TOUR OF THE MUSEUM Part 6 Arabian Bridle

This beautifully made Arabian bridle is one of the outstanding exhibits in the museum. Although designed specially for an Arab horse, it is being modeled here by one of our horses,Bess, a part thoroughbred.

The bridle and matching breastcollar is hand woven in a thick wool as is each of the tassels. It is heavily adorned with shells and with a bead in every braid.

Take note that on this bridle there is no bit, rather the control of the horse is effected through pressure on the nose. A chain is used to place pressure on both the front and the back on the nose and as you can see here there are numerous small teeth like ornaments hanging from the chain. This is called a Dancing Noseband as these ornements jingle up and down when in use.

The bridle and breastcollar illustrated here was hand-made in Egypt especially for Bess and the museum.

TOUR OF THE MUSEUM Part 5 The Circus Pony

As part of European Heritage Week 2007 the museum put on a display entitled The Working Pony in which the varying aspects of a pony's life was portrayed in different styles of harness.
For the Circus Pony the museum's miniature Shetland pony, Rocky, wore this antique set of Liberty Harness with the addition of a pair of plumes in the Irish colours. You will notice that Rocky's mane has been plaited in red wool to compliment the harness.
It has long been tradition for ponies and horses to be used in the circus adorned in highly decorative harness which not only relied on bright colours and shining buckles but also lit up in lights with the batteries being carried in pouches on the animal.
This set of harness fits both of the museum's Shetlands and has been used on numerous occasions when the ponies have appeared in parades, parties and festivals.

TOUR OF THE MUSEUM Part 4 Young's Brewery Harness

On 15 September 2006 Young's Brewery delivered the last horsedrawn barrels of beer in London. As the two Clydesdales, Bomber and Buster, returned home so ended a 400 year old tradition of brewing at the Ram Brewery, Wandsworth.

The Museum is extremely fortunate to have this superb collar, hames and bridle dating from the 1920's donated to it by the Ram Brewery. The workmanship in these pieces of harness is truly first class. Take special note of the Ram emblem on the top of the collar and on each of the bridle winkers.

Beside the collar is the apron worn by drayman Henry on that last days delivery and which he so kindly donated to the Museum.

Around this display are photographs of the old Mountjoy Brewery in Dublin and various other Drays in multi horse hitches.

For this exhibit, the museum would like to thank the head coachman, Kevin Flynn and the directors of Young's & Co.