Coachmans Delight

Collar Types: How to Choose?

Maggie Sullivan at Garden State in 2006. Her Fjord mare Rheanna is wearing our regular breast collar harness from Ideal.

From the Fall/Winter 2006 Newsletter

Breast collar harness is available for just about any harness you may need. The term "breast collar harness" refers simply to the type of collar that is used to draw the carriage. It is use for single, pair, tandem, and four-in-hand driving, as well as for several other configurations.
The breast collar is made of a wide strap of leather often padded or folded over. This strap is hung across the horse's breast and around the shoulders supported by two neck straps. The main supporting neck strap should be padded, although often times is not. When a pair is harnessed in breast collars they should be put to a carriage with a suspended pole. In the rare occasion that they are used with a drop pole they pole must have a neck yolk. A special collar pad for bearing weight should be placed under the neck strap.

Breast collar harness is probably the most popular style in modern carriage driving. There are several reasons for this:

Price
The most common denominator is usually the dollar. Breast collar harness can cost $100-$1,000 less than it's full collar counter part. Versatility
Unlike a full collar, a breast collar will fit most horses with in a given size range. Breast collars are also acceptable to use on almost all except the most formal or very heavy vehicles. Weight & Size
A breast collar is usually lighter and smaller than the full collar. This makes harnessing and un - harnessing easier, especially on large horses.

Most common breast collar harness applications:

Single horses put to:

Meadowbrooks

Road Carts

Dog Carts (two and four wheeled)

Gigs (not as formal as a full collar)

Phaetons (not as formal as a full collar)

Pairs or Four-in-hands put to:

Marathon vehicles

Waggonettes

Light or informal Breaks

In addition to our regular breast collar harness, Coachman’s Delight is now carrying more options for a better fit with your harness.

The Freestyle Collar has a deep V front for horses with a low neck/chest connection. Has been seen called Deep V Collar and Empathy Collar by other retailers. The French Collar is as comfortable as a full collar, which offers a good bearing surface, and is as adjustable as a breast collar. Sold as Euro Collar, Hungarian Collar and Mara thon Collar by other retailers.

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"Training and Outfitting for the Sport of Carriage Driving"

Breast collar harness is probably the most popular style in modern carriage driving. There are several reasons for this:
Price The most common denominator is usually the dollar. Breast collar harness can cost $100-$1,000 less than it's full collar counter part.	Versatility Unlike a full collar, a breast collar will fit most horses with in a given size range. Breast collars are also acceptable to use on almost all except the most formal or very heavy vehicles.	Weight & Size A breast collar is usually lighter and smaller than the full collar. This makes harnessing and un - harnessing easier, especially on large horses.

In addition to our regular breast collar harness, Coachman’s Delight is now carrying more options for a better fit with your harness.
	The Freestyle Collar has a deep V front for horses with a low neck/chest connection. Has been seen called Deep V Collar and Empathy Collar by other retailers.		The French Collar is as comfortable as a full collar, which offers a good bearing surface, and is as adjustable as a breast collar. Sold as Euro Collar, Hungarian Collar and Mara thon Collar by other retailers.