Harness the power

There is a formula for performance showing success, and the first part is this: Enter every class. Typically, performance championships are decided by points, and not entering a class is literally leaving points on the table.

I've entered a lot of online shows this year, and I haven't fielded a harness entry in any of them. I have my reasons - and some of them are even valid - but the fact remains, avoiding this class is not helping me achieve my goals. I really want to win some chicken ribbons at Danielle Feldman's Why the Chicken Crossed the Road Photo Show, so reluctantly, I dug up my only harness and tried it on Dun Up Purdy. To my great surprise - and slight dismay - most of the pieces fit.

Harnesses are very labor intensive, and I wouldn't have had time to make a new one from scratch. However, I was able to whip up a new girth,

new split breeching...

and a new split crupper in just a few hours.

Here's Dun Up Purdy in the old harness with new pieces. It's not perfect, but it's definitely good enough.

I am especially pleased with how the split crupper and breeching fit around his tail.

Next step: Hitch him to a cart. I can't believe it. It looks like I might actually have a harness horse!