Opinions of Euro-collars, aka French collars

[DancingAppy]

I’m wondering what everyone’s opinions are on the Euro-collar. I’ve heard that they’re great and have also heard that they are horrible. I guess they’re a love-it or hate-it type of equipment.

I was told that the French collars work better on more of the daisy-cutter type of movers, otherwise the collar interferes with the movement. However, I like the look and the idea behind the French collar. Preferably, once my mare is more in shape and trained, I’ll be purchasing a full collar and hames.

Would my mare’s conformation and movement be suitable for a French collar? Here are some pictures (btw, they are over a year old and that is not me riding, it was a friend helping me out. Fancy has since matured and grown more in muscle mass. It’s just to give a basic idea of what she looks like.)

“Conformation” photos:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancy.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancyundertree.jpg

Movement:
Trot:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancytrotinwarmup.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancytrotcircle.jpg
Walk:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancyfreewalk.jpg
Canter:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j57/atrueeventer/fancycantercircle.jpg

So opinions on French collars? Would it work for my mare? I would still have a breast collar to use if I have to.

[nfld_pony]

Personally, I don’t like the look of a euro collar. I think they look busy, too much happening up front and with all that bulk, and a horse with a straight of a shoulder as your horse would inhibit movement.

The only time I’ve actually seen them used it during marathon.

I haven’t used one, and no one I know has one, I’ve only seen them used.

I’ll ask my coach about them for you as well.

[Thomas_1]

I personally am totally unpersuaded that they have any advantage whatsoever over a conventional breast collar.

[MySparrow]

I’ve been using a Euro-collar on Sparrow for 18 months, and I love it. Andy Marcoux recommended it when I lessoned with him, as Sparrow was reluctant to move into weight with her previous V-shaped breastcollar, however it was set. If you will glance at my ‘coming out of lurkdom’ post of a week or so ago, you will see a photograph of her in the Eurocollar, happily working into a good load.

I was concerned that the Eurocollar would create too much heat, especially as we are here in Mississippi where “hot” means temperature and humidity are both in the high 90s. Obviously we don’t work when the heat index is too great, but it’s always warmish (!).

I have noticed that the leather of the Eurocollar seems to be more comfortable than the artificial materials that line my harness pads. There is never any sign of chafing or discomfort. On Thursday, when it was 95 degrees F and about 70 percent humidity, we spent a goodly period working to weight in the 3" deep wet sand of the arena (we’d had a downpour two days prior), and she was far sweatier under the harness pads than under the Eurocollar when we had finished.

I used to work with full collars when I drove draft teams. I’ve also worked with breastcollars. For my purposes I really like the Eurocollar. BUT I wouldn’t buy one of the inexpensive knock-offs available on Ebay. I would only purchase a good one correctly fitted.

My humble two pence.

Dale

[Thomas_1]

^ Thing is though you’ve just described the advantages of a normal good fitting leather breast collar over a synthetic lined v shaped thing.

You’d have found the same with a well fitted traditional leather breast collar rather than a synthetic V shaped thing.

[DancingAppy]

Ah well Thomas, I hate the empathy collars (the v-things). After seeing them used at the Frank Luetz clinic on almost every horse, they definitely cause interference with the front end, especially with bending in the neck and reach with the front legs. I talked to Frank about it and he agreed with me.

I’m just concerned because my mare’s neck attaches so low to her chest I know it’s going to be hard, if not impossible to fit a regular breast collar correctly. So I’m looking into other options.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=DancingAppy;3255995]

I’m just concerned because my mare’s neck attaches so low to her chest I know it’s going to be hard, if not impossible to fit a regular breast collar correctly. So I’m looking into other options.[/QUOTE] I’ll give you its not her best feature but I’m personally not seeing anything so conformationally challenged that a normal breast collar wouldn’t fit.

[Drive_NJ]

There are a couple of people in our area who use the “euro-collar” and really like them
I (personally) think they look heavy and you want to be a little careful with the fit of the top adjustment and how the traces go back to the crt, otherwise the traces will give a funny pull on the collar (just my opinion)

We’ve liked the traditional breast collar with a dip in the front, for a bit more neck room. These are very easy for use with most road carts and very easy to fit. Your mare doesnt appear to have tht low a neck-set that she needs major special equipment. So alot of your choice will be personal preference

The new W shaped collars (like Zilco or Freedom) are interesting and lots of people seem to like or at lest use them but the more I see them I’m not sure about how they are sized, especially on larger horses - and having DraftX who take XL harness, its like you’ve got on someones too small T-shirt;)

Someday we plan to try Alex in a full collar and even got the steal of the century ($10) from a Haflinger driver that bought a too big collar

[Trakehner]

Well, I’ve got a Eurocollar I got from Andy Marcoux, a breast collar (straight and the “dip” design) and a neck collar.

My horse goes well in all of them. For the heavy stuff, I prefer a well-fitting neck collar…for anything else…I use what’s cleanest or what fits the swingletree…the Euro only fits the traces with the roller bolt end.

Lots of opinions…that’s what makes driving fun.

[DancingAppy]

I was taught that the breast collar so the collar is above the points of shoulder (so not to rub the shoulder) and below the neck so not to cut of the air way. Is this correct?

My mare’s point of shoulder and airway are pretty much on the same line.

[UnderTheSonWelshCobs]

Well I LOVE my “synthetic V shaped thingie” LOL

I used a regular breast collar for my minis for years and when I switched to a freedom collar it was like a whole new animal had been born between my shafts. It frees the airway, frees the shoulder, it’s wide enough not to create a pressure point. LOVE IT!!!

Now the Euro-Collars I haven’t tried. I know folks who love em, and folks who hate em.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=DancingAppy;3257079]
I was taught that the breast collar so the collar is above the points of shoulder (so not to rub the shoulder) and below the neck so not to cut of the air way. Is this correct? [/QUOTE] yes

My mare’s point of shoulder and airway are pretty much on the same line
They’re not. I can see from the photo that is most definitely not the case.

Use your hand to feel his bone structure for the point of shoulder and again for the windpipe.

[DancingAppy]

Thanks Thomas,

I won’t worry about it them, I’ll use your tip when I’m fitting her breast collar. I’m just horrible at accessing conformation, unless I actually grab a pencil and protractor and measure out angles. The weird thing is I can place a conformation class just like the judge would, I just can’t tell you why.