Head collars -- too hard to put on?

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Dry Rot

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I have a serious gripe with the makers of head collars for foals, though the same grumble would apply to any situation where horses can be hard to head collar.

Highland mares are often foal proud which means it is difficult and time consuming getting hands on their foals until they are weaned. Some are easy -- some frustrating in the extreme!

The usual scenario is you've finally got the foal's confidence and now it is simply a matter of slipping on the head collar and buckling it up. Yeah! Right! The webbing will be stiff and impossible to get into the buckle without at least three hands. One to hold the bucket and two to get the head collar on. That's when the problems begin. Any fumbling and the foal becomes suspicious and nervous. Yes, I know I could do a rugby tackle and wrestle the foal to the ground and sit on it while putting on that dreaded head collar, but it will probably take a month to regain it's confidence. Anyway, by this time I am emitting silent screams and running out of swear words! (And don't anyone dare to mention NH and how easy it is for them! I don't believe it!). Then, when I've finally just about got it on, I find it is the wrong size!:mad:

Why oh why don't the manufacturers use those plastic snap buckles used on belts and straps for luggage and other things? I don't think it would be impossible to do one of those up with one hand. Not strong enough? I don't believe it, but anyway, have a look at these buckles if you really insist on super strength…. They'd probably be expensive, but worth every penny in terms of time and frustration saved. Oh, and put SIZES at least on the label, so if one size doesn't fit,we can get the next size up or down. It really can't be that difficult, can it?

http://www.austrialpin.net/products/cobra/
 
Haha, I feel your frustration, even with a quiet horse who is fine to head collar, when your bringing in an night, and the dark by torchlight, cold fumbly hands in gloves, it can still be a pain getting the damn buckles done up! Maybe you could make your millions inventing something that would be quicker and easier to use!
 
I only use leather head collars. They come already oiled so are simple to put on. I halter my foals within a day or so of them being born and usually do it when they're either suckling or asleep. Never had a problem tbh.
 
I actually prefer stiffer headcollars - but only if they have the clippy under the chin thingy . . . Kal's current headcollar is one I bought to please my daughter when we first bought him (she was then 13) - it's purple and very soft and is a beggar to put in because it's so soft and floppy . . . when I'm trying to get it on Kal and he's got his head right up in the air (he's 16.3) I would much prefer if it had a roughly horse head shape than the soft, melty, floppy, mess of cotton that it currently imitates. When Cracker is advancing to boss him about and I need to get his headcollar on quickly, it isn't very helpful to be faffing about with something with the texture of wet spaghetti.

P
 
I use a leather headcollar too, I unbuckle the throatlash clip thingy and slip it on like a bridle - much easier, and the leather holds its shape really well coz I never clean it :p
 
Can't say I've ever had a problem with headcollars- I like throat clip leather ones that you can just slip over the ears. My welsh a has a foal sized leather one for his tiny head which has a buckle not a clip and at one point he was very headshy but even so- a few treats sorted him out and the actual headcollar wasn't the issue....
 
Spring Feather said:
I only use leather head collars. They come already oiled so are simple to put on. I halter my foals within a day or so of them being born and usually do it when they're either suckling or asleep. Never had a problem tbh.
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I shall send you a few Highland mares! One I have is usually so easy to handle that you have to shoo her away, but once she has foaled, her head is up and she's off as soon as she hears the click of a gate latch! I defy you to get within 25 meters, let alone handle the foal! The others are easier with an escape distance of about 10 meters but certainly not less! All foal out doors.

As for ordinary head collars, when I buy the nylon ones, I buy the cheapest. They have plated white metal (a tin-lead alloy) buckles which will break quicker than any leather head collar.
 
I just use a tea towel round the neck until they're friendly enough to slip a headcollar on. And only ever use leather too (can we have a public burning of the nylon jobbies?).
 
Provided its a fully adjustable headcollar, with an under the jaw clip, I've always put a headcollar on exactly the same as I would a bridle. So the main strap is permanently done up and I just fasten the equivalent to the throatlash to secure. Never fails for speed and doesn't upset the headshy too much either.
 
I'm another one who only uses leather foals slips / headcollars on my youngsters. I've never had a problem with the buckles on them.

I do have nylon (Horseware) headcollars for turning out the adult horses although they never wear them in the field. I tend to undo the throatlatch clip and jsut slip them on and off over their ears. The buckles can get difficult to do up, especially after the flipping horse has chewed the strap - as one of mine rather likes to do ....
 
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