Headcollar size: pony, cob or full, and how to fit it properly
On headcollar labels you'll see foal, pony, cob, full or XL, but each brand has its own size chart. Here is what these sizes cover, how to measure your horse's head and how to adjust the headcollar so that it doesn't hurt him.
Horse headcollar sizes: what foal, pony, cob, full and XL cover
Manufacturers classify their headcollars by the size of horse. Kerbl, for example, numbers six sizes, from foal (00) to very large horse (4), on the product page for its Hippo headcollar.
| Size | Kerbl number |
|---|---|
| Foal | 00 |
| Shetland (shetty) | 0 |
| Pony (PS) | 1 |
| Cob (CS) | 2 |
| Full or horse (FS) | 3 |
| XL or XFull (XFS) | 4 |
Horse size alone isn't enough: the safest option is to go by the size of the bridle or headcollar your horse already wears, according to the shape of its head.
Names also vary from one brand to another. Among our horse headcollars, the T de T clincher leather headcollar, the Privilège travel headcollar and the Harcour Holly headcollar and lead rope come in pony, cob and horse; the Ubud headcollar set and the Robust leather headcollar in pony, cob and full. The Greenfield headcollars and the Phoenix set only come in full. For a foal, the T de T eco foal headcollar adjusts at the noseband and headpiece.
Measuring the head: nose circumference and headpiece length
The best guide is still a headcollar that already fits well. It should be adjusted on the middle holes, as Horse Illustrated points out: if it's on the first or last hole, change size. With a soft tape measure, on that headcollar or on the horse, measure:
- the nose circumference, where the noseband sits, two fingers' width below the cheekbone;
- the headpiece length, from one side of the noseband to the other over the poll, just behind the ears.
Then compare with the chart for the brand you're looking at. If you're between two sizes, call us or come to 432 avenue de Paris, Saint-Lô, with your measurements.
Adjusting the headcollar: two fingers under the noseband
The noseband sits two fingers' width below the cheekbone, and you should be able to fit two fingers between it and the front of the face, according to EquiSearch. The Dover Saddlery guide allows up to three fingers. The headpiece goes over the poll, close to the back of the ears, without pressing on them; with two buckles, use the same hole on each side.
Under the throat, allow three to four fingers: the horse can swallow comfortably and can't catch a foot in it when lowering its head. A headpiece that is too loose lets the noseband drop, which then restricts breathing or, at worst, slips down over the nose. Too tight, the headcollar marks the skin. As leather stretches with use and oiling, check the fit from time to time, especially on a growing foal.
In the field: headcollars that are too loose and headcollars that break
In a survey published in 2021 in Equine Veterinary Education, 31% of the 5,615 respondents had already seen a horse injured by its headcollar, and 167 horse deaths were reported, according to Hartpury University. A headcollar that is too loose can slip or catch a foot, Dover points out.
Horse Journal prefers never to leave a headcollar on in the field or the stable. When it can't be avoided (livery, breeding, overnight stays at shows), the magazine recommends two headcollars: a safety headcollar for the field and the stable, and a standard headcollar for handling the horse.
A safety headcollar is designed to come open in an emergency. Depending on the model, it releases via hook-and-loop fastenings at the headpiece and noseband, or breaks at the throatlatch, as described by the magazine Your Horse. Others are designed to give way at the buckles beyond a certain pull, to protect the poll of a horse that pulls back when tied: the product page for the headcollar will say so.
No system is foolproof. In a Horse Journal comparison, the hook-and-loop model opened most easily, but could also come undone in hand; a leather headpiece, for its part, does not guarantee that the headcollar will break. The study by Marlin, Williams and Pickles nonetheless associates safety headcollars with fewer injuries than standard headcollars of the same material. Conversely, the T de T trippled leather headcollar, reinforced with nylon between two layers of leather, is made to hold: keep it for grooming and in-hand work.
Nylon, leather or rope: which material to choose
Nylon and synthetic webbing
In our range, several are lined: fleece on two of the Greenfield headcollars, synthetic sheepskin on the Privilège travel headcollar, mesh fabric on the Harcour hega rider headcollar. The Ubud headcollar set is machine washable at 30 °C. In the Hartpury survey, however, injuries were most frequent with webbing headcollars.
Leather
The T de T clincher leather headcollar, in buffalo leather, is padded at the headpiece and noseband. In the same survey, injuries were least frequent with leather. Nourished with a leather grease, it stretches a little: tighten it if necessary.
Rope
A natural horsemanship rope halter is not gentler: its knots press on sensitive points of the head, all the more so the thinner the rope. Very strong, it should never be used for tying up. The chetak rope headcollar combines leather with a thick rope noseband, and matches the Privilège Canter rope lead rope.
If a headcollar rubs, add the four natural sheepskin sleeves from the HFI sheepskin kit, which you'll find with our headcollar accessories.
Choosing the right lead rope
When tied up, the lead rope should leave the head in a natural position without hanging so low that the horse could catch a leg in it, according to Horse Illustrated. The magazine recommends tying at withers height or higher, with a quick-release knot. A panic snap, it adds, stays closed under normal conditions but opens under a strong pull or with one hand.
Among our lead ropes, the T de T round lead rope and American braided lead rope are 2 m long; the 8 and 12 m lines, on the other hand, are for lungeing. The Harcour Holly headcollar and lead rope, the Ubud headcollar set and the Phoenix set, which you'll find in our headcollars and lead ropes, come with their lead rope.
Frequently asked questions
What size headcollar for a 1.60 m horse?
Full size, which some brands call horse or FS, corresponds to a riding horse. The shape of the head also matters: a fine head may be lost in a full. Go by the size of its bridle, or measure the nose circumference and the headpiece.
My horse is between two sizes: which one should I take?
Take the one where your measurements fall on the middle holes. For an unusually shaped head, Dover Saddlery prefers a headcollar with two headpiece buckles and an adjustable noseband, such as the Privilège travel headcollar. You can also compare models in our shop in Saint-Lô, or return an unused headcollar to us within 14 days, in its packaging.
Can you leave a headcollar on in the field?
It's best avoided: Horse Journal keeps the headcollar for when the horse is being handled. If you have to leave it on, choose a safety headcollar that states its breaking point, with two fingers' room under the noseband and three to four under the throat. Check it at least morning and evening.
How can I tell if a headcollar is too tight?
You should be able to fit two fingers under the noseband and three to four under the throatlatch, and the horse should be able to chew and swallow comfortably. If it marks the skin, the headcollar is too tight, according to Dover Saddlery. Also check the height: the noseband sits two fingers' width below the cheekbone.
