Whatever Happened To Sturdy Headcollars and Ropes!

Irishlife

Irishlife

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Yes I am a horsewoman of the 70's 80's 90's etc but I remember when headcollars lasted, fittings were made of brass, walsall clips just did not break and there alone was a good reason to tie up to baler twine. I used to buy the first Cottage Craft headcollars (with brass fittings) and have the headpiece removed and replaced with a leather one for use in the field. 25 years on I am still using the last remaining headcollar.

My horses are pretty big lads and girls and one jerk of the head (not even a panic attack) leaves another broken headcollar fitting or rope clip. I am so frustrated. I accept these rotten mass produced in China cheap headcollars are rubbish but I am talking about Horseware from which I expected more and the disappointment on another top brand of the fittings only being brass plated when a ring snapped. I am getting through so many headcollars and ropes with 8 horses and believe me they are not nutters or pulling back types.

Apart from having leather with brass fittings (too expensive for everyday) does anybody have recommendations for a good hard-working headcollar!!!

Thanks
 
Not a clue I'm afraid! I am trying to remember if one of my horses has ever broken a headcollar!!? I don't think they have! I agree about the rope clips though, but I currently have the horseware ones and they dont seem to be too bad....
 
I can source a variety of double thick, stitched leather, with brass fittings for less than $50 at my local saddlery. I could never find anything approaching that price and quality in the UK.

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Tricky sorry, both ours have english leather ones with brass fittings for exactly the reasons you describe!!! Heritage do nice leather stuff at a reasnoble price? Perhaps they do headcollars? It is tricky to get them will solid brass fittings at a good price as the brass costs a fortune! One headcollar buckle in solid brass sets me back over £3 before I have even started on the leather and other fittings!!!
 
I generally use leather headcollars, one very old been in use for too long to remember,the other one I paid £40 with some show winnings about 10 years ago. As for lead ropes,I used to go through these so quickly. My sister in the USA gave me a lead rope 4 years ago and it is still going strong, it is also a lot longer than UK ones, which feel like bits of string in comparision.
 
God only knows!!
I am only 20 but when I got my first pony, even those headcollars lasted longer than the ones I buy today!
Kelly has broken around 4 headcollars, rather than the baler twine - how that works I don't know!
As an example, an incident occurred when we were bathing her - she was wearing an old headcollar (due to the bath) and she obviously saw a monster flood out of the hosepipe - she flinched, reared up, neither the headcollar or the twine broke, but she managed to drag the haylage fence out of the ground and bend it! Fortunately she wasn't injured, but we were amazed she dragged it up from the ground rather than breaking her headcollar or the twine!
 
I feel your pain! I have a headcollar trasher who would destroy one at least every six months and that was just general tying up for grooming, tacking up etc!

However I now have a John Whitaker headcollar for him (not leather) and *touch wood*, more than 2 YEARS later it's still going strong! It has a sort of webbing outer with fleece inner & JW signature across the noseband. I can thoroughly recommend it!

Sorry can't help on the ropes though - they are all ****! I just buy loads when I see them cheap enough and accept they are not going to last!
 
ExRacers said:
Sorry can't help on the ropes though - they are all ****! I just buy loads when I see them cheap enough and accept they are not going to last!
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We've got a leadrope that's brilliant - they aren't soft they are more like hard flexible (not as much as the normal leadropes) material with two ropes wound round one another and into the clip at the end. I bought it from my local pet shop and its held my mum's cob, Kelly and a runaway yesterday!!
 
I have aerborn cushionweb headcollars for both our boys, but I also like the thorowgood conform headcollars. Both really good quality and last. the only reason I switched to the aerborn is that Ron proper panicked one day when tied up to the trailer and bent all the brass fittings and snapped 2 of the brass clips!

I like the jeffries leadropes too, but they're almost too nice for everyday use! we have cotton lead ropes but they're woven not twisted (if that makes sense) but I cannot remember where we got them or what make they are.
 
I would echo Exracers on the John Whittaker headcollar being great. Ive had mine about 4 years and its brilliant and also has a long and very strong leadrope. That was borrowed a lot by peeps who were dealing with a youngster as it wasnt as long as a lungeline but gave you more to play with if they pulled back etc.

In fact all the JW stuff Ive had (rugs, headcollar and stuff) have been great.For once a 'name's stuff was worth the ££
 
Sorry I have same problem, also cann't find cob sizes that fit a cob? have still got a leadrope I bought over 30 years ago that is only now showing it's age, but it is thick as my wrist and longer than average leadrope and I could hold anything with it whether they reared, tried to bolt, etc:- So I shall give it a decent send off when it cann't cope anymore;)
 
Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I do have pukka leather ones I try to "save" for best.

I have to do a tack order for a few bits (a painful pleasure - painful financially, pleasure as in drooling over webpages and agonising over choices!! )

Will try to add a couple of your recommended choices to the list and see how they go with the headcollar hooligan brigade :)
 
if you look for wicked equestrian lead ropes they are good,even a free replacement if you break one and also have a ammount of stretch to them,i started the company but have since sold the equestrian side to gary baines of frank baines saddlery...try one out! even the brass clips have a stainless spring inside them so they dont rust and stick
 
Echo Bravo said:
Sorry I have same problem, also cann't find cob sizes that fit a cob? have still got a leadrope I bought over 30 years ago that is only now showing it's age, but it is thick as my wrist and longer than average leadrope and I could hold anything with it whether they reared, tried to bolt, etc:- So I shall give it a decent send off when it cann't cope anymore;)
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the thorowgood conform Cob is great... neither too long nor short and broad enough for a decent cob's head!
 
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