LeMieux Headcollars & Leadropes

Which LeMieux headcollar is right for your horse?

For most horses the answer comes down to three jobs: everyday turnout and grooming, safe tying and travelling, or a smart leather headcollar for shows and photos. In this collection the LeMieux Comfort Headcollar covers daily yard use from £14.95, the LeMieux Break Away Headcollar from £24.95 adds a leather pressure-release for tying and travelling, and the LeMieux Stitched Leather Headcollar from £84.95 is the dress option. The collection holds 14 LeMieux products, 13 of them in stock today, with sizes running Pony through to X-Full depending on the model.

LeMieux headcollar comparison: what fits which job?

What size headcollar does my horse need?

LeMieux headcollars in this collection use the standard UK sizing ladder: Pony, Cob, Full and X-Full, with the ProSafe using an X-Large at the top end and the Simuwool cover set supplied in One Size. As a rough starting point, native ponies and small cobs usually take Pony or Cob, most riding horses and lighter warmbloods take Full, and larger warmbloods, heavier cobs and draft types take X-Full or X-Large.

How should a headcollar sit?

The noseband should sit roughly two fingers below the cheekbone, never down on the soft part of the nose, and you should be able to slide two fingers comfortably under the noseband and the cheekpieces. The throat strap should allow a hand's width. If your horse sits between two sizes, size up and take the adjustment in on the headpiece and noseband. Not sure which size to order? Get in touch and our team will help.

Do I need a breakaway headcollar?

If your horse is ever tied up, left in a trailer or lorry, or turned out in a headcollar, a breakaway design is worth the extra. Breakaway headcollars are built to give way under heavy load so the horse comes free instead of fighting a fixed point. The LeMieux Break Away Headcollar from £24.95 is the dedicated option here: its leather pressure-release mechanism breaks under heavy load, normally at the cheek rings. The LeMieux Essential Yard Headcollar from £19.95 can also be used as a breakaway, thanks to a leather tab designed to break when fitted with the supplied spare attachment, and the LeMieux Replacement Leather Headcollar Headpiece at £9.95 is made without nylon reinforcement, so it can introduce a breakaway element to a nylon headcollar you already own.

Bear in mind that a breakaway headcollar is designed to break under extreme pressure only, and it is no substitute for good tying practice: always tie to a breakable loop of baling twine with a quick-release knot, never directly to a solid ring, and keep an eye on horses known to pull back.

Which one for a lively horse in hand?

For leading young, sharp or strong horses, LeMieux makes two in-hand control headcollars. The LeMieux ProSafe Headcollar from £34.95 uses a twin nylon construction with a solid metal chain and a triple-ring design giving three levels of control, with a padded nose and poll. The LeMieux Rope Control Headcollar from £69.95 is the rope version of the same design and an alternative to a chain or chifney. Both are intended for in-hand use only and are not suitable for tying up or for leaving on in the field, so keep a webbing or breakaway headcollar for those jobs.

Webbing or leather: which lasts better?

Fabric and padded headcollars

Fabric headcollars such as the fleece-lined Comfort (£14.95), the nylon-webbing Essential Yard (£19.95) and the Vogue set (£26.95) are the practical choice. They shrug off mud and rain, wash easily, and cost little enough to keep a spare hanging by the stable door.

Leather headcollars

Leather options like the Capella (£59.95), Anatomic (£69.95), Leather Grooming Headcollar (£79.95), Leather Crystal Headcollar (£79.95) and Stitched Leather Headcollar (£84.95) look considerably smarter in the collecting ring and, kept clean and fed, last for years. They need more upkeep than webbing and are better kept for shows, grooming and travelling than left on in a wet field.

Which options include a leadrope?

Of the products in stock, only the LeMieux Vogue Headcollar & Leadrope from £26.95 comes with a matching leadrope, and it is stocked in Pony, Cob, Full and X-Full. Every other headcollar listed here is sold on its own, so add a leadrope separately if you need one. Note that the LeMieux Simuwool Headcollar Set at £26.95 is not a headcollar-and-rope set: it is a four-piece faux lambskin cover set for the cheeks, poll and nose that fits over a headcollar you already own.

How do I look after a LeMieux headcollar?

Fabric headcollars can be brushed off, then hand-washed in lukewarm water with a mild soap and dried away from direct heat; avoid hot washes and tumble drying, which can distort the hardware and stitching. Leather headcollars should be wiped down after use, cleaned with saddle soap and fed with a leather conditioner every few weeks in regular use. Whatever the material, check the stitching, buckles and clips regularly and retire anything showing wear at a stress point rather than risking it under load.

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Last reviewed 2026-07-24 by the Just Horse Riders team.