Tacked up: Big on breastplates

TACKED UP

Big on breastplates

A breastplate can be very useful, but as CHRISTINE ARMISHAW explains, knowing which one is the right one is important.

Abreastplate is a piece of tack that can serve a great purpose, but just as often they’re used without any real understanding of which styles do what, and what’s best for you and your horse. Generally speaking, a breastplate is designed to keep the saddle sitting in place and stop it from slipping back. There are various styles on the market, each with their own pros and cons and ideal situations for use. So how do you know when it’s the right time to add a breastplate to your horse’s wardrobe?

Conformation plays a big part. If you have a high withered Thoroughbred, a roly-poly pony, or a horse on which a saddle has a tendency to slide back, a breastplate can be very useful. Another consideration is if the work you are asking your horse to do results in a high degree of equine body movement: think jumping, cross country or trekking up and down hills. A breastplate can also enable the use of martingale rings and, with certain styles, it can provide the rider with a handy strap to hold onto in times of need!

What a breastplate should not be used for is pulling a saddle too far forward over the horse’s shoulders and keeping it there, particularly in jumping and

Equipe Straight Breastplate

eventing. When a saddle is fitted in this manner, you impede your horse’s ability to jump to their full potential. Before adjusting the breastplate, make sure your saddle is correctly fitted and sitting in the right position, offering your horse’s shoulder suitable clearance.

So what are your breastplate options and how do you choose which one to use?

Straight breastplate: Also known as a racing or polo breastplate, this basic style, features a band that goes around the front of the horse’s chest with a thinner loop over the neck to prevent it from slipping down. It attaches to the girth points on either side of the saddle, and of all the styles is the only one that doesn’t have a strap running down in between the horse’s front legs to affix to the girth. It’s a fairly general purpose piece of tack, primarily stopping the saddle slipping backwards with minimal fuss. Y breastplate: The name gives the design of this one away. The top two straps run up either side of the horse’s neck and attach to the D rings on the saddle. The lower strap runs down between the horse’s front legs where it attaches to the girth. This style is commonly used by jumpers, especially the elasticated variety, as it has a lot of give, allowing the horse full expression of movement through the shoulders while clearing a fence. Rings for a martingale can also be attached to the chest ring if required. The Y design is also great for a horse with broad shoulders and a large barrel and, with elastic inserts, it can really contour to the body and hold the saddle in place without being too restrictive.

Three point breastplate: Also known as the stockman’s breastplate and not dissimilar from the Y-point style, the three-point has the same attachments, but with an additional strap crossing over the horse’s wither and connecting the two sides to each other. While this style can be a little more restrictive, the benefits are added security, especially for hill work and riding over a varied landscape, plus the extra strap can be very handy for the rider to grab onto if required.

Equipe Emporio Y Breastplate Equipe Elastic Three Point Breastplate

Five point breastplate: This last one on our list builds on the three point version, but with additional attachments running to the girth billets. For the same reasons a five-point breastplate scores highly on security of saddle positioning, it can also create a level of restriction, so correct fitting and regular assessment of the fit after use is a must. It is commonly seen on eventing horses, while they gallop and jump at speed across undulating terrain. There is often fleece or padding of some sort to help prevent rubbing.

With any breastplate, care should be taken when fitting. It needs to be secure enough to hold the saddle on, with no loose or gaping straps, especially between the front legs. With a horse that really tucks up when jumping, a foot can get stuck in that loop and the result isn’t pretty. Also, be sure to check for over-tightness around the shoulders by picking up a front leg and pulling it forward, similar to a horse’s movement when in motion.

You sometimes see images of horses jumping where the breastplate is visibly digging in because it’s too tight, but this can easily be mitigated with a careful assessment at the time of fitting. Fitted correctly, a good breastplate used for the right reasons can be a lifesaver.