The five common harness injuries are collar sores on the shoulders, girth galls under the belly band or surcingle, wither rubs from a collar or saddle sitting too high, windpipe pressure from a breast strap or collar too low, and trace rubs on the flanks or hips from badly routed traces. Collar sores are the number one harness problem.
Part of Harness & Yoke Making
The standard harness injuries of draft animals: where each occurs, what causes it, and what to change.
Each Injury Points Back To A Specific Part
The table lists five injuries, and location tells you which part is at fault. A sore under the belly is the belly band or surcingle; a sore on the shoulders is the collar. Fix the part, not just the skin.
| Injury | Where | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar sore | Raw or open skin on the shoulders | Poor fit or a dirty collar lining; the number one harness problem | Refit; clean the lining daily; see Fitting & Adjustment |
| Girth gall | Under the belly band or surcingle | Friction, sweat and grit | Pad and clean the strap; see Surcingle & Belly Band |
| Wither rub | Top of the neck at the withers | Collar or saddle sitting too high | Lower or refit; pad |
| Windpipe pressure | Throat | Breast strap or collar too low | Raise or replace the strap; see Breast Strap Design |
| Trace rub | Flanks or hips | Traces routed incorrectly | Re-route; see Hames & Traces |
Windpipe pressure shows differently from the others: the horse coughs, struggles to breathe and may panic, rather than showing a skin lesion first.
What You Need
- Light and a clean hand — for checking skin.
- The harness, unbuckled and laid out — to match marks to parts.
- A note of where marks are — draw or list them.
Method: Read An Injury
Step 1: Look at the location. Match it to the table.
Step 2: Look for the first signs. Hair loss, redness, heat, swelling, or a dry patch on a sweating animal.
Step 3: Trace it to the part. Hold the part against the mark. A seam, a buckle, a lump or a gap often lines up.
Step 4: Stop work if the skin is open. See Treatment & Rest Protocols.
Step 5: Fix the cause before the animal goes back. The sore happened for a reason.
Worked Example
A horse shows rubbed hair in two places after a day: on the shoulders and under the belly.
- Shoulders: collar fit or dirty lining. Check the flat-hand clearance and clean the lining.
- Belly: surcingle or belly band friction. Pad it and clean it.
Two marks mean two parts to fix. Fixing one does not clear the other.
Common Mistakes
- Treating the skin, not the harness — the injury returns.
- Taking a cough for a cold — it may be windpipe pressure.
- Looking only at the shoulders — belly, withers and flanks also rub.
- Using the same pad for all — each location needs its own padding.
Safety
Windpipe pressure is an emergency
If a horse in a breast strap or collar coughs, struggles to breathe or panics, stop at once and release the harness; if the animal is hitched to a vehicle, free it from the vehicle first by the quick release. Do not stand in front.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Treatment & Rest Protocols — treating a sore and returning to work
- Combine with: Preventing Harness Injuries — stopping them before they start