Asterisk Horse-collars & Harness manufactures and repairs all types of collars and harness on the premises in the traditional Australian style.
With over 30 years experience making and repairing long-straw collars, and all types of harness from Pony through to Dray-size single-horse harness, and Pair/Team harness (to Work, Dress or Show Standard), we guarantee to supply you with a product of the highest quality.
In addition to making and repairing harness for both heavy and light horses, we do general saddlery repair work.
Unusual jobs completed over the years range from the manufacture of heavy items such as camel pack saddles and collars, and the extremely heavy Cee-spring suspension strapping for the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, through to light items such as digital camera cases, watch bands, a miniature collar for a working goat, and embossed, leather-bound ring binders for the parish priest.
Our Products
Harness
- Draught Pair & Team Show Harness
- Draught Pair Work Harness
- Coach Pair Dress / Show Harness
- Single Horse Harness (Light, Med., Heavy)
- Pack Harness
- Draught Spider Leader Harness
- Plough Harness
Collars
- From Pony through to Dray size
- Scotch Collars
- Camel Collars
- Bronco Collars
- Miniature Collars
- Goat Collars
Winkers
- Show Winkers
- Dress Winkers
- Work Winkers
Miscellaneous
- Draught Show Bridle & Lead
- Draught Headstall (Dress)
- Stallion Rollers (Show)
- Stallion Headstall (Show)
- Stallion Bridle (Show)
- Draught Nosebags (Show)
- Draught Spat Boots
- Draught Hobbles & Hobble Chains
- Draught Knee-Hobbles
- Draught Breaking-In Bridle / Roller / Crupper / Side-Reins
- Camel Pack Saddle
- Wigram Patent Cart Saddle
- Traditional Cart/Lorry Saddle
Mark Porter - Asterisk Horse Collars & Harness
Mark Porter commenced his apprenticeship as a collar and harness-maker with Tim Peel (formerly of Camden and now of Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia) in October 1981. After completing and gaining his trade certificate (Number CS9460) he continued to work for Tim as an improver – a total of approximately fifteen years.
Asterisk Horse-collars & Harness was established in 1996.
The business manufactures and repairs all types of collars and harness, and also does general saddlery repair work. Goods are manufactured to three grades:
Show quality: “The Champion's Choice”
Made using the best quality leather and fittings available. This is the ultimate in finish and style and is handcrafted to the highest possible standard by a qualified tradesman, to satisfy the most discerning of Royal Show turnout judges;
Dress quality: Harness of a standard between Show and Work.
Made from the best materials, but is simpler in style and finish than Show harness. Ideal for public outings, street parades, local shows, etc;
Work Quality:
Strong, basic and serviceable, without expensive finishes. Made for day-to-day use by the working harness horse person.
It must be emphasized, however, that all harness manufactured by this business is made to the highest possible standards of quality and safety, commensurate with the price.
Pictured top right: Mark Porter hand-sewing, with black-waxed thread, at his work-bench in Currawarna
Pictured bottom right: Mark Porter stuffing a long-straw collar rim in the Collar Bin. The straw used is cereal rye, or rye-corn (Secale cereale)
Draught Pair & Team Show Harness
Farrants-style draught four-horse team show harness (Standard loops, no red patent)
This style of harness is a little plainer than that pictured below, and has Australian-style Scotch collars on the horses rather than the Light Draught Show collars, and housens, featured on the pair and team below.
Draught pair harness (Show, Box loops, Red patent piping)
Draught four-horse team show harness (Box loops, Red patent piping)
Draught Pair Work Harness
Detail of Half-draught Pair Breeching (Work, stained black, special job, with nickel-on-black strips on hip & loin straps)
Coach Pair Dress / Show Harness
Dress coach harness (no patent leather) This harness has brass/brass-plated hardware. It was made with standard loops rather than the box loops featured on the Show set seen below.
Detail of Show coach harness (Black & brass only for a funeral set)