I am using a synthetic western saddle on my horse and it is the first time I have used it on a narrow horse. I need a breast collar…but do not know what to hook it to. There are tiny rings near the horn, or the big rings for the cinch…can someone tell me the proper place???
There should be rings down by the pommel of the saddle. Mine are located where the first leather flap (no idea what it’s called) overlaps the saddle. I know this because I usually have to fish the d ring out to do up my breastcollar.
I’m not sure on a synthetic saddle where they’d be located.
Here you can see where it attaches: http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b160/kismom/?action=view¤t=aries3.jpg
Depends on what kind of breast collar you have.
That one picture shows a very common type and how that can be attached.:yes:
One of my older saddles doesn’t have the little D rings, so we just attach the breastcollar straps to the cinch rings. Works fine. Do make sure that the straps are long enough to fit a big chested horse and keep him comfortable, BEFORE you go for a long ride.
Breastcollar should not have tension all the time, it will rub a hole in the horse. Saddle may need to be changed to another model, if it is pulling on the breastcollar ALL the time. Saddle just doesn’t fit well.
We attach them to the cinch rings because they are the most sturdy.
Another option if you don’t have separate rings is to use a pulling collar. They attach to the pommel/swells.
Re: pulling collar
Nice part about those is that they follow the line of the shoulder, and don’t restrict shoulder movement. Any of the collars which attach lower cut across the angle of the shoulder, and if done up tight enough to be useful, will restrict shoulder movement to some degree.
I use a variation on the pulling collar called a “true martingale”, which is nothing to do with attaching to the reins as in the english version of the term. It’s like a pulling collar except has a piece which goes over the withers, then two short horizontal straps which go back to the saddle rings. Nice for horses with more upright shoulders especially.
Here it is attached to a dressage saddle, which looks a little funny (was sizing the straps). The lower strap shouldn’t have this much slack in it.
http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/Finished%20Martingale%202.jpg
Question: are you sure the saddle fits properly? Unless you’re doing a lot of steep hills and long rides (think endurance) the saddle really should not be moving around. If the saddle doesn’t fit properly, and you’re forcing it to stay in once place with a breastcollar, you could make the horse sore.
[QUOTE=Leather;6403122]
Another option if you don’t have separate rings is to use a pulling collar. They attach to the pommel/swells.
http://www.cowboyway.com/PullingBreastCollars.htm[/QUOTE]
I have one of these - Montana Mountain Horse (http://www.montanamountainhorse.com/store-products-BC028-MH-Pulling-Breastcollar_41586852.html)made one for me in black - no tooling - to go with my trail saddle and I love it! I ride a TWH and it’s one of the few styles I’ve found that does not interfere with his shoulder movement. Their prices have gone up since I bought mine - I think mine was about $85. Still in great shape, even after a couple thousand miles of use!
