Where I could get a reasonably priced new or lightly used Cob sized harness?

[horsegeeks]

I’m getting back into driving after years of being away from it. I am afraid to use my previous pleasure driving harness … that has been stored in the hay barn for 15+ years without being touched … much less oiled!

I wondered if anyone has any suggestions for where I could get a reasonably priced new or lightly used Cob sized harness. (I would normally have gone to Smuckers, but they are out of business now.)

I’m not planning to compete … just doing at lot of cross-country driving for fun. I’m in no particular rush for a harness. My future driving horse is a yearling Morgan filly and I won’t be hitching her until late Fall or early Spring.

I’d prefer one of the synthetic harnesses. (Of all the horse related things I enjoy … cleaning harness is not one of them!)

I’ve been lurking on this forum and found out about “Driving Essentials”, “Yonie Harness”, and “Chimacum Tack”. National Bridle has not been mentioned. But they have both a nylon and leather “pleasure” harnesses. Historically, they were a good place to go … but that was a long time ago and I’m not sure that something selling for around $200 would hold up to what I want to do.

I have no clue where to go to look for used driving harness … ideally in the NC area. There don’t appear to be any tack shops that actually carry harness … even in the Southern Pines area.

Any suggestions about where to look for new or used harness will be appreciated!

THANKS!

[KellyS]

Driving Essentials has a great selection of harness–from synthetic to leather; basic, less expensive to top-of-the-line. Jan is wonderful to work with; she spent 30 minutes on the phone with me the other week helping me pick out a bit for our pony. Which ended up working perfectly! If I was looking for a reasonably priced new harness I would start there.

Daniel Smucker is still making harness. We just had some new pieces made for the Super Deluxe harness we bought last year. Not sure on pricing; I know the loop tugs and traces we just bought (switching from a gig to a road cart) were around $350. It felt a little high, but the quality is outstanding and we needed it to match the harness we already had.

I will say that Daniel made us a breastcollar to go with our harness at the last minute last year–we had borrowed a breastcollar to use at The Laurels, but found out after the show that the person needed it back for another show. Daniel made us a breastcollar in less than 2 weeks so we would have it time for Gladstone. That’s service! :yes:

[Drive_NJ]

North Carolina!
great place to check is with Claudette at Country Carriage near Columbus
http://www.countrycarriagesusa.com/home.html

she has good quality leather and synthetic harness - Amish made
and she stands by her product
she frequently has trade-ins

Ashemont will probably check in. She’s near/in Southern Pines and can tell you if there is a local club with newsletter classifieds - that is often the best place to find pre-owned equipment

[pricestory]

I can second using Claudette. She is wonderful. I have one of her deluxe biothane harnesses and it has done me for everyday to showing. She is great to work with and will help anyway possible.

[Yip]

This is the one I bought. Haven’t used it much yet, but it looks very well made (OH Amish) and was a great price. I would honestly trust Laurel or Claudette to sell good quality things and stand behind them.

http://www.drivingtidbits.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=17

Also, this gal saw mine and said hers are also Amish made in OH and are very like mine.

http://www.buggynon.com/thebuggyshop.htm

Wendy

[horsegeeks]

I wondered if anyone is familiar with the harness listed at

http://www.smuckersharness.com/pg5.html

I’m torn between this harness and Claudette’s. I’d also wondered about Zilco’s Tedex.

Our goals haven’t changed. We mostly pleasure drive, though we may make a couple of shows. Safety and low maintenance are our main goals.

I’d appreciate any input you might have. we’ll have to buy soon since Lilly is finally making progress! (HOORAY!!!)

[Thomas_1]

I’ve just lost my supplier of pairs harness. What a pain it is trying to find that now!!!

Singles … no problem

[horsegeeks]

And very hard trying to buy a harness you’ve never seen!

I’ve seen the “new” Zilco harness, but not the Tedex. I worry that the Tedex is not carried by most of the on-line harness shops … very worrying. We have the “Classic” and like it. But why is the Tedex so much less?

My Smucker’s harness is at least 25 years old and I liked it when I got it. But a lot changes in 25 years!

I’d love to have a harness shop in my area with a selection of different makers.

[Thomas_1]

I can easily get Tedex and Zilco but got to say I’m not really wanting that.

[smhlin110]

Tedex is predomintantly nylon web and is not covered the way that the Classic or Elite/ZGB harnesses are. I’ve seen it, probably wouldn’t use it. Many of my friends have Zilco for Marathon and love it, but have the Classic at a minimum.

Another place for used harness is Coachman’s Delight. I saw Andy at a show a couple of weeks ago and he had a few on display. There was a gorgeous Hunt’s harness he had, but that’s probably more than you’re looking for! :lol: But one can drool!

http://www.coachmansdelight.com

[goodhors]

Thomas, did Tedman sell out to Zilco? I am pretty sure our old Tedman harness was a Tedex model.

[horsegeeks]

It sounds like its back down to Claudette’s harness and Smuckers Pleasure harness.

I love the harness we have from Claudette and I liked my old Smuckers harness a lot.

Could anyone give me any details of the Smuckers Pleasure harness? The pictures are so small that I have trouble making out any details about the harness.

We have one leather harness, that I don’t particularly like. Besides I don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning leather harness … i.e. I’m lazy!

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=goodhors;4957069]
Thomas, did Tedman sell out to Zilco? I am pretty sure our old Tedman harness was a Tedex model.[/QUOTE]They “teamed up” with Fiona Tedman quite some time ago. Must be about 8 years now.

She is now the European distributer for Tedex, Duraweb and Zilco which are all their ranges.

So yes it’s now all one in the same company.

[MySparrow]

@horsegeeks;4957805

Could anyone give me any details of the Smuckers Pleasure harness? The pictures are so small that I have trouble making out any details about the harness.

I recently bought a used Smucker’s Pleasure harness and I love it. Beautiful stuff with lots of adjustment, and the leather is of excellent quality. I have both the “show” and “work” saddles for it. Doubt that I’ll ever use the “show”, as it has no tree and is very narrow. The “work” is lovely.

One thing I don’t like is the breastcollar, which is just a straight padded strap with sewn-in traces. For years this is all I used, of course! But then I discovered how much better the anatomically shaped breast collars and variations suit the horses, so I replaced it with one of Marjean’s Freedom Collars. Actually, I initially purchased a similar design from another supplier, but I was unhappy with the quality and returned it.

The bridle fits well and again has plenty of adjustment. It is offered with no noseband but I have added one. I have also replaced the crownpiece with a shaped version I bought from Dressage Extensions some time ago.

I don’t know that I or a client has ever just gone out and bought an off-the-shelf harness and not made adjustments to it. As soon as it comes out of the box I start stripping off the various overchecks! I have also replaced traces and holdback straps on some of the sets to better suit the horses that wear them. If I had only one horse to fit, I would definitely save up to afford custom-made; but with a growing number of driving horses in my yard, I’ll keep adjusting the less expensive but good quality stuff.

I’d like to go on record here as noting how much I dislike Conway buckles. Just saying. I’m not coordinated enough. :no:

Also, you might pop over to the CD-L, where harnesses and other equipment are regularly listed for sale. That’s where I got my Smucker’s, and there’s always (including today) something being offered.