This message is from: "David McWethy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> What size collars are people using for Fjords? If you can help me on this,
tell me collar size, horse height, and how drafty horse is. I should know this, but want to hear what others have to say. My guess is that 21 is right for mid size average Fjords. Dave, my fjord gelding MVF Venn takes a 21 inch neck collar. He's 14 hands and around 1100 #. I found Barb Lee's book very helpful on measuring correctly. I wanted very much to get a Norwegian harness from Olaf Nyby, with the wonderful adjustable Norwegian collar, but he's way too expensive for me. . I ended up getting collar and hames from Sugar Valley Collar and the New England Sidebacker work harness in nylon with stainless steel fittings (much lighter than the leather anyway and that's an issue for me) from Abner Esh of Peach Lane Harness. Both outfits do beautiful work. That total came to just under 1/4 the cost of Olaf's very beautiful leather harness and would have been less than half in leather. The Sidebacker has a D-ring over the girth that fills the same function as the ring on the Norwegian harness--the short tug fastens to the ring as does the long tug and the britching for work. I also got shaft carriers if it would be used with the cart--but nothing matches my Camptown harness for my cart. ! And I'd need to modify my cart for axle draft to use with the neck collar. The horse loggers here really like this harness and tug arrangement. In the woods there are times when the load (log) would be part way up on hill/gully while the horse is all ready going up the other side. The short tug attachment to the D ring keeps the neck collar seated properly even though the long tug may be at that point on quite an angle going up! And of course it is the correct angle of uninterrupted draft for other work--skidding on the level, plowing, etc. I have to say that it is a great deal of fun learning to do "real work" with my fjord! He's a great little trail horse and super in the cart--but he can do it all! Sue Freivald in N VA where it is beginning to snow for the first time this winter.
