55/114/1

Breeching is part of a horse's harness and consists of numerous straps. This breeching, for a cart horse, is made of very thick leather and consists of a breeching strap which passes round the flanks, two hip strips which buckle to the breech and pass over the rump, and a crupper strap which buckles to the hips straps and ends in a loop which passes under the tail.

breeching: leather

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This breeching is part of the harness of a heavy draught horse. It consists of the breech strap, which passes round the flanks of the horse; two hip straps, which are buckled on either side to the breech and pass over the rump; and a crupper strap, which is buckled to the two hip straps and ends in a loop which passes under the horse's tail. // The breech strap has an iron chain attached to each end by an iron loop and swivel. These chains are attached to shafts, so that part of their weight falls on the rear of the horse. When the horse and vehicle are being backed or are descending a hill the breeching takes the strain.', 55/114/1 and 55/114/2 share the same MERL 'Catalogue index' card but a note identifies 55/114/1 as breeching for a heavy horse harness which goes with 55/111 and 55/112 (according to notes on other records, this should actually be 55/112/1 (Collar, horse) a 55/112/2 (Harness, hame) and 55/113 (Harness, bridle)) and identifies 55/114/2 as pony breeching.