Euro Collars, Comfy Collars, SuperFlex Collars, Oh My!

It has come to our attention that some information has been circulating social media about the Euro Collar, the Comfy Collar, the SuperFlex collar that is incorrect. I figured it was time for a little blog explaining this style of breast collar once again. Sometimes, blogs get lost as time marches on, and writing a fresh new blog can be very helpful, so here we go!

What is Line of Draft?

I’ll start off with line of draft. The euro style breast collar is NEVER appropriate for a low line of draft. I do have TONS of information about line of draft on this blog, but I think I’ll share a little about that in this as well. 

A low line of draft is when the single tree is below the hocks of the equine you are driving. This applies for ALL sizes of equine.

Let’s look at the photo above.

You can see the traces attach to the single tree below the horse’s hocks. You can also see how the breast collar wants to come up, pressing on the horse’s windpipe while at the same time pressing down on the top of it’s neck. You can see how much “weight” there appears to be at the top of the neck. This is because the weight of the vehicle and the two people riding in it are centering at the top of the neck, NOT at the front of the breast collar as we would like it to. Because the weight is on the top of the neck, pulling this set up is difficult for the horse. It’s pulling with it’s head up, a hollow back and not able to properly engage it’s stomach muscles.

Below is a photo of a pony pulling a sled with a low line of draft and a collar and hames. You can see that she is able to put her head down and push INTO the weight because with the appropriate collar and hames the weight of the sled is on the front of her chest.

In the video below, you will see a pony attempt to pull a sled with a low line of draft, using a breast collar, and then again with the collar and hames. You can see how difficult it is for her to properly use her body with the breast collar, and then how much easier it is for her with the proper set up – the collar and hames.

**Remember: The Euro collar, the Comfy collar, the SuperFlex collar are ALL breast collars.

Now, when CAN you use a breast collar, Euro Collar, Comfy Collar, SuperFlex Collar?

When the line of draft is horizontal. This means the traces connect to the single tree ABOVE the hocks. Again, this applies to all sizes of equine.

The above photo shows a SuperFlex collar in use with a bike. The single tree is under the seat but the line of draft is still horizontal. This means this breast collar works well with this vehicle.

One issue with the SuperFlex is that is it very soft and flexible, hence the name. This means it is not appropriate for pulling a lot weight. I have imposed a weight limit on this type of Euro collar of 250 pounds for the mini/small pony sizes. (Note: this is my PERSONAL opinion for this style of Euro collar. You do you, BUT if you are having issues with your SuperFlex take a look at how much weight your equine is pulling with it.) The larger equine sizes of SuperFlex can pull more weight as they are wider and thicker than the mini ones. But they are still not appropriate for a heavier vehicle, a larger driver or pulling several people on a vehicle, even if the line of draft is horizontal. This can be confusing, however, you can always call and discuss this with me!

The next photo is of an easy entry cart. The single tree is STRAIGHT back from where the traces attach to the breast collar.

The above photo shows a marathon vehicle with a horizontal line of draft. The breast collar in use here is the Comfy Collar. (**We no longer make the colored ComfyFit harness. I’m sorry about that!!) This collar is a little stiffer and wider than the SuperFlex. It also has nice rolled, sewn edges and the material has a matte finish. 

The Comfy Collar is a great breast collar option for pairs driving as it tends to stay more centered on the neck when attached to a team pole. Because it has more layers of material than the SuperFlex it works better in that situation. I NEVER suggest the SuperFlex for pairs driving.

In the above photo you can see the Comfy Collar in use set up as a pairs harness. I like the fact that it wraps around the neck. 

When do I use a Comfy collar or SuperFlex collar?

This is a personal choice. If you need to use a breast collar for your vehicle then you have a few choices here at Chimacum Tack:

• The Deluxe – This style of breast collar is a bit tricky. It functions best when it’s a little too small. If the sides of the breast collar clear the back of the shoulder blade there can be pinching between the breast collar and the front of the saddle. Also, the Deluxe likes to twist when pulling weight and will sometimes flip up on the chest, causing the breast collar to only have 1/4″-1/2″ actually on the equine’s chest. This can be very uncomfortable for the equine. This breast collar should not be used when driving pairs, in my personal opinion.
• The Standard Curve – This is a very easy to fit style of breast collar. It is a bit narrower than the Deluxe, but for some, this is ideal. Many people are worried about how hot a harness is on a horse when living in hot, muggy environments. This breast collar can be the perfect choice for them! Because of how easy it is to fit I always suggest this style for new drivers.
• The Comfy Collar – This is a lovely matte finish breast collar. It was made to go with the ComfyFit Harness. It has a few layers of material which makes it a bit heavier duty than the above breast collars. I have never had a problem with it being too hot as it allows for the equine to sweat just fine. Again, this is a personal choice! I like to have people use this style of breast collar when driving pairs as it will not twist when attached to a team pole. 
• The SuperFlex Collar – This is a lightweight, flexible Euro collar. It is our “sporty” breast collar and is made using a shiny material. Again, because it is a lighter breast collar it is not appropriate for pulling a lot of weight.

Sometimes, people think there is a reason one would use a Euro collar, but from my point of view there really isn’t one. It’s completely a personal choice.

For the type of driving I did, lots and lots of difficult trail driving over varied and extreme terrain using a bike style vehicle, the SuperFlex was the ideal choice. I used all the different style of breast collars with my pony Zorro and HIS personal choice was always the SuperFlex. How did I know he liked it? When we would go out the driveway he would normally trot, very forward and strong, straight down the driveway and turn onto the road. If he had a breast collar on he didn’t like he would swerve around, stop and look back at me, sometimes back up instead of going forward, be super hesitant to trot. It was obvious. We would turn back to the tack shed, put the SuperFlex back on and off we would go!

If you have any questions about the different breast collars, when to use a Euro collar or a collar and hames, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! You can reach Mindy at mindy@chimacumtack.com or call us at (224)427-6377.