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The Solution Section (FAQ)
Why does a Western horse need a breast collar?
A breast collar keeps your saddle from sliding back and holds it in the best-fitting position on your horse's back. How much you need one depends partly on saddle fit, since a well-fitting saddle moves around less. Buckaroo Leather Horse Tack notes that a wider breast collar spreads pressure more evenly across the horse's chest.
What makes Buckaroo Leather Horse Tack breast collars high quality?
Buckaroo Leather products are American made and hand finished, built on a 28-year reputation for quality at a fair price. The company crafts its tack from Hermann Oak Leather, a tannery operating since 1881 that uses only Prime Grade Heavy Hides from the United States. Each hide is graded three separate times and hand worked for smooth, consistent, even color.
What are the specs of the Buckaroo Western Leather Breast Collar BC59T?
The BC59T is a Hermann Oak Bridle Leather breast collar that is 1 1/2 inches wide with a 3/4 inch down strap. It comes in a Golden leather color with a hand-tooled design, double-stitched construction, a soft chap leather lining, and nickel plate hardware. You can choose a Wild Rose/Basket combo or an Acorn/Basket combo design on the leather.
How is the Roper Breast Collar BC57 different from the standard breast collar?
The BC57 is a Hermann Oak Heavy Harness Leather Roper breast collar built for heavier work. It is 2 1/2 inches wide with a shaped body and 1 inch down straps, and it uses brass hardware. The wider, shaped design spreads pressure across the chest for the Western rider who wants durable performance without sacrificing beauty.
How do I choose which Buckaroo breast collar is right for me?
Your choice comes down to the type of riding you do and personal preference. A wider breast collar, like the 2 1/2 inch Roper BC57, spreads pressure more across the chest, while the 1 1/2 inch BC59T offers a hand-tooled Western look with chap-lined comfort. You can also add beautifully engraved conchas from the Accents category to customize your collar.
Does Buckaroo Leather make other horse tack besides breast collars?
Yes. Buckaroo Leather hand crafts a full line of Western tack including headstalls, reins, hobbles, and training and pleasure riding equipment. Among the most popular items are the Buckaroo Reins, respected in the training and show rings for their unmatched quality and supple feel that enhances communication between horse and rider.
Who makes Buckaroo Leather Horse Tack?
Buckaroo Leather is made by The Brand Family. Bob and John Brand started the business 28 years ago in their barn in Diamond Springs, California, later moving into their own building and adding staff. Many of the craftspeople at the manufacturing plant have been with the company for more than 20 years.
How do I order a Buckaroo breast collar or find a dealer?
Buckaroo breast collars are available online and through many local tack dealers. If your favorite tack store doesn't stock Buckaroo Leather, you can order directly by calling the friendly staff at 1-800-873-0781. The shop is based at 6090 Enterprise Dr., Suite E, Diamond Springs, CA 95619, and they're happy to help with your order.
Who makes Buckaroo Leather breast collars?
They are made by Buckaroo Leather Products, a family-owned tack shop in Diamond Springs, California. The business was begun by John Brand and his father Bob Brand in 1979 and is operated today by John and Michele Brand. It remains family owned and operated, building working western tack by hand.
What does "The BRAND to Demand" mean?
It is a play on the family's surname, Brand. As the company puts it, it is not a hot iron but attention to quality that marks every Buckaroo Leather product. The slogan signals that the Brand family stands behind each handmade piece.
What kind of leather is used in Buckaroo breast collars?
Buckaroo uses Hermann Oak® USA hides exclusively, sourced from the St. Louis tannery founded in 1881. The harness leather is tanned with a recipe of primarily natural organic waxes and oils that protect against the elements, horse sweat, and sun. The company says it has never compromised its standards by using inferior, less expensive, or imported leather in over 44 years.
How much does the Buckaroo Pulling Breast Collar cost?
The Buckaroo Pulling Breast Collar (models BC65/BC66) is priced by size and color. A Regular Horse in Brown Harness is $249.00 and in Black is $269.00, while a Large Horse/Mule is $268.00 in Brown Harness and $299.00 in Black. It is built from heavy supple Hermann Oak harness leather and is 2 1/2 inches wide.
What types of breast collars does Buckaroo offer?
The line includes western pulling breast collars, roping collars, barrel breast collars, and trail-riding collars, plus vintage martingale and choker styles. There are also dressier hand-tooled and hand-carved options and matched bridle-and-breast-collar sets. A custom listing lets you build your own to match an existing saddle.
What is special about the over-the-shoulder fit?
Buckaroo specializes in an over-the-shoulder fit so the collar rides correctly without pinching across the point of the shoulder. The pulling style is designed to wrap through the saddle swells into a true pulling position. This makes it suitable for ranch work, roping, and steep trail riding while staying comfortable for the horse.
Do Buckaroo breast collars use a wither strap?
Yes. The shop offers a Breast Collar Over The Neck Wither Strap at $38.50 to hold the collar at the right height. Buckaroo recommends a wither strap to achieve a good over-the-shoulder fit, which keeps the collar positioned correctly on the horse's chest.
What is the Breast Collar the Big Mesa?
The Breast Collar the Big Mesa, Hermann Oak® Leather is a heavier statement collar priced at $370.00. Like the rest of the line it is built from Hermann Oak USA harness leather. It is one of the upper-tier working collars in the breast collar collection.
Can I get a custom breast collar?
Yes. Buckaroo offers a Custom Breast Collars option and a broader Custom Tack collection so riders can spec conchas, tooling, color, and size. The shop is a working saddlery, so custom and hand-tooled work is part of what it does. Contact them directly to discuss a custom build.
What are some of the decorative or show-quality breast collars?
Decorative options include the A Concha Center Breast Collar at $189.00, the Basket Stamped Breast Collar at $159.00, and the Breast Collar w/Rawhide at $275.00. Matched sets include the Antiqued Wild Rose Leather Bridle Set at $599.00 and the Black Sheekaroo Bridle Set at $659.00. These pair hand-tooling and conchas with the same Hermann Oak leather as the working line.
What color options are available?
The Buckaroo Pulling Breast Collar is offered in Brown Harness and Black finishes, with sizing in Regular Horse and Large Horse/Mule. Tooled and antiqued pieces such as the Antique Turquoise and Antiqued Wild Rose sets carry distinct finishes. Custom orders allow further color and tooling choices.
Where is Buckaroo Leather located?
Buckaroo Leather Products is located at 6090 Enterprise Dr. Suite "E", Diamond Springs, California 95619, United States. It is a working California tack shop. Orders ship from this location.
How do I contact Buckaroo Leather?
You can call the main line at 800.873.0781 or the anytime help hot line at 530.545.0139. Email the shop at
[email protected], or order online at buckarooleather.com. The Brand family handles customer questions directly.
Is Buckaroo Leather tack made in the USA?
Yes. The company describes itself as "Handmade Horse Tack Family Owned and Operated Since 1979" and "All American Made!" It uses only American-tanned Hermann Oak USA hides and has never used imported leather. Every piece is handcrafted at the Diamond Springs shop.
What other tack does Buckaroo Leather make besides breast collars?
Beyond breast collars, Buckaroo handcrafts leather headstalls, rawhide hackamores, spur straps, romel reins, western trail reins, weighted reins, cinch straps, mecate reins, and Wade saddles. The full range covers working western horse tack. All of it is built from the same Hermann Oak USA leather.
How wide is the leather on a Buckaroo pulling collar?
The Buckaroo Pulling Breast Collar is made from heavy supple Hermann Oak harness leather and measures a full 2 1/2 inches wide. The width and weight help it hold its pulling position and distribute pressure across the chest. This makes it well suited to ranch work and roping.
How long has Buckaroo Leather been in business?
Buckaroo Leather Products was founded in 1979 by John Brand and his father Bob Brand. As of today the company has been operating for more than 44 years. It remains family owned and operated by John and Michele Brand.
