ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Horse harness

Imagine you are playing with a toy horse and a toy cart. In order for the horse to pull the cart, you need to attach something to the horse so that it can pull the weight of the cart. This is where a horse harness comes in.

A horse harness is like a special set of clothes that you put on your toy horse to help it pull things. It has different parts that work together to make sure the horse is comfortable and stable while pulling.

The first part is called the collar. It's like a big necklace that goes around the horse's neck. The collar helps distribute the weight of whatever the horse is pulling across its shoulders instead of just on the neck. It also helps the horse breathe more easily.

The next part is the reins. These are long straps that go from the collar to the cart. The driver (or you, if you're playing with toys) holds onto the reins to control the horse and tell it when to go, turn, or stop.

The breastplate is like a belt for your horse. It goes around its chest and helps the collar stay in place.

The saddle is like a seat for the driver. It goes on the horse's back and has cushions so that the rider is comfortable while driving.

The breeching is like a brake for the cart. It's a strap that goes around the horse's butt and stops the cart from moving forward when the horse stops.

The traces connect the harness to the cart. They are the straps that attach the horse's collar to the cart.

Overall, a horse harness is like a special outfit that you put on your horse to help it pull things, like a cart or plow. It is made up of different parts that work together to make sure the horse is comfortable and safe while working.