You should be able to fit your hand between the breeching and the horse's rump. Check the adjustment by backing the horse. If the breeching doesn't engage then it needs to be tighter. You can allow the breeching to be looser if you are only driving on a flat area. You can tighten it if you are planning on driving in a hilly area. |
After the have attached both traces you want to attach the breeching. The breeching holds the cart back away from the horse's hind legs. If the horse is most likely to step forward, he is also likely to back up. If he does this before the breeching is attached the cart could hit him in the hind legs.
Start by putting the breeching strap under the trace and shaft. By putting the breeching strap under the trace, the trace is held up. Put the strap through the footman's loop away from the horse and towards you (H).
Bring the breeching strap up and over the shaft making sure NOT to wrap it around the trace as well. If the breeching strap is wrapped around the trace it will be prevented from moving freely and will cause rubs on the horse's shoulders. Put the breeching strap around the shaft in front of the footman's loop (I). Wrap it around the shaft enough times to take up any slack. Once or twice is normal.
After the last wrap put the breeching strap under that wrap to lock it in place (J). Then buckle the breeching strap to itself to complete the job (K).
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