Ask A Teamster: Fitting Collars

by Dr. Doug Hammill D.V.M. of Montana

Measuring for a Collar:

Overlap two carpenter squares to form a large, U-shaped caliper.

1. Take the length measurement by placing the caliper on the neck exactly where the collar should sit. (e.g. 24”)
2. Take the first width measurement 1/3 of the way down from the top of the neck (eg. 9”), and the second 1/3 of the way up from the bottom of the neck. (eg. 8”)
3. Order a collar that can be squeezed into a shape with these 3 dimensions. (eg. 24” long, 9” across 1/3 down from the top, and 8” across 1/ 3 up from the bottom.

(I learned this method from a great teamster – John Erskine from Washington)

It’s always best to actually test various collars on the horse instead of measuring.

Fitting a Collar to the Horse:

Whether you are actually fitting a collar to the horse or measuring for one, the horse’s head must be facing straight ahead and at the height he normally works. Otherwise the collar will not fit when he is working.

1. The fit of the collar alone is only the first step. It must be rechecked after the hames are on and adjusted, and again when hitched with the weight of the tongue pulling down. It’s important to see how the collar fits when pulling a load as well. It should be routine procedure to evaluate collar fit every time a horse is harnessed.
2. Hame adjustment is as important as a collar of the proper size. By adjusting the hames we can influence the collar shape in a positive or negative way. A collar that is too long and too narrow may fit better if we adjust the hames to reshape it wider and shorter. A wide short collar can be lengthened by pulling the sides together with the hames until it fits the sides of the neck.
3. Adjustable collars are an option for folks who don’t have a barn full of collars to choose from. They adjust to three sizes (eg. 23, 24, 25 inch) and with a thick and a thin pad you have even more options.
4. Collars come in different designs to fit different shaped necks. Full Faced collars are designed for narrow necks such as light horses and mules. Half Sweeney collars tend to fit average draft horses. If the neck is extremely thick, especially at the crest, a Full Sweeney collar may work.