Is Your Horse’s Headcollar Putting Them at Risk? Here’s What You Need to Know
For most horse owners and riders, using a headcollar is part of everyday life. From bringing your horse in from the field, to tying them up for grooming or tacking up, it’s a staple item in every yard. But have you ever paused to consider whether the headcollar you’re using is truly safe?
Headcollars: Common, But Not Without Risk
A major survey of over 5,600 horse owners and riders uncovered a startling fact: nearly one in three (31%) had experienced a headcollar-related injury. Even more shocking? 134 of those incidents resulted in fractures, and tragically, 167 horses lost their lives due to headcollar related incidents.
Most injuries happened in situations you’d probably consider routine:
- While tied up (70%)
- In the field (20%)
- And even during basic handling—1 in 7 incidents also injured a person.
Why Some Headcollars Are Safer Than Others
To back this up, researchers tested a variety of commercially available headcollars and safety devices to determine how much force was needed to cause each to fail. The results showed huge inconsistencies across the market:
Standard webbing headcollars sometimes required over 5,000 newtons of force to break—that’s the equivalent of more than 500kg. This is more than what some horses weigh!
Leather headcollars generally released earlier than synthetic ones, but the breaking strength varied. This means not all leather headcollars offer a consistent safety margin and without significant further testing, you wouldn’t know which headcollar released at what force, and whether it is consistent.
Baler twine commonly used in yards as a makeshift safety tie—also showed wildly varying results. Some broke at very low forces, while others needed as much force as a synthetic headcollar.
Breakaway/Safety Headcollars – These are designed with a release mechanism (often Velcro or breakable components) to release under pressure. A well-designed safety headcollar can dramatically reduce the severity of injury—or even save your horse’s life. Some of these are also reusable, which is not only sustainable but also doesn’t leave you stranded with no headcollar if it’s had to release.
Understanding the Science: Equilibrium’s Stellar Safety System
Driven by a passion for safer equine equipment, Equilibrium Products commissioned independent research into headcollar safety and worked with equine scientist Dr. David Marlin to develop the Stellar Safety Release.
This release mechanism uses a ‘sandwiched’ or folded back Velcro design, tested to ensure it breaks under a downwards force that matches around 10–15% of the horse’s weight. Not only is it designed to release consistently up to 10 times, it’s also replaceable—ensuring long-term reliability and sustainability.
Rigorous Testing for Real-Life Reliability
To develop the Stellar Headcollar’s release system, Equilibrium tested a wide range of Velcro types and lengths to calculate ideal force-to-weight ratios for different horse sizes. The tests measured how much force in a downwards direction was needed to cause the release, and this release amount changes with each size of headcollar.
Each safety strap was tested to ensure predictable and repeatable performance over multiple pulls. Consistency was key—the goal was to create a headcollar that wouldn’t release too easily, but would still break away safely in an emergency. Testing confirmed that each strap could safely and reliably release up to ten times before requiring replacement.
The testing process also considered variability in handling scenarios, aiming to reduce the chances of both under-release (not breaking soon enough) and over-release (breaking too easily). This makes the Stellar one of the few headcollars with a truly engineered and validated safety mechanism.
Introducing the Stellar Headcollar Range
Stellar All Weather Headcollar – This hard-wearing, weatherproof headcollar is perfect for everyday use in the field, on the yard, or at events. It wipes clean easily, and beneath its toughness is the same rigorously tested safety mechanism designed to reduce injury risk.
Stellar Style Headcollar (NEW for 2025) – With soft fleece padding, strong nylon construction, and of course the Stellar Safety Release, this new design combines comfort, style, and science-backed safety.
Discover the Stellar Headcollar
Explore the Stellar Style Headcollar
Simple Steps for Safer Headcollar Use
A few easy switches can significantly improve your horse’s safety:
Choose a safety-first headcollar – Consider a scientifically tested design like the Stellar range, which releases at a known and consistent force.
Think beyond the lead rope – Many people rely solely on baler twine, but if a horse gets caught by the cheekpiece or headpiece of the headcollar, the leadrope tie point might never come into play. A headcollar with a built-in release gives another option in these unpredictable situations. The more release options you have, the better.
Field safety – If your horse must wear a headcollar in the field, make sure it’s designed to break away. Otherwise, leaving one off is often the safest option.
Inspect regularly – If you have a safety headcollar, check your headcollar and safety strap frequently for wear and tear. Replace when needed, especially after a few release events.
Spread the word – Many horse owners still aren’t aware of the risks. Sharing this knowledge could prevent future accidents.
Final Thoughts
We all want our horses to be safe, healthy, and happy. And while we can’t prevent every accident, we can take simple steps to minimise risk—especially when the data clearly shows that the risk is fairly high to both horse and handler.
Sources:
BEVA Headcollar Injury Study
Engineering Safety in Headcollars
