About Horse Collars

Whether you own your own horse or ride someone else's, it is important to become familiar with the many pieces of tack that are used in the equine world. There are, for instance, many different types of horse collars, from breast collars designed to hold the saddle firmly in place to martingales designed as training aids. Collars can also be used as part of driving training and as a way to break bad habits.

  1. Breast Collars

    • Many riders find that their saddles tend to slide back as they are riding, particularly if they are trail riding up and down hills. Attaching a breast collar to the saddle can prevent this slippage and make the rider more secure. Whether you are riding Western or English, there are some excellent breast collars on the market. These collars are designed to connect to the rings on the front of the saddle, with the girth fitting through the ring on the bottom of the breast collar. But no matter what type of breast collar you choose, it is important to adjust it properly--the saddle should be prevented from slipping back but the collar should not be tight enough to impede the movement of the horse's shoulder.

    Work Horse Collars

    • Even in modern times many horses are used for farm work, and work horse collars make it easier for horses to pull the plows that move through the fields. These collars are placed over the horse's neck, with lines running from the horse's bit, through the rings on the collar and finally to the hands of the horse handler.

    Martingales

    • Martingales are similar to breast collars in that they attach to the saddle, but these devices are often used as training devices as well. Some martingales are designed to connect side reins to the saddle, helping the horse set his head properly and move in a correct frame. Other martingales are designed to keep the horse in proper position over fences, and these martingales are often used on the hunt field and in jumping competitions.

    Cribbing Collars

    • Some horses tend to develop bad habits over time, and one of the most dangerous of those habits is known as cribbing. With cribbing a horse will grasp a solid surface, like the door of his stall, and suck air into his lungs. This habit can be very harmful, and it often leads to episodes of colic, a potentially fatal acute condition. In order to combat cribbing in their horses owners often use a cribbing collar. These collars are designed to tighten as the horse sucks in air, making it uncomfortable to continue and helping to break this dangerous habit. The cribbing collar is put on the horse so that the bars of the collar fit the sides of the horse's neck right behind the head. The collar should be adjusted so that it is not too tight when the horse is resting comfortably--the collar should tighten only when the horse expands his neck in an attempt to crib.

    Driving Collars

    • Driving is a popular equine sport, and driving collars are used to hold the reins in place and make sure they do not slip. The collar is placed around the horse's neck, much the same way as a plow horse collar. The reins are run from the bit in the bridle, then through the holes in the collar and into the hands of the driver.