How to Fit a Horse Harness Collar
The horse collar is the part of the horse harness that transfers the weight of whatever load is being pulled to the horse's shoulders. The horse collar is the load-bearing point in the horse and harness system, and the fit of the collar is critical to the performance of the system and the comfort of the horse. The science of fitting the horse collar has been studied for centuries and is well documented.
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Instructions
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Measure the horse to determine the proper collar size. Use a flexible tape to measure from the point of the horse's withers, or shoulders, to the base of the throat just above the breast bone. If purchasing a new collar, get a collar that's the next size up from the measurement you just took. Measure existing collars from the interior of the top to interior of the bottom of the collar on the front of the collar.
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Put the collar on your horse. Place your hand, flat side towards the horse, at the base of the throat. Fit four fingers between the collar and the horse. Collars that are either too loose or too tight are uncomfortable for the horse.
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Fit the hame to the collar. The hame is the shaped metal or wood shaft that fits to the collar. The rest of the harness is attached to the hame. The hame should be 1 or 2 inches longer than the collar size, according to Amish Horse 'N Harness.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the collar pad, if used, under the collar before fitting the collar. Pull the collar forward from the horse anytime the horse stops. This helps prevent the buildup of sweat under the collar that can cause discomfort for the horse.
Check under the collar whenever you stop to make sure that it's not rubbing sores on the horse's shoulders.
References
- Photo Credit horse image by Felix Chen from Fotolia.com
