Saddles and Harness

     Bits for draft horses are in very limited supply. Typically draft horses use 6″, 6.5″, and 7″ mouthpieces on their bits. There are only a handfull of stores that sell these type of bits. In the old days the only choices were O-ring snaffle bits and the large carriage bits such as Liverpool bits.

     Today there are many more varieties of Draft Horse Bits to choose from. They are now available in D-ring snaffle, western curb bits, Tom Thumb bits, Butterfly bits, and many variation of these styles. This expansion in the selection of bits for draft horses has been fueled by the rise in popularity of riding these large draft horses.

     Draft horses require much larger bridles than standard horses. Draft Horse Bridles are available in various materials such as leather, nylon, beta, biothane, etc. Leather is the most widely available but the beta and biothane are by far the most durable and the easiest to care for.

     The most common measurements used to check for fit on a draft horse bridle are: bit to bit over the poll ( top of head behind the ears )

noseband, and browband. With these measurements you can easily determine if the bridle will fit. It is common to find companies that sell oversize bridles and call them draft horse size. These bridles are typically designed for warmbloods which have smaller heads than the larger draft horses. It is important to make sure that the bridle is truly designed fo draft horses and not just a slightly larger version of a standard horse bridle.

     Fly masks come in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Sizes range from foal to full draft horse size. The horse size is very easy to find and they are available at most tack shops. Our favorite fly mask is the Cashel Fly Mask.

     Cashel masks are made of superior quality materials and have deluxe features. They are available in warmblood and full draft horse size. They are also available with long nose for additional protection and also available with ears. The Cashel brand has darted eyes to keep the mask away from the horse’s eyes. They are the best designed and most durable fly masks on the market today.

     Draft horses are used for many different types of riding from trails to police patrol work to field work, and even dressage. A myriad of Draft Horse Bridles are available for these different disciplines. The most common bridle materials are leather, beta, and biothane.

     Some draft horse riders are now using draft horses in Spanish type riding. For this type of activity they will need a Spanish bridle in draft horse size. These bridles are typically made of leather and have mosqueros made of real horsehair in various color combinations. These special bridles can be used on any type of horse and in any type of discipline as they are very decorative.

     Draft horses are ideal as trail riding horses - their smooth easy gate and calm temperament make for a comfortable and enjoyable outing. The Australian saddle is one of the most popular saddles commonly used on draft horses. They are available in a variety of seat sizes, colors, and gullet widths. Not all draft horses require a full draft horse 10″ gullet. Some Shires and Clydesdales have high withers along with a wide body. In this case you will need a saddle with smaller gullet width , perhaps 7″ or 8″. To check for proper fit make a wither tracing.

      The best known producer of Australian Draft Horse Saddles is Sydney Saddleworks.

Their saddles are available with gullet sizes up to 10″ which will fit the largest flat backed draft horses with ease. The Australian saddles are exceptionally comfortable for horse and rider due to the deep seat and low tension fenders and riding position. After riding for hours in an Australian saddle you can dismount without the soreness typically experienced after riding a western saddle.