Harness & Saddle Making

Horses have been an intrinsic part of Irish life throughout the ages. They have been recorded in Ireland from around 2500 BC. Initially horses were not ridden upon, but used to pull war chariots, carts, also for sport and ceremonial duties.

The Celts were the first people to master riding in Ireland, but specifically developed saddles did not come into use until the arrival of the Normans and their widespread deployment came much later still. Simple halters were initially used, but more functional forms of bridles and bits followed these.

Horses gradually replaced oxen from the Middle Ages for agricultural uses and general transport. Ploughing by the horses’ tail was still common in seventeenth century Ireland, but English influence discouraged this rather inhumane practice.

Over time, this method was eclipsed by the use of the plough and the horse collar, brought in by the Normans. They introduced the rounded, collar harness, which enabled horses to pull loads with comfort and ease; ploughing in this way improved the horses’ ability to pull the plough, which in turn accelerated and increased production.

But it took a while before this type of harness was universally utilized.
Horse & harness components
Copyright David Shaw-Smith

Harness and collar making as a trade began with the growth of settled communities. Harness making had two parallel traditions in Ireland. The landed classes and wealthy affording to pay craftsmen to make high-quality saddles, bridles and harnesses from leather, with fine fittings and in contrast, the less well off, making their own harness’ from bit of wood and súgán ropes of twisted straw.

 

An Irish Draught horse pulls a tub trap.

The horses collar can be seen clearly. This type of traditional harness allows the horse to pull it’s load without putting excess pressure on the windpipe, which would be inclined to throttle the animal and reduce performance.

Copyright David Shaw-Smith
An Irish Draught horse pulls a tub trap.
Copyright David Shaw-Smith

An Irish Draught horse pulls a tub trap.

The horses collar can be seen clearly. This type of traditional harness allows the horse to pull it’s load without putting excess pressure on the windpipe, which would be inclined to throttle the animal and reduce performance.

Copyright David Shaw-Smith
Enlarge image

Harness making tools

Copyright David Shaw-Smith
Harness making tools
Copyright David Shaw-Smith

Harness making tools

Copyright David Shaw-Smith
Enlarge image

The techniques of saddle and harness making have changed little throughout the centuries. They require the best quality leather, which come from selected hides; these are vegetable tanned, and then curried ie stretched and finished.

The craftsman then cuts out the leather to an exact pattern, precisely and to scale; the pieces are stitched together with well-waxed thread, the fittings attached and finally it is finished to a high standard.

Berney Brothers of Kilcullen, Co. Kildare are a long established saddlers, still making quality horse tack today.

A show jumping saddle made by Berneys of Kilcullen
Copyright David Shaw-Smith

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