Draft Equipment Fit Checklist

Courtesy of Sue Marino

Use this list with the accompanying diagram to check the fit of your own equipment.

(1) Check the fit of the neck piece. The “X” lies flat over the top of the shoulder blades when

(2) the “Y” is over the point of the breast bone.

(3) The bellyband/girth strap should be snug. You should only be able to fit two fingers under it. It should be underneath all other straps to avoid chafing and for an unobstructed pull. It should be straight up and down at a 90 degree angle to the shafts.

(4) Brake loops (on the girth strap) should be adjusted so that the loop is just large enough for the shaft to slide into it. The height of the brake loop should be adjusted so that when the shaft is inserted the shaft is level with the point of the dogs shoulder and parallel to the ground.

(5) The rear bellyband should be adjusted looser than the front bellyband. You should be able to fit a hand under the strap. On male dogs be sure that this strap fits in front of their genitals and not over them. This piece is optional.

(6) The side pieces of the harness should be over all other straps. They should lay flat against the dogs side when pulling. There should be no slack.

(7) The traces should be adjusted so that they are taut when the front of the shaft is even with the front of the dogs chest, the girth strap is straight up and down and the brake is directly behind the brake loop. They should not be twisted.

(8) The height of the shafts should be even with the point of the shoulder and the front of the shaft should be even with the front of the chest.

(9) Brakes should be snug behind the brake loop when the girth strap is straight up and down. There should be no space between the brake and brake loop.

(10) Shafts should be parallel to the ground and not slope up or down.

(11) There should be enough space between the dog and the cart so that when the dog's hind legs extend they do not hit the cart nor does the cart hit the dog when the cart comes slightly forward when going downhill.

ADJUSTMENTS

If your equipment is not fitting properly according to the checklist here are some suggestions for correcting the problems.

Shafts too long or too short:

If the shafts are adjustable on your cart you may be able to slide the shaft in either direction under the cart to make it longer or shorter. You may also be able to twist your shafts in or out to lessen or widen the space between the shafts. If not you should move your dog forward or back in the shafts by loosening or tightening the traces and moving the brake forward or back on the shaft.

Shafts not parallel to the ground:

Check to see if moving your brake loops up or down on the girth straps changes the angle of your shafts. If your shafts are adjustable you may be able to move them to correct this problem. You may have to remove your shafts to attach them to your cart at a higher or lower position or you could use shorter or taller tires on your cart to raise or lower your shafts.

Traces are loose or slack while dog is pulling:

This means that the dog is not pulling with the traces. Usually they are pulling with the brake loops which are snug enough around the shaft to pull the cart forward. It is a very uncomfortable and inefficient way for the dog to pull.

Dogs hind legs hitting the cart:

The dog should be moved forward in the shafts, the brake moved forward and the traces loosened. If this causes the front of the shaft to be behind the front of the dogs chest then the shafts are not long enough for this dog to use this cart.

Shafts tipping up or heavy on the shoulders as dog pulls:

This is an indication that the cart is not balanced. Sometimes even an empty cart can be unbalanced. If this is the case the cart should always have a small (5 to 8 lb) weight in it. If the shafts tip up the weight should be in the front of the cart. If the shafts are pressing down so that the harness is being pulled tightly against the dogs shoulders then the weight should be in the back of the cart.

Brake loops swinging up, backwards or forward:

If this happens the brake loops are too long. There should be no play in this area. The loops should hold the shafts steady and not be sliding around. The should be just long enough to snuggly fit over the end of the shaft.