Headcollars & Leadropes

Leather headcollars like the Schockemohle Fremont Pro offer a smarter appearance, increased durability over time, and the safety benefit of breaking under extreme pressure — which can prevent serious injury if a horse gets caught. Nylon headcollars are lighter, cheaper, easy to clean, and come in more colours, but they do not break under pressure and can cause injury if a horse panics.

Headcollars come in Pony, Cob, Full, and Extra Full sizes. Cob fits most small horses and native breeds, Full fits standard horses (15.2-16.2hh), and Extra Full suits larger warmbloods and draught types. A properly fitted headcollar should sit two fingers’ width below the cheekbone, with room to fit two fingers under the noseband and one finger under the headpiece. Check the relevant brand size chart on each product page for exact measurements.

We stock headcollars from Schockemohle, Equestrian Stockholm, Imperial Riding, and Equestro. Schockemohle specialises in premium anatomic leather headcollars, ES offers colour-coordinated sets with matching lead ropes, and Imperial Riding provides practical everyday options in various styles.

It is generally safest to turn horses out without a headcollar, as they can catch on fencing, trees, or other objects. If you must leave one on (for hard-to-catch horses, for example), use a leather headcollar that will break under pressure or a specifically designed field-safe headcollar with a breakaway section. Never leave a nylon headcollar on a horse in the field.

An anatomic headcollar features shaped padding and cutaway areas that avoid pressure on sensitive parts of the horse’s head — particularly around the ears, cheekbones, and facial nerves. The Schockemohle Fremont Pro is a good example: it has a wide, padded poll piece that sits behind the ears and a contoured noseband that follows the natural shape of the face.