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Breast Collar

(9 customer reviews)

$197.00

The mule and donkey leather breast collar comes ready to oil or dye to your taste.

This leather breast collar is designed to fit the shoulder of the mule and donkey. Since the bone structure is so much different from the horse, it is imperative that we do not inhibit the shoulder on the right or the left.

The breast collar moves right, left, right, left, and as the mule walks, the breast collar gives. That’s imperative because when you’re on flat ground, going downhill, or pulling something, you don’t want the saddle to be pulled forward. When the saddle is pulled ahead with the shoulders, the breaching is saying, don’t go forward, but the breast collar is bringing it forward. So that’s why I designed this leather breast collar.

The main thing about the breast collar is that it’s designed to not choke the animal or inhibit the shoulders.

The leather is made with a high quality harness leather that should be oiled regularly. The more you oil it, the softer it gets so that it flows with the shape of the shoulder and the neck. Whether your mule has a real thin neck like an average riding animal or has a thick, heavy neck like a draft animal, this breast collar fits them both.

Frequently Bought Together

Britchen

The mule and donkey leather breast collar comes ready to oil or dye to your taste.

Our britchen is wrapped in soft chap leather rolled on the edges to prevent shaving of hair. Width is approximately 3". Our buckles for adjusting on the hip are tongue buckles not conways. This britchen is designed for the comfort of your mule and designed for easy adjustment. This britchen is designed for easy adjustment with four roller buckles at the hip not Conway buckles.

For smaller mules and donkey you can custom fit the britchen by a cut to size and punch holes as needed. You do not want to trim any straps; just add more holes as you need. This is a top-quality britchen, I always add extra holes and then adjust the britchen according to the terrain.

SKU: BC-002 Category: Tag:

This leather breast collar is designed to fit the shoulder of the mule and donkey. Since the bone structure is so much different from the horse, it is imperative that we do not inhibit the shoulder on the right or the left.

The breast collar moves right, left, right, left, and as the mule walks, the breast collar gives. That’s imperative because when you’re on flat ground, going downhill, or pulling something, you don’t want the saddle to be pulled forward. When the saddle is pulled ahead with the shoulders, the breaching is saying, don’t go forward, but the breast collar is bringing it forward. So that’s why I designed this leather breast collar.

The main thing about the breast collar is that it’s designed to not choke the animal or inhibit the shoulders.

The leather is made with a high quality harness leather that should be oiled regularly. The more you oil it, the softer it gets so that it flows with the shape of the shoulder and the neck. Whether your mule has a real thin neck like an average riding animal or has a thick, heavy neck like a draft animal, this breast collar fits them both.

Setup and Care Instructions

Your mule leather breast collar comes ready for oiling (and dying if you choose).

Upon receipt, take a five gallon bucket with a half gallon of Lexol Oil and completely submerge all of the leather in the buck, allowing it to soak overnight.

The following day, hang the breast collar over the bucket to drip dry. Once dry, put the breast collar somewhere in the sun. This process will allow the oil to suck into the leather.

All leather breast collars require regular maintenance and care, and must be cleaned and oiled regularly. If you would like to explore a no-maintenance option, Steve recommends the Beta Breast Collar, which is what he uses, personally.

Will This Leather Breast Collar Fit My Mule or Donkey?

This leather breast collar is designed to fit the shoulder of the mule and donkey. Since the bone structure is so much different from the horse, it is imperative that we do not inhibit the shoulder on the right or the left.

The downside of most breast collars is that they are designed for a horse which has a completely different bone structure. If you use a horse breast collar on a mule, every time the shoulder hits the breast collar, it makes the saddle go forward.

Tips From Steve

The idea of a properly adjusted breast collar is to help balance the saddle. As you ride down the trail, the mule will start shrinking a little bit and will be breathing different. So our cinches are snug when we first climb in the saddle, but as we go down the trail they loosen up.

The purpose of a good breast collar is to help balance the saddle to keep it in place when going down the trail. It compliments the breaching which helps balance the saddle as well, and keeps it in place.

The breast collar is a very, very important part to help keep the saddle in place so we do not have to overtighten the cinches.

Options and Accessories

  • Saddle
  • Britchen
  • Stirrups – Leather Covered

Steve ALWAYS recommends using a britchen and breast collar regardless of whether you’re on flat ground or mountains. You have to remember that you’re riding a mule bone structure (which is a donkey bone structure) and your saddle will go forward due to the donkey V shape in the shoulders – this explains the saddle riding forward.

Why Steve used leather for this breast collar

Leather is usually very traditional. Folks like the smell and look of it. The thing with leather is if you don’t keep it maintained – well oiled, well cleaned – the salt from the animal, your mule or donkey, will start penetrating the leather and it will start cracking. When it starts cracking, then it becomes irritating to the mule and donkey.

The thing about the beta breast collar is it needs no maintenance. You don’t have to keep it oiled; you can take a little bit of water and wipe it off or you can take a little bit of Windex, wipe it off and you’re done.

Questions About the Leather Breast Collar

Contact Steve directly with questions or for more information 602-999-6853. You can also email Steve at [email protected].

Weight 3 lbs
Dimensions 12 × 12 × 6 in

9 reviews for Breast Collar

  1. Sara Anderson (verified owner)

    I have both Breast Collars, leather and beta. The leather is a heavy well made collar. They both work equally well, they lay nice above the shoulder and fit snuggly to keep the saddle from moving. When getting in the saddle, I grab the off side of the collar to help pull up into the saddle. The beta is lighter weight and easier to clean. I ride mountains and steep hills, the collar keeps the saddle from moving, along with the britchen. Highly recommend either collar.

  2. James scott (verified owner)

    I have purchased everything for my mule from Steve and I’m glad I did everything fits the way it should I haven’t had anything that I’m not 100% satisfied with ?

  3. Christyn Stumps (verified owner)

    This is a well made collar that fits well. My thoroughbred John mule is over 16 hands tall and this collar works for him. Thank you!

  4. Scott (verified owner)

    Fantastic fit and finish. Fit my mule well and all contact points are smooth and well dressed. This is the first time using this type of attachment to the saddle and it is great!. As the mule walks that strap slides back and forth on the saddle strap exactly as Steve shows in his videos. A side benefit as I see it is when mounting you can grab that far strap and use it to pull up also.

  5. Lucia (verified owner)

    I am completely satisfied. the quality of the leather and the seams are excellent. the breast collar is perfect for mule shoulder movements

  6. Lindsey (verified owner)

    I purchased the breast collar for my mule recently, and I really like this product. My mule is a little smaller, but it fit great. Great quality is well. Worth the money

  7. Angelique Blain

    Way too big for my Hinny. I really wish you offered different sizes. I can make it work but probably not as it should.

  8. Mike Looney (verified owner)

    I have both the beta Breast Collar already and wanted the leather one for two reasons, the snap is a little easier to use and I’m just a leather kind of guy — despite the ease and durability of the beta — I like the feel and looks of the leather. It is strong, really well made, and fits my saddle donkeys great with a couple of extra holes punched in due to their more limited size. It’s a great breast collar – highly recommend.

  9. Happymule (verified owner)

    Not cheap but the quality of the leather and the seams are excellent.
    Very sturdy.
    The belt is a little bit short but it is just long enough for my Draft cross molly.

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