Alright, there are 3 different types of collars to put on a horse (in the western world), and I know jack about the differences. What are the pros and cons to each type, uses, favorites, etc.? I have used Breast Collars all my life and have the opportunity to switch it up with a free custom collar courtesy of my saddle maker.
If you aren’t roping, pulling, or steer tripping, there is really no need for those type of breast collars. A regular one will do fine.
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Ask your saddle maker to tell you about the different collars. Read up on them in some good western catalogs/books. Ask other western riders you know whose knowledge and opinions you respect. (Seems odd that someone who has used a piece of equipment all their life doesn’t know anything about that equipment.) If I want to try a new piece of equipment I learn all about it before I ever consider putting it on the horse.
Hence my inquiry here. I know about breast collars and their function. I know how to fit one and use one. I’m asking about the uses of tripping and pulling collars. I do plan to do some light roping here pretty soon, and I want to make sure I’ve got all the info I can. My saddle maker didn’t have much input because he is not a fan of using them and never took the time to learn about their uses. He thinks I should probably upgrade from a regular breast collar because I’m starting to do more performance ranch work.
No need to be rude.
bugsynskeeter - Never did I say I wouldn’t be roping, pulling, or tripping. I do actually plan on starting some of those activities.
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Alright, there are 3 different types of collars to put on a horse (in the western world), and I know jack about the differences.
I know about breast collars and their function.
Um…?
Your saddlemaker thinks you should upgrade from a regular breast collar yet he’s not a fan of using other breast collars? UM …? To what does he think you should upgrade? What kind is this custom breast collar of his that you mentioned?
Not being rude, being confused by your contradictions. 
I switched to pulling collars for my trail horses several years ago. I like that it attaches higher on the saddle and doesn’t interfere with their shoulder’s movement. I never have any rubs or irritation from the pulling collar, and would occasionally notice it with a regular breast collar. The tripping collar is used primarily by ropers, I believe. They are very wide and look heavy-duty compared to the other breast collar types.
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Thank you saddleup for actually answering the question I asked. Much appreciated.
Rackonteur - I have been using breast collars and am familiar with their function and use. I am not familiar with the DIFFERENCES between them and the other types.
He’s not a fan of using any breast collars, doesn’t matter type. He’s a trail rider and just concerned about the saddle and front cinch. Doesn’t waste his time tacking up with full gear. I disagree with that, but his preference and his horses.
He’s having me try a pulling collar. Before he makes me something to see if I like that better. I do like the shoulder clearance, but I have been using a wither strap with my breast collar to get a similar fit to clear my mare’s large shoulders. I want to know what performance dis/advantages each type has.
He’s going to make whichever style I ask him to with a design to match the saddle he made for me back in December.
Whether you tried to be rude or not, your comment was rude, especially since you did not read my post thoroughly.
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I don’t know what a tripping collar is. But I prefer pulling collars over regular beast collars for the same reason that saddleup mentioned. They seem less likely to cause rubs and don’t interfere with the shoulders. My friend switched over to pulling collars. I have an endurance breast collar, which stays away from the shoulders. My husband has a regular one, but if we ever replace it we will be getting a pulling collar.
And to add, we all trail ride, no cattle work as of yet. If the wither strap works well on the regular beast collar, great, but if you are getting a new one, I’d try a pulling one (or tripping, but I can’t recommend something I know nothing about.)
Tripping breast collars help with weight distribution and force of the cattle when roping and tripping steers. It is much sturdier than a traditional roper breast collar.
Thank you both.
I did try the pulling collar today. Seemed alright. My mare got funky on me once, but it could have been several different things and I just rode through it and she didn’t do it again. The saddle maker didn’t have a tripping collar for me to borrow, but I don’t think I’ll need anything that stout. I’ll try the pulling collar again tomorrow and see if she starts crow hopping and humping around again. If she does I’ll switch back to her normal tack and see if that was the cause.
Honestly Id use a regular 'ol breast collar. If you think its sits a little low get a wither strap.
I wouldnt use a tripping collar unless I was roping big cattle in an arena. They can be a little of a pain to adjust correctly due to the double tugs, how your saddle is rigged and cinch length without interfering with the shoulder too much. But they do distribute a lot of weight and will hold a saddle good when dragging big cattle.
If your roping with a tripping collar something to consider is the where they pull from, the forks of the saddle. Youve already have a lot of pull coming from the horn and I always felt the tugs running through the forks compounded the issue of putting pressure on to the front of the saddle.
Ive roped big cows without a breast collar just fine. They can help but having a good saddle and knowing how to help your horse out is the best way to stay out of a wreck.
Just my opinion, good luck 
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Thanks Aces, do you have any experience with a pulling collar?
You bet
Back when I was working for cutting trainers, pulling collars were the “in” thing for turnback horses. Used them for that mainly.
They seem to be more popular in your area than mine and plenty of people use them for roping but like I said, I don’t like how they go through the forks. Just a personal preference plus they don’t work all that well on the style of saddle I use.
I can see why the Texans use them, works for their saddles and roping style.
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I have always heard that steer tripping competition is illegal in TX, but not sure.
We do trip on beets and turnips, if one gets lodged and it starts choking one, tripping will dislodge it.
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I didn’t know that about tripping… I’ll look in to that here shortly. I do not intend to trip at all, light roping (heeling) is about as far I plan on going. I’m more interested in learning about Pulling v standard collars, but I figured I’d throw tripping in there too so I could learn about all of them.
Aces - Thanks again, what style of saddle are you using?
For roping (heeling), you can use either a pulling breastcollar or a regular one and be just fine. For myself (I don’t rope) I use regular breastcollars (with a wither strap to clear the shoulder) when I’m barrel racing – kind of added security if I have a tack malfunction mid-run. For normal every day riding, I don’t put the breastcollar on.
Of course, the only difference between a regular breastcollar and a pulling breastcollar is where it attaches on your saddle. The pulling breastcollar attaches pretty much near the horn. The regular is going to attach to wherever the D rings are located on your saddle (or if you don’t have D-rings, then to the cinch ring).
Now if you do a lot of dragging calves to the branding fire, then you may want a pulling breastcollar instead of a regular one. Just kinda depends what you plan on doing.
Personally, I don’t find much use for tripping breastcollars.
I find that the biggest factor in choosing a pulling vs regular breastcollar aside from needing to actually pull anything, is the horse’s conformation. I am looking to get a pulling collar made to match my saddle for my gelding because the one I recently borrowed to try on my very upright, very chunky pony works better with his build and frees up his shoulders in a way a normal breastcollar simply doesn’t.
I tried a few different connection points on my saddle for the regular breastcollar and it just doesn’t sit quite right. The pulling collar dips down in the middle enough that it frees up his neck completely, and the different curve of the “arms” plus the higher connection points free up his massive shoulders.
His anatomy doesn’t work with any sort of breastcollar that sits straight across the chest. This includes polo style englsh breastplates, and driving breastcollars. I use a full collar-and-hames setup on him to drive because even the shaped breastcollars just don’t work for him.
3B. It sits low, I don’t need more stuff running through my forks
Thanks Ceylon Star, very informative.
Aces - Those can sit super low, I can understand why you wouldn’t want anything extra up there. Way different from my high back ranch saddle.
