Poll: Put this to bed for me forever - is it better to do up headcollars using the headpiece buckle or under jaw clip

[Penguin_Toes]

For years and years I have felt like the only person in the world who prefers to fasten a headcollar using the headpiece buckle.

Every time I come to put a headcollar on any one else's horse the clip under the jaw is undone and the headpiece done up. Any time anyone else leads my horse somewhere this is how I find my headcollar afterwards.

There is something wrong with me because even though I have owned horses for years every time I try and do the jaw clip headcollar thing I end up making an absolute hash of it. It slips down and is between the lips, or an ear gets caught and I don't notice. It is my kryptonite. I can see no benefit to under the jaw clips!!!

So I thought I would do a scientific poll to see what the preferences are out there

Thank you for indulging me!

 

[Annagain]

Clip under the jaw is so much easier - just slip the noseband on, headpiece over the ears. At this point the heacollar is effectively on and you just have do up the clip to secure it (or not if it's only a quick trip to the stable). With the buckle, you have to put it on, hold the noseband in place, flip the headpieice over the ears, let go of the nose and hope the headcollar doesn't fall off before you can grab both sides of the buckle to do it up.

 

[Tiddlypom]

OP, same here, always the headpiece, it works and I can't do the jaw strap thing at all.

My horses all just present themselves to have their headcollars on anyway, even the time when my mare was terrified of the hot air balloon (I posted the video).

Got told off by a teenager once for undoing a headcollar the 'wrong way' , cheeky s0d.

 

[Birker2020]

Some headcollars are really stiff when first bought and it takes forever to undo the headpiece.
Its much easier to just do the clip under the jaw, I wouldn't buy a head collar unless I had that option tbh.

And while on the subject of headcollars I would never ever have a nylon headcollar as they are very dangerous.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Always the buckle- the clips really, really annoy me. I honestly can't see the point of them, for as long as I have been on this earth and progressed from the old fashioned rope halters to the new style, I have avoided the ones with a clip whenever I can.

 

[AntiPuck]

I'm a convert to the clip, it's so much easier to get on and off. Mostly use rope halters, though.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

And while on the subject of headcollars I would never ever have a nylon headcollar as they are very dangerous

Surely only if left on while out in the field, or if tied incorrectly directly to the ring or any other solid tethering point without a breakable bit of string loop or similar? I have only ever used leather for turn out if absolutely necessary to have one on in the field but I agree it does irk me to see a horse turned out in a nylon one. Just in case can often becomes 'Oh damn now he has broken his neck, leg or whatever'.

 

[catkin]

My headcollars do not have clips under the jaw. The more clips on an item, the more chance of a breakage or an accident - and thats before the extra weight of big metal clips, unbalancing the set of the headgear, and less easy to adjust the headcollar size to fit various ponies when in a hurry.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I always use the buckle over the head.

The clip part is handy when clipping heads though!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

YO uses the clip underneath. Her headcollar is always twisted and it really annoys me as i bring them in!! Headpiece all the way!!

 

[dorsetladette]

Head piece every time. I always think people don't know how to use a headcollar when i see the clip being used. I'm a bit old fashioned though.

The only time the clip gets used on my headcollars is for trimming the jaw line up, but I usually just put headcollar round their necks (using the buckle on the head piece to undo and drop off the end of their nose). I like a headcollar with a buckle on the front of the noseband, but you don't really see them anymore.

 

[Red-1]

Headpiece. Never undo the jaw clip unless clipping.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Buckle for me.

I have an ear shy horse and if someone tried to do the clip option with him it wouldn't go well. I have been tempted to remove the clip option from my headcollars (and replace with a welded loop) that have them to ensure it doesn't happen but I haven't got around to it yet. Luckily I'm not at a livery yard so I can tell anyone who catches him to use the buckle or I just give them a headcollar without the clip.

 

[nikicb]

Clip underneath every time - so much easier to do quickly/one handed/in the dark/with gloves on. I only use leather headcollars and they are far easier to use this way. To be honest though, the clip only ever gets done if travelling or tying up. It's not needed just to lead in and out for mine. That said, most of the summer they are lead around by their fly masks, and in the winter quite often by their manes/front of rugs. The joy of having them at home!!

 

[ihatework]

I actually don’t really care either way!

 

[humblepie]

Always used to do the buckle but now probably mix the two as when yard owner was doing him on part livery she always does the clip and horse and I got into that habit even now full DIY.

 

[Pmf27]

Head piece for me!

 

[Birker2020]

Surely only if left on while out in the field, or if tied incorrectly directly to the ring or any other solid tethering point without a breakable bit of string loop or similar? I have only ever used leather for turn out if absolutely necessary to have one on in the field but I agree it does irk me to see a horse turned out in a nylon one. Just in case can often becomes 'Oh damn now he has broken his neck, leg or whatever'.

Yes in that respect. But I know people turn out with them on and I remember reading about a mare and foal, the foal got caught up in the mare's headcollar, it didn't break, she broke her neck and he broke his leg. How heartbreaking.

I used to be on a yard that insisted headcollars were left on horses and my horse broke his leather headcollar three times in all! I shudder to think what would happen to a nylon one.

And I will never tie up with bailing twine, poor Lari really injured himself when his leather headcollar didn't break nor did the twine which I'd narrowed to half its width with a pair of scissors.

I remember reading that you can tow a car with a nylon headcollar which makes me realise how very strong they are.

 

[Widgeon]

I always use the buckle over the head.

The clip part is handy when clipping heads though!

Same. I put it on and off using the headpiece buckle but I do undo the jaw clip for grooming.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

And I will never tie up with bailing twine, poor Lari really injured himself when his leather headcollar didn't break nor did the twine which I'd narrowed to half its width with a pair of scissors.

Fair point, but I have never had an issue with it not breaking as I use the scruffiest most threadbare bit of baling twine I can find and it has always snapped when enough force is put on it. But n o, not a brand new shiny length of bailing twine for sure.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I actually don’t really care either way!

Ditto. I do it both ways (as do others handling my horse) & never really considered it a thing ?

 

[J&S]

Head piece and buckle for me. Never understood the under jaw clip mode. (except for clipping jaw line!)

 

[Annagain]

Does anyone else hate the dog lead style jaw clips? I will only buy headcollars with clips that are totally flat on one side but I see so many that use a dog lead style clip. This means that either the trigger that you pull back to do it up is digging into the horse's face or the rounded edge of the piece you put the ring into. It all looks so uncomfortable. It's getting increasingly difficult to find flat clips though.

 

[Birker2020]

Fair point, but I have never had an issue with it not breaking as I use the scruffiest most threadbare bit of baling twine I can find and it has always snapped when enough force is put on it. But n o, not a brand new shiny length of bailing twine for sure.

I think it depends on the force exerted i.e upwards pressure is harder to snap than side wards pressure or something someone said. We were all amazed it hadn't broken to be honest., there were literally only a few strands left that I'd not cut. I will only ever use those breakaway ties now although I do cross tie with normal bailing twine.

My friend has one of those halters that you tie up in a knot. I quite like those but I'd only ever have leather I think. But I find them fiddly to put on, and again like Anna said you have to fling the end over the head and then try and do up without dropping it all.

 

[Bernster]

I do both. The yard use the clip so I tend to do the same. It’s a bit fiddly trying to throw over the headpiece doing it via the buckle so I find the clip easier overall but even so you get the fiddly bit of getting the nose and then the ears in properly when you’re doing it via the clip so ?‍

 

[Bernster]

Does anyone else hate the dog lead style jaw clips? I will only buy headcollars with clips that are totally flat on one side but I see so many that use a dog lead style clip. This means that either the trigger that you pull back to do it up is digging into the horse's face or the rounded edge of the piece you put the ring into. It all looks so uncomfortable. It's getting increasingly difficult to find flat clips though.

Yes good point! They’re always those round clips.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Throat latch for me, doesn’t ruin the leather and gives the horse the illusion his headcollar is on properly. I confess, I’m guilty of not doing up the throatlatch hardly ever, Beau would follow me up the lane like a dog.

 

[PurBee]

A new one for me to even find out theres another option aside from head pice buckle! Jaw clip? Mine dont have them…

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Does anyone else hate the dog lead style jaw clips? I will only buy headcollars with clips that are totally flat on one side but I see so many that use a dog lead style clip. This means that either the trigger that you pull back to do it up is digging into the horse's face or the rounded edge of the piece you put the ring into. It all looks so uncomfortable. It's getting increasingly difficult to find flat clips though.

I find they often break, plus if it’s cold and you have Raynaud’s, the flat ones are lots easier to open.

 

[nikicb]

Does anyone else hate the dog lead style jaw clips? I will only buy headcollars with clips that are totally flat on one side but I see so many that use a dog lead style clip. This means that either the trigger that you pull back to do it up is digging into the horse's face or the rounded edge of the piece you put the ring into. It all looks so uncomfortable. It's getting increasingly difficult to find flat clips though.

I agree - I only buy headcollars with the flat clip as it's a lot easier to do up.