Conestoga Harness
/Collections/Transport/American-Transport/uafp_transport_american_transport_conestoga_harnes)
The pulling force of the horses was exerted on the wagon by means of the traces - chains fastened to the singletree. The singletree was a piece of wood about 32 inches long, with a hook at either end for the trace chain to fit on to.
A hook in the centre fastened it to the double tree by means of another chain. The double tree was either attached directly to the wagon, or transmitted the horses' power to the wagon by two spreader chains. The spreader chains at each end of the double tree attached directly to the wagon tongue, or indirectly to it by means of another chain, the fifth chain. The pair of traces for each horse ran along the side of the horse and were fastened to the hames, two curved pieces of wood linked at top and bottom. These fitted against the outside of the collar.
The collar was a large pad which fitted around the neck so the horse could pull against the hames without discomfort. The housing was a large piece of leather attached to the top of the collar over the hames. It kept the neck and shoulders dry. The bridle was usually made out of a single piece of leather with wide nose and forehead pieces. The blinkers were very big. The leather parts and bridle were elaborately decorated in the 19th century.
The fifth chain carrier, used to keep the middle horses from straying to either side, was attached from one collar to the other. As the name suggests, it also lifted the fifth chain off the ground. Similarly chains attached the wheel horse's collar to the wagon pole or tongue. The jockey stick did the same for the leader horses. The stay chain between the double tree and the wagon only tightened if one of the wheel horses moved faster than the other one, and so kept both going at the same pace.
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