Zilco harness

[blitznbobs]

I am currently looking to purchase a harness for a small 13 hi ish but built like a brick poo house cob/pony. I have been borrowing someone’s ancient leather harness which I have no idea what size it is but none of it fits brilliantly and which is a bit knackered and needs replacing — I’ve been looking at the zilco brun harness and can’t decide between a pony and cob size — any pointers or should I be looking at something different for an inexperienced pony and driver to drive only for pleasure off road

 

[rabatsa]

Zilco can be mixed and matched, so measure your pony and buy a set from a retailer. They can make one up from the correct size parts.

Chart taken off internet to show how/where to measure.

Horse drawn carriage driving harness advice and measurement form leather biothane single team tandem harness

 

[Gloi]

A pony size fit a similar shaped one here.

 

[SilverLinings]

You can purchase a mixed size Zilco to fit the horse, e.g. bits of it in different sizes as appropriate. I have a mixed pony/cob one (although I was disappointed Brun was only available in full size then) for the horse I drive as he didn't fit either size perfectly (14.2hh connemara, good conformation but apparently not what Zilco thinks of as a cob or a pony!). If you know what sizes in which bits you need then you can buy it online, or a dealer will let you visit with the horse and fit one for you (I know that Fenix Carriages used to offer this).

The only issue I have with the Zilco (I only went for it as it is cheaper than good quality leather and looks virtually identical) is that it is very stiff to do up the straps in cold weather. If you don't have issues with your hands/arms then this shouldn't be a problem, and it can be made easier by keeping the harness in the house/a heated tack room until just before harnessing up. Unfortunately I do have joint problems, so now don't drive in the winter (when it's below about 10c) as I can't manage the harness. If I won the lottery I'd definitely buy good quality English leather instead.

 

[tda]

Yes definitely measure, I have a cob set of synthetic (not zilco) that I want to use on a 14.1hh dales pony, the saddle & girths are wayyy too small, just had to buy full size parts

 

[ester]

Chandelles saddlery were super helpful getting a novice friends harness right (mixed sizes and they did get it right first time)

I actually find it softer to do up/undo than the equivalent leather options, slippier though which might be the issue with reduced grip? It's a lot easier to clean and generally very popular.

 

[SilverLinings]

Chandelles saddlery were super helpful getting a novice friends harness right (mixed sizes and they did get it right first time)

I actually find it softer to do up/undo than the equivalent leather options, slippier though which might be the issue with reduced grip? It's a lot easier to clean and generally very popular.

The leather harnesses I have used have been very expensive John McDonald or German custom made top quality stuff, and they have been lovely and supple. They are owned by someone who employs staff just to clean harness so they are also kept in optimum condition. I can't stretch to spending so much on harness, and certainly don't have a personal tack cleaner so Zilco was my only option as at the time the only leather stuff that was comparable price-wise was very poor quality (and therefore stiff as a board).

Aside from the harness, my Zilco driving bridle is definitely stiffer to do up than my leather riding bridles. I did look into getting a leather driving bridle, but there didn't seem to be much point as I'd still struggle with the rest of the harness. I did find a very old picture of a patent for a strap tightening device (for tack) and made one up, it works well on girths but not so well on narrower straps and those that aren't taught, so unfortunately didn't fix the problem as well as I'd hoped.

I'm not a fan of synthetic tack on the whole, but the Zilco harness is good quality and passes surprisingly well for leather (as long as you don't look closely). It seems to last well too.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I am currently looking to purchase a harness for a small 13 hi ish but built like a brick poo house cob/pony. I have been borrowing someone’s ancient leather harness which I have no idea what size it is but none of it fits brilliantly and which is a bit knackered and needs replacing — I’ve been looking at the zilco brun harness and can’t decide between a pony and cob size — any pointers or should I be looking at something different for an inexperienced pony and driver to drive only for pleasure off road

I bought pony for my welsh A but it was too big in many places so had to do a mixture of pony and shetland. I sold my Zilco in the end as I had it 4 years never used it so went synthetic in the end made to measure as I won't show her in harness but we had decided to do a sponsored drive but failed to do it in the end.

 

[tristars]

zilco is a long standing business, we use zilco racing rubber reins with stainless steel fittings on all our bridles

 

[I'm Dun]

Aside from the harness, my Zilco driving bridle is definitely stiffer to do up than my leather riding bridles.

I found the bridle a pain but the rest of the harness was fine just not as nice as the one I replaced it with. I managed to get a really lovely rene schoop synthetic harness that was definitely softer and easier to use, so worth keeping an eye out for one