Zilco has a long history of harness making. The New Zealand workshops were established in 1984 as part of the old harnessing making firm Trist & Small who had been harness makers in Christchurch since 1872. The union of traditional skills and modern materials has continued to flourish ever since. Seven types of harness are available at differing price levels to suit every type of driving from leisure to top level marathon competition.

Harness is available in a wide range of combinations and sizes. Singles, pairs, tandems and fours are all catered for in sizes from miniature Shetland to draft horse. Harness for teams of four horses is a speciality with Zilco. Famous drivers such as George Bowman and Boyd Exell use Zilco harness and they have also been involved in the design process. George Bowman is particularly associated with the ZGB (Bowman Harnss) with its easy conversion from single to pair to team.