather.
Made much like Betathane, Biothane has similar properties and
works well for many tack items. It is somewhat stiffer than
Betathane and has a stiffer feel and narrow edges. It is not so
comfortable in hand and can become slippery when wet.
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Bit
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A piece of metal held in horse's mouth by the headstall of a
bridle, and used to control the horse while riding.
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Bit Strap
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A small strap that attaches the bit to the main body of a
driving bridle.
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Blinds or Blinkers
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These are attachments to the bridle cheek which are either
rounded or square and extend out beyond the horse's eye to ease
distraction while driving.
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Blinker Stay
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The piece of the bridle coming from the crown down over the
forehead and the off to each side to hold the blinds away from
the horse's eyes
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Breast Collar
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Part of the harness which goes across the animal's chest and
attached to the Tugs (or traces) which attach to the vehicle.
The breast coll is the part of the harness against which the
horse pulls.
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Breast Strap
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Bridle - driving
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A driving bridle is a headstall designed with blinds or blinkers
and a check system this bridle attaches to the water hook on the
saddle. Bridles are composed of a headstall, reins, and usually
a bit.
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Bridle Cheek
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Britchin - Breeching
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A strap going across the rump with rings on either end attached
to hold back straps - the whole strap is held up by a hip strap
and works as keep the vehicle from running up on the horse.
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Browband
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The strap of a bridle which crosses over the brow of the horse.
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Cavason
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Leather noseband (customarily used with the English snaffle
bridle) which encourages the horse to keep its mouth closed; a
longeing cavesson is a leather or nylon headstall with a
weighted noseband that has metal rings for various attachments
of the longe line. Part of the bridle that goes over the nose
and under the horse's jaw.
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Collar
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Used for the horse to pull against and help distribute the
weight of the vehicle being pulled. Collars are normally made of
leather stuffed with fine straw. Various styles and shapes are
available.
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Collar Strap
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Crown
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The strap of a bridle that crosses over the poll, behind the
horses ears.
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Crupper
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A soft folded leather loop which goes under the horse's tail to
keep the harness from slipping forward.
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Curb chain:
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The chain attached to the bit passing under the horse's chin.
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Curb strap:
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The leather strap on the bit passing under the horse's chin.
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Curb:
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A type of leverage bit with shanks, usually with a hump in the
middle called the port
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Draft
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The widest part of a collar
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Draft Horse
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A draft horse, draught horse or dray horse (from the Anglo-Saxon
dragan meaning to draw or haul) is a large horse bred for hard,
heavy tasks such as ploughing, farm or freight work. Some
examples are Percheron, Belgian, and Clydesdale. Draft horses
weigh 1,500–2,200 pounds and can be as tall as 17 hands. Draught
horses are versatile breeds used today for a multitude of
purposes but all share the traits of strength, stamina, health,
longevity, patience and a docile temperament which made them
indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.
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Gig Saddle
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A style of harness saddle used with a Gig style cart - usually
has a tree and is well padded and shaped to prevent any pressure
on the horse's spine while pulling.
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Girth
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A padded strap which attaches on either side of the saddle of
the harness and adjusts to secure the harness.
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Half Cheek
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A half cheek bit has egg shaped rings at the side of the mouth
piece with short flat bars (sometimes called spoons) going
downward. These provide different communication with the horse
by applying direct pressure to the sides of the jaw
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Halter
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A halter is headgear that is used to guide an animal. It fits
over the back of the neck and across or around the animal's
muzzle so that, when a handler pulls on the muzzle end of the
halter, the animal's head turns towards the handler.
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Hame strap
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A short strap which connects the right and left hames together
on top and bottom.
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Hame tips
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Decorative brass or chrome balls attahed to a sleeve which fit
onto the top of the hames.
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Hames
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Used to connect the collar to the harness, hames are metal or
wooden and come in a variety of styles. Hames should be ordered
two sizes larger than the collar they will be used with.
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Harness
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The gear used to drive a horse, made up of a collection of
straps and hardware. See Harness Parts & Names.
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Heel Chain
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Hip Strap
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Hold Back Fittings
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Metal brackets which attach to the underside of the shafts -
shaped like a U below the shaft the hold back strap slips into
the slot.
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Hold Back Straps
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Hold Backs attach to the breeching body at the side ring and
then attach to the shafts of the vehicle to prevent the cart
from running up on the horse
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Hungarian Style
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Pair harness designed in the breast collar style. Horses pull
together against a cross member on the pole.
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Layer Loop
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Lazy Strap or Mud Carrier
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Lead chain
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A short length of chain used to go over the horses nose thru the
halter sqaures. Used to apply pressure to the nose, if needed.
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Lead or lead shank
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A webbing, rope or leather strap with short length of chain and
a snap, used to lead a horse.
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Lines
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The strap leading from the bit to the driver's hands in a
driving harness. Reins used on a harness
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Loop on Trace
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Martingale
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A strap from the girth ending in two rings through which the
reins pass, to help control the horse.
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Nose Band
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Overcheck
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A rein which goes from the bit over the face (in an X shape)
then to the water hook on the saddle. Used to maintain proper
head position while driving.
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Pole Strap
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Quarter Strap
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The strap that goes from the belly band on the team harness to
the britchin
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Rosette
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Round metal decorative item used on the browband of a bridle.
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Rump Safe
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Reins
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Long strips of leather which attach usually to a bit and extend to the position of the rider or driver for use in steering and controlling the horse. |
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Saddle
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Shaft Tip
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Metal caps which fit over the ends of the cart shafts to protect
the shaft.
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Side Check
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A rein which goes from the bit thru a ring on the side of the
browband and then to the water hook on the saddle. Used to
maintain proper head position while driving.
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Single Tree
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See whiffletree
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Snaffle
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Bit with a solid or jointed mouthpiece that has no shanks and
works on principles of direct pressure only.
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Spares Kit
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Emergency repair kit carried in ADA driving events
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Swinging Toggle
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Metal swiging horsehead to be used on the bridle of a draft
parade or show harness.
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Tack
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Horse tack is all the gear that comes with owning a horse. The
bridle, saddle, bits, girths, cinches, saddle pads, lead ropes,
halters, whips, stirrup irons and stirrup leathers, horse boots,
and most other horse things are tack.
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Tandem Harness
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Tandem harness is designed for two horses to pull one vehicle
with one horse in front of the other. One horse is between the
shafts, the other is foreward of the shafts.
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Terrett
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Round rings attached to the saddle of the harness thru which the
lines run.
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Throat Latch
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A thin strap that runs the length of the headstall on a bridle
that buckes under the throat of the horse to keep the headstall
from coming off of the horse.
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Trace Carrier
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Trace or Tug
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Traces are the part of the harness which attaches the horse to
the vehicle.
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Trace Safe
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Tug
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See traces
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Whiffletree (whippletree)
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A device, usually wooden with metal rings or hooks, to which
traces are attached.
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Whip Holder
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Wooden or metal brackets which attach to the cart of hold the
driving whip
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Winkerbrace
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Not all of these names may be in use in your region. Harness part names do tend to vary around the country and the world. This diagram should help answer your questions about harness parts. Feel free to contact us with additional questions, and we'll do our best to help you find answers!
| 01. Draught Horse | 17. Back Band |
| 02. Draught Horse | 18. Collar |
| 03. Blinds or Blinkers | 19. Back Strap |
| 04. Nose Band | 20. Rump Safe |
| 05. Bit Strap | 21. Back Band Billet |
| 06. Bit | 22. Loop on Trace |
| 07. Crown | 23. Belly Band Billet |
| 08. Bridle Cheek | 24. Quarter Strap |
| 09. Throat Latch | 25. Lazy Strap or Mud Carrier |
| 10. Line (front part) | 26. Trace or Tug |
| 11. Hame | 27. Heel Chain |
| 12. Breast Strap | 28. Layer Loop |
| 13. Pole Strap | 29. Britchin or Breeching |
| 14. Collar Strap | 30. Hip Strap |
| 15. Trace Safe | 31. Line (hand part) |
| 16. Belly Band | 32. Trace Carrier |