Breast collars and fit

[menagerie]

Does anyone have pics or can tell me how a breast collar should properly fit? Husband says it should be snug but I always thought it should be looser so I thought I would get some info from ya'll. :cowboy:

[WashingtonBay]

It should be tight enough to do some good in holding the saddle in place. If it's too tight, it can restrict the shoulder, but if it's too loose, it isn't doing any good.

To make sure it still allows good freedom in the shoulder, it's best if it matches the angle of the shoulder pretty well. The ones that look like they would interfere to me are those that appear to cut across the shoulder instead of sitting on top of it.

[Syble413]

I agree with WB but you may also want to consider the width of the breast collar (I like mine to be about an inch wide) & how high it attaches to the saddle. For example, the ring on my aussie saddle is a few inches higher than the ring on my western saddle. So...... the same breast collar will have a different angle depending on which saddle is used. You don't want it to be so loose that it sags but you'll need to be able to easily get 2 or 3 fingers under it so you don't constrict movement.
I also prefer breast collars with padding on the inside vs. leather ones.

[rocknK]

It also depends on what you're doing. If you're dragging calves in a pen you might want it a bit snugger than if you're trail riding. Width, wide for work. Narrow for pleasure.

[gaited07]

I believe mine has about an inch give to it. I use a circle y leather breast collar and I travel through mountains and ??? This would not be the best for roping, that you might want a heavy duty one.

[menagerie]

Thanks for the pic gaited, that about looks like how I have mine. I'll try and post a pic later tonite.

WB I want one of those kind that hook to your saddle horn? But thats not what I currently have. I'm using one my father gave me in my youth, its a nice leather one with padding.

[IrisGreen]

I like the pulling collars. I think that is what you are wanting. They generally attach at the swell or horn area of a wester saddle. They go up the top line of the shoulder and don't interfere with the movement. I like the look of them. Regular breast collars that go around the shoulder just look like they are sagging to me or falling off the shoulder. But, it's just my preference on what I like the look of better. Both function well if properly adjusted.

I have a crazy big pulling collar that I just love!! Most people wouldn't be caught dead with it on there horse but I just love it!! :)

Here is a pic of it on Muffin for a test fitting a while back. I hope it still fits him.. I haven't put his saddle or any of his riding tack on him in months. Last I checked his back cinch didn't fit and I had to custom order a new one. That boy just keeps growing!!

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/DesignersPet/MuffinBreastCollar007.jpg

This one has a strap that goes over the back of the neck and the two main straps that can be attached to the saddle how ever you want for a good fit.

[menagerie]

Iris that is exactly the kind of collar I want. I think they would be easier for the horse to 'work' with. Anyways here a pic of mine that hubby took this afternoon when we rode. I really love the one I have, was mine since forever plus it has my name stamped into it (how cool is that!). Tell me what you think of the position, please DO NOT look at how fat I am! lol :eek:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=184&pictureid=3844

[IrisGreen]

Hard to tell from the picture (being so far away) but it looks too high. You don't want it to cut off the wind pipe so you might want to move the center down a little so it's on the meat of the chest. Just a few inches.. maybe 2-4 inches down should do it. Cinch up the piece that goes between the legs to bring it down some. But, it looks good and goes around the neck nice. Looks like it sits on the shoulders well and has a nice curve to it.

If you get a close up picture of it on the horse we can give you a better opinion on the placement. I can't really tell from the pic except it looks too high.... but it could be the design of it too. I would need to see a close up pic of it.

[menagerie]

Ok here's a closer version of that. I think part of what you thought was my breast collar before was my lead line hanging down, its tied to my saddle horn. And your right about me needing to tighten up the center strap I'll have to make those adjustments next time I saddle up.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=271&pictureid=3853

[IrisGreen]

You look good on that horse girl! :)

The breast collar is too high though. The kind you have is a normal breast collar with the ring in the middle and the straps coming out the sides. The ring goes in the middle of the chest and allows the side straps to move up and down and move with the horses shoulders. You need to bring it down some so it's not right under the wind pipe. If you were to go up a steep hill and your saddle started to move back the breast collar would hold it in place but as it did the breast collar would be pulled in to the wind pipe.

You want that ring centered in the middle of the chest and the center strap to be stung between the legs with about an inch or two slack. So it's not rubbing the horse but if you really need it and your saddle starts to slid back it will have about 2 inches before it tightens up and holds that saddle on in an emergency. If the breast collar is already right under the wind pipe it will pull on the horses wind pipe instead of the strap between the legs if the saddle slides back.

You want 2 inches of slack in the center strap and the ring in the middle of the chest 3 to 4 inches from the wind pipe. So it will never pull on the wind pipe just the center strap between the legs.

The breast collar you have is a regular style and will end up going over the sides of the shoulders. I know you like the pulling collar look but you will have to buy one designed to be worn that way (along the side of the neck on top of the shoulders). This breast collar is designed to be worn around the shoulders not on top around the neck like a pulling collar.

If you look at mine you can see how the side straps are not straight, they have a very drastic curve to them that comes out the sides then curves up and fallows the neck line up, they don't stick out the sides like a normal breast collar they curve and go up.

If you would like to buy a pulling collar I can help you with some sites but the best place is Ebay. I got mine off ebay and talked them down to $40. That was an amazing deal. Pulling collars can get expensive. They also have thinner styled ones that endurance riders use. They go up around the neck but are not as thick or flashy as mine. I went hunting for the perfect one for me when I decided I wanted one. I was so happy to find the one I have and how it looks "old style" and even the conchos look old and like they have been out in the brush. I love it. lol

Let me know if you want some help finding a pulling collar. In the mean time you will have to adjust your current breast collar down a few inches to the center of the chest. You won't like how it looks but that's where it's designed to go and the straps will go over the sides of the shoulders not on top of them along the neck line. You just want it to have enough room to be pulled up with out digging in to the wind pipe.

I hope this helps. You look good on that horse. You are both pretty girls! Out ridden the trails. Looks like you were having fun :) I can't wait tell we train Muffin to ride...

[IrisGreen]

I went out to the tack room and grabbed two of my breast collars. One is the pulling collar and the other is a normal breast collar. You can see in this picture they are designed and shaped differently. Both are horse sized.

The pic is blurry but my camera had just enough juice to get this one pic and die on me. lol

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/DesignersPet/CharlieWayneWed.jpg

[cloedoll]

Good thread/posts! =)

[menagerie]

Great photo reference Iris even it is blurry! ;) Big difference in the two for sure and I'm definately going to see about getting a pulling collar. I want something good but cheap as I can find. I would love some help finding one if you don't mind. In the meantime I'm going to have to tighten up on my center strap for sure. I'll get another pic next time we ride.

Thanks for your comment too Cloe. :)

[menagerie]

I had some time to search a bit and found a couple that looked interesting. This one is from Jeffers and I like it 'ok' but really like the price. It would probably look good on my horse being the color that it is too. http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&pf_id=0031518

This one is from Teskey's saddles and I really like it alot. It comes in light/dark oil or chessnut, not sure what color I would like the best but I'm thinking dark oil or chesnut for sure. Its a little more expensive. http://buysaddles.com/products/Billy_Cook_964_Pulling_Collar-512-293.html

Tell me what you see in each of them as I'm not really sure what to look for in one.

[IrisGreen]

Those two are nice!! I'm looking for the sites I liked on pulling collars... be back :)

[menagerie]

Ohhh but I looooove this one (of course! its $275 plain) says the martingale style can come in a pull collar style if you prefer. http://cowboycompany.com/?page_id=233

[IrisGreen]

That one is neat but WoW on the price!! I looked around but all the ones I found were way over $100. Ebay has a good list, prices, colors and styles to chose from. Did you check Ebay out yet? There are a bunch on there.

[menagerie]

Yea I looked at ebay and none of those struck me as much as the first two I saw. Out of those two I like the second one best. If I get one soon I'll probably get that one unless I come across another I like better.

[IrisGreen]

I don't know if they sell the collar I have anymore or not. I got mine about a year ago off ebay for around $40 plus shipping. They were selling a few they had left and I talked them down on it. I think they were origonaly over $80 or more for one.

I found this one on ebay but it's a lady selling it. She purchased it a year ago like I did off ebay but she isnt using it so it's for auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Horse-Western-Old-Timers-Breast-Collar-Breastcollar-New_W0QQitemZ230305132079QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item2 30305132079&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[IrisGreen]

Ok, I found the seller that sells the one I got. I guess they still sell them! It's $65 and $9 to ship.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-WESTERN-VINTAGE-STYLE-HORSE-CHEST-BREAST-COLLAR_W0QQitemZ260310232327QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em260310232327&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C2 40%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

I think it comes in dark or light brown.

Not saying you want the exact one I have but I figured I would post it. :) I like the martingale one you posted that's nice and round!! What a pretty pulling collar that is.. but the price....

[menagerie]

Yea I hear ya on the price! lol That one will have to stay on my wish list for soooome time. :cry: I really like yours alot, very flashy, but I was kinda hoping to find one that I could get my name stamped on it like the one I already have. I know, silly, but it is kinda cool to have my name on it, also if he runs away while saddled whoever finds him will know who he belongs to! :hysterical:

Thats a really good price on yours I would think, when I saw it I thought it would be alot more than that.

[menagerie]

Ok signin out for now check back later!

[IrisGreen]

Yeah, I guess some saddle shop makes them and I guess there a little ma and pa kinda shop so there prices are pretty good compared to some of these other pulling collars! I'm glad to see they still sell mine. It's definatly a unique design.

The only thing about mine is the conchos are cheap. There not really nice but they are screwed on so I can buy new ones and put them in myself if I wanted too. I just havent really needed too and don't mind the ones that are on it. They look old, not so shinny and start to tarnish. I think it kinda adds to the whole oldtimer pulling collar look.

[menagerie]

I like the conchos on it. I actually bought some like that recently for use on leather purses and things that I'm working on. I found a great site for them that has a wide price range but you can find some really sturdy ones for pretty inexpensive. Here's the site just in case you ever need any: http://www.triggleather.net/index2.php

[IrisGreen]

ohhh great!!! Now I go looking at all the pretty conchos and picking out what I could see looking good on my pulling collar!! Thankx.....:p I was fine with what I had now I want new conchos!! Hahaha

[menagerie]

LOL well Iris you've got me totally motivated to buy a new pull collar so I thought I would return the 'favor'! lololol:innocent: