Collar Pad Information

Proper fit of a collar

No matter how well a horse collar is made, if it is not properly fitted to your horse, it may cause your horse problems such as sore shoulders or neck. Care should be used when selecting the proper size and shape of your collar.

The attached illustration shows you how a collar should be fitted. Care must be taken when fitting the collar and adjusting the hames so the trace is over the center of draft. Proper fitting and adjustment will help eliminate sore necks and shoulders and your horse will work with more ease and comfort. Many horses have been ruined by collars fitted too large than from any other cause.

When fitting a horse with a collar there should not be any more space between the horse's neck and throat of the collar than will allow your four fingers, when laid flat on inside of throat of collar, to pass through freely.

Shape of collars

Collars are constructed in 3 basic shapes:

FULL SWEENEY fits heavy "stud like" necks, where the neck is extremely thick at the upper part of the neck.
HALF SWEENEY fits necks that are wide and thick at the upper part of the neck, (the most used collar for draft horses).
FULL FACE or straight collar fits flat and slender necks (most always used for buggy collars).

How to measure a horse collar

Place the ruler against the collar cap and measure to the inside brim of the throat as illustrated. This collar measures 20". For size of draft, draw a tape line around the collar at the heaviest part, as illustrated. This collar has 17 ½" draft.