One more thought before you go to the Amish.
When you lower the shaft loops, check and see if you still need a piece of leather to extend the wrap straps from the girth.
Ask the harness man to show you how to attach the wrap straps, It is easier to see in person than to show over the internet. The wrap straps should go around the shafts twice, once in front of the shaft loops and once behind, then buckle back to the outer girth.
Here is a not so good example, I do not have wrap straps on my harness, so I used a shaft loop and just a plain piece of leather as an example.
I took pony, harness and cart to the nice Amish man. He said the harness is really to small for my pony. He could add pieces here and there but it was a cheap quality harness to start with. His suggustion was to get a larger one. So I ordered a biothane one and am eagerly waiting for it to come in. He liked my pony. I took the larger horse/pony too and her harness and he says it fits fine. I will post pictures of the new harness when I get it and hopefully you all will help me get it adjusted right on her.
This is good!! You ordered the Biothane harness from the Amish man? I got one from an Amish man down here, and it is great. I upgraded to braided leather lines that I love, but I am not crazy about the snaps on the bit ends, and need to have buckles put on, since it has Conways.
I do not know when it is coming in. He had one in horse size for me to see and it seems to be very nice. It has the grippy soft flexible section for the drivers hands in the lines. Stainless hardware It comes with pads because I got to pick put my own color. It seemed to be very nice quality. It was $325.
The Amish I have dealt with have been delightful. He showed me his shop. He was working on making a beautiful hand made buggy with a oak box. His wife does the upholstery. Deep tucked with buttons, firm padding, beautiful corners, my living room couch is not so nice.
Do you live close to me???? I NEED a carriage upholsterer!
That sounds like what I paid for mine. My hands don't work very well, so I have a hard time using synthetic lines. My favorites are made in Ohio by a really nice Amish man, and they are garment leather wrapped around regular leather. THE best!
I have old Zilco harnesses in my barn that look like crud after only a couple of years, and cost over $1000.00, and my Amish harness still looks good after 5 years. The Zilco traces stay a little more flexible in the cold, but that's about it for advantages to me.
Are the traces continuous with the breast collar, or do they buckle in?
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