Barnyard Basics: Horse brasses: A bit of ancient history
![](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/postregister.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/a5/7a5b6678-e44a-11ed-a22b-d35740f228fc/6449493b50eba.image.jpg?crop=1678%2C944%2C0%2C145&resize=1678%2C944&order=crop%2Cresize)
Horse brasses are traditional decorations on draft horse harnesses, hanging from the top of the headstall, against the horse’s forehead. These shiny brass pieces depicting various objects or symbols are also prized by antique collectors. Horse brasses were a standard part of draft horse harnesses in England and America. Teams adorned with decorative brasses are seen in many old paintings and photos.
![](https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/gcdn/media/2021/06/30/Bloomington/30b2a917b6acf08c84eaf61048e74124.jpg)
Vintage horse brasses
![](https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9780852630143-us.jpg)
Discovering Horse Brasses - John A. Vince: 9780852630143 - AbeBooks
![](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/file/Elden-Ring/brass_shield_elden_ring_wiki_guide_200px.png)
Brass Shield Elden Ring Wiki
![](https://i.natgeofe.com/n/a51aee69-7a7b-448d-947f-144d45bf9535/GauchoHorseRider_4x3.jpg)
What it's like to stay at an Argentine gaucho ranch
![](https://www.picclickimg.com/kAsAAOSwTTRlQ693/Old-Horse-Brass-Horse-Profile-Free-PP-face-piece.webp)
Horse Brasses, Brass, Metalware, Collectables - PicClick UK
![](https://i.etsystatic.com/7826826/r/il/ff42cf/2000616854/il_fullxfull.2000616854_mvb0.jpg)
Pair of Vintage Brass Horse Haines Harness - Canada
![](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/images/cover.jpg)
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
Happy Boothday to you: An intrepid correspondent rides, rolls and rows his way into history chasing the ghost of John Wilkes Booth - The Washington Post
![](https://pictures.abebooks.com/inventory/md/md30995322183.jpg)
Shop Horses Collections: Art & Collectibles
![](https://www.tallyhotours.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Untitled-19-180x180.jpeg)
Horse Brasses: How to Identify Them and What They Mean
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/04-09-12-Schaupfl%C3%BCgen-Fahrenwalde-RalfR-IMG_1232.jpg/1200px-04-09-12-Schaupfl%C3%BCgen-Fahrenwalde-RalfR-IMG_1232.jpg)
Plough - Wikipedia
![](https://albanycarousel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/30-1.png)
Animals - Historic Carousel & Museum of Albany
![](https://i.etsystatic.com/12662537/r/il/a75714/1756145747/il_fullxfull.1756145747_972p.jpg)
Vintage Brass Chariot & Horse Cart Moving Wheels - Canada
![](https://www.myindiamyglory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hercules-and-Balarama-2.jpg)
Hercules and Balarama: The Symbolic and Historical Connections