Tyler Shupe Leather
Leather Training Fork – Hermann Oak Harness Leather, Solid Brass
A training fork that does one job and does it every day: it keeps the reins working low and steady so a colt learns to give at the poll instead of throwing his head. Cut from Hermann Oak harness leather, dipped in oil, and hung with solid brass. Snap it to the cinch, run the reins through the rings, and go to work.
Specs
| Detail | Spec |
|---|---|
| Leather | Hermann Oak harness leather |
| Color | Chocolate brown |
| Finish | Oil-dipped and hand-finished |
| Hardware | Solid brass bolt snap, buckle, and two rein rings |
| Adjustment | 24" at the shortest to 32" at the longest |
| Width | 1" |
| Attaches to | Cinch dee ring or breast collar center ring |
| Sold as | One training fork |
How It Works
The single end snaps to the dee on your cinch or to the center ring of your breast collar. The strap runs forward between the front legs and splits into two branches at the chest, and each rein passes through its own brass ring. Ride with a loose rein and the fork sits quiet and does nothing. Pick up the reins and it changes the angle of the pull, redirecting pressure down and back so the horse finds the release by dropping his head and rounding up. It teaches without cranking, and it comes off the horse the day he no longer needs it.
Set the Length Once
The brass buckle gives you eight inches of adjustment, from 24" to 32". A good starting point is to set it so the rings reach the throatlatch when you draw the fork straight up along the neck. Shorter for more correction on a horse that roots, longer for a light touch on a finished horse you're tuning up. Set it, ride, and leave it.
Leather That Holds Its Shape
Hermann Oak harness leather is vegetable-tanned slow and hot-stuffed with oils and waxes, which is why it stays firm under a buckle and resists stretching where the reins run through the rings. We dip every fork in conditioning oil, fully submerged so it soaks into the fibers instead of sitting on the surface. It arrives supple, buckles clean on the first ride, and only gets better with use.
Solid Brass, Not Plated
The bolt snap, the buckle, and both rein rings are solid brass. Brass doesn't rust, doesn't flake, and won't leave black streaks on the leather the way plated hardware does once the plating wears through. The rings are smooth all the way around so your reins slide freely with no drag and no fraying.
What You Get
- One adjustable leather training fork, 24" to 32"
- Oil-dipped and ready to ride
- Stamped with our maker's mark
- Built to last a lifetime and backed by our guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a training fork actually do? It's a Western running martingale. It doesn't hold the head down on its own; it only changes the direction of rein pressure when you pick up the reins. That teaches a horse to break at the poll and stay soft instead of bracing or tossing his head, and it gives a young horse a consistent, fair answer every ride.
Will it fit my horse? The 24" to 32" range covers most stock horses. Set it so the rings reach the throatlatch when the fork is pulled straight up along the neck, then fine-tune from there. If you ride a very small or very tall horse and aren't sure, reach out through our contact page before you order.
Does it need a breast collar? No. It snaps straight to the cinch dee. If you already ride in one of our breast collars, you can clip it to the center ring instead, which keeps the fork from sliding side to side on a horse with a lot of chest.
What reins work with it? Any rein with a stop or a wide enough end that it can't pull back through the ring. Our split reins and roping reins both run through it cleanly. Rein stops are a good idea with any running martingale if your reins have small, slick ends.
Shipping & Returns
100% Satisfaction Guarantee & Lifetime Warranty
Every Tyler Shupe Leather product is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials — every item we sell, no exceptions. No product is excluded; the warranty covers defects, not normal wear or misuse.
If your product ever fails because of craftsmanship or materials, contact us as soon as possible and we will repair or replace it free of charge. The warranty applies to the original purchaser. Normal wear and tear, misuse or neglect, prolonged water damage, and alterations made by someone other than us are not covered — but if you’re unsure, just reach out. We’re always happy to take a look. Full details and care requirements are on our Warranty & Leather Care page.
Returns
Yes — we accept returns. Eligible items may be returned within 30 days of delivery for a refund.
- Items must be unused, unaltered, and in resaleable condition, with their original packaging.
- Refunds are issued to the original payment method once your return has been received and inspected. Please allow 3–5 business days after inspection for processing; bank posting times vary.
- Original shipping charges are not refundable. Only the price of the returned items is refunded. If your order shipped free, nothing is deducted for the original shipping.
- Return shipping is paid by the customer. You can use our prepaid label — the cost of the label is deducted from your refund — or ship it back with your own insured carrier.
Final Sale — Not Eligible for Return
- Custom, engraved, personalized, and made-to-order items are final sale. They cannot be returned or exchanged. (The lifetime warranty still covers them against defects.)
- Clearance and other final sale items.
- Items showing wear, damage, odors, or alterations.
- Leather damaged by improper care (harsh chemicals, sealed storage causing mold).
- Gift cards.
How to Start a Return
- Email hello@tylershupeleather.com within 30 days of delivery with your order number and what you’d like to return.
- We’ll reply with return instructions and your prepaid label option.
- Send the item back unused and in its original packaging. Once it arrives and passes inspection, we issue your refund.
Belt Size Exchanges
Belts are measured from the fold at the buckle to the middle hole, and sometimes the number just isn’t right. We are happy to exchange new, unworn belts for a different size.
- No time limit. As long as the belt is unused and in original condition, we’ll exchange it — there’s no deadline on a size swap.
- You pay shipping both ways — shipping the belt back to us, and shipping on the replacement belt.
- Custom, engraved, and personalized belts are final sale and cannot be exchanged.
- Not sure what to order? Our Belt Measurement Guide shows exactly where to put the tape.
How to Start an Exchange
- Email hello@tylershupeleather.com with your order number and the size you need — before sending anything back.
- We’ll confirm the size you want is available and send you return instructions.
- Ship the belt back to us. When it arrives, we’ll send a short invoice for shipping on the replacement — once that’s taken care of, your new belt goes out.
Who Pays Shipping
| Situation | Shipping to us | Shipping back to you |
|---|---|---|
| Return within 30 days | You (our label, deducted from your refund — or your own carrier) | — |
| Belt size exchange | You | You |
| Warranty repair or replacement | You | We pay |
| Free cleaning & conditioning | You | We pay |
| Wrong or defective item we sent | We pay | We pay |
Original shipping charges are never refunded, on a return or an exchange. International customers cover return shipping as well as any duties, taxes, or import fees.
Shipping & Processing Times
We do our very best to get all in-stock orders shipped within 2–3 business days of being placed.
Because our products are handcrafted and we’re a small operation, there may occasionally be times when processing takes up to 4–5 business days. If that happens, please know we’re still working hard to get your order out as quickly as possible.
Custom, engraved and made-to-order items are built for you from scratch and take longer — we’ll email you an estimated ship date after you order. If you need something by a certain date, message us before ordering.
Free U.S. standard shipping on orders $99+ (after any discount codes). Orders under $99 ship for a flat $9.95; standard shipping typically takes 3–7 business days once your order is on its way.
Expedited Shipping
For a flat $25, our expedited processing and shipping option moves your order to the front of the line and ships it via USPS Priority Mail — about 2–3 business days from order to door for most U.S. addresses.
If you need an item shipped faster than our expedited option, please contact us before placing your order and we’ll do our best to help.
Once your order ships, you’ll receive a confirmation email with tracking information.
Please note that processing time is separate from shipping time, and carrier delays are outside of our control. If your package arrives damaged, email us within 7 days with photos of the box and item so we can make it right.
Questions?
Reach out any time through our contact page or at hello@tylershupeleather.com. You can also check our FAQ.
Built to Last. Built for You
Built for riders who demand both grit and style.
