Chapter XVI: Coach and Wagon Bridles

In manufacturing bridles, the harness maker has an excellent opportunity to exercise taste in designing and embellishing, for in no part of the harness is there so much opportunity given to introduce new ideas without interfering with the proper shape of the article; then, too, they are the most ornate part of the harness, and there is less liability to overdo in decoration. The winkers may be made in a variety of styles, stitched plain or in fancy patterns; the cheeks can be finished up in different ways, while the crowns, face pieces, fronts, gag runners, nose and chin pieces are all susceptible of a variety of changes in form or finish. There is no portion of a coach harness more difficult to make, and for that reason the bridle maker holds a high position in the business.

The general details for making are given in connection with the instructions for making harness in a previous chapter. Attaching the winkers to the cheeks must be done in the best manner to prevent them from “hinging;” always clean off the gum where the patent leather enters the cheek pieces, so that the paste may adhere, and skive off to secure a smooth job.

The most popular patterns for coach winkers are the slightly ovaled end and the full oval. For light buggy and road harness, square or square with round corners are preferred. Coupé, team, and heavy express winkers are similar to those used for coaches, while for wagon, cart, and other cheap harness the square pattern is preferred. The various plates in this book will give the reader a good idea of the popular form for winkers, though other styles are also used to a considerable extent. The illustrations of bridles in connection with this chapter show some of the distinctive patterns in detail. Fig. 1 represents the English coach bridle with the oval winker. This is the popular style for all coach and heavy coupé harness, though no exclusive pattern of winkers, cheek loops, or crown piece layers is followed. It is known as the bradoon swivel, the peculiarity being the attaching of the check rein to a billet stitched to the crown piece, passing it through a swivel on the bradoon bit, thence up to the gag runner. The cuttings are:

Length, Width,
inches. inches.
Crown piece 28 1¾
Ends, split 6½ ¾
Layer 9 ¾
Gag runners 12 ¾
Front 28 1⅛
Nose and chin piece 33 1⅛
Cheeks 29 ¾
Made up between buckles 8
Bradoon rein 26 1
Rounded 20
Center rein 60 ¾
Throat latch 27 ¾
Crown billets for bradoon rein 13 ¾
Face piece 12
Billet ¾
Winker strap 13 1½
Billet 5 ¾
Split 7

The narrow loops and center bar buckles give this bridle a showy appearance, but the regular buckles and pipe cheek loops are the most popular. With this and all other bridles where the face piece is used, a thin piece of steel should be attached to the under side to keep it in position.

Fig. 2 represents another style of bradoon bridle, in which the bradoon bit is attached to a round cheek piece, and the swivel is dispensed with. It is claimed that a bridle of this kind causes the horse less pain, while being equally as effective as a check. The lengths for cutting are the same as those for Fig. 1, with the exception of the round cheeks, which must be ten inches long between the buckles.

Fig. 3 represents a third style of bradoon bridle, the extra cheek being flat.

Fig. 4 is also a bradoon bridle, but differs from the preceding ones in the manner of attaching the gag runner.

Fig. 5 represents a plainer style of bridle, suited to the lighter grades of coach and road harness.

Fig. 6 is designed for light double harness; one of the plainest kinds in use.

Fig. 7 represents a very neat bridle for single or light double harness.

Fig. 8, a plain bridle with a half Kemble-Jackson check.

Fig. 9, a heavy bridle for a team harness; the tugs on the ends of the cheeks are cut of patent leather, and may be ornamented with monograms or initial letters.

Fig. 10 is designed for a team bridle, but is made up without winkers; the cheeks may be made as represented, or rounded. The latter appear much the lightest. The face piece may be flat or round. The most popular style of finishing is to round the ends below the face ornament, leaving the upper part flat.

Fig. 11 represents a plain team harness bridle without winkers, the cheeks made up with patent leather ornaments and without buckles; the crown, cheeks, and throat latch billets are cut of one piece; the ornaments are stitched to the cheeks at the front piece, and held in position by two loops; or the patent leather ornaments may be lined and stitched, leaving the ends open to admit the cheek pieces; a cross face piece can be used in place of the nose piece, if preferred. The crown and cheeks are cut thirty-eight inches long. The measurements for the other straps are the same as those used for regular team bridles.

Fig. 12 represents a German Court bridle.

Crown pieces are made up in a variety of styles, a number of which are given on page 195. A and B have the straight layer, but different styles of cheeks; C has no layer, the gag runner being attached to the throat latch billet; D has a folded crown piece with the layer, throat latch, and cheek billets cut in one, the layer being cut with an extra billet for the gag runner ring; E has the plain double waved layer; F has a short layer for the half Kemble-Jackson check, the gag runner being attached to the check. The same style of layer is used for the full Kemble-Jackson check. In both instances the opening for the check is made by a wedge-shaped piece stitched between the layer and crown piece. G shows the crown, with a short layer for securing the head terret, and an extra billet for the gag runner; H shows a plain strap layer, with an oval loop and a ring for a gag runner. This is used for carrying the gag rein well up and close to the cheek. I shows the common fold crown, with a plain waved layer.