Breastcollars - use 'em?

[Tee]

Just curious if anyone uses a breast collar on a day to day basis? I know they’re pretty much out of favor in the stock horse world, but I can show in mine in Morgans.

It occurred to me how much I like using them. I got a new (to me) saddle, but only had one breast collar, so I left it on the one saddle and used the other without. It doesn’t move or wiggle or anything else, but I feel more secure having the b/c (bought a 2nd one). No one else in my barn, and pretty much that I know, uses them except for maybe trail riding.

So, am I in the minority?

[Bluey]

Most everyone I know here uses one, not sure that they are on the way out.

Breast collars help keep the saddle in place and training, riding outside and roping that is especially important.

In the show ring, for some classes, yes, you won’t need one there, so many do without.

[js]

Yes, for everyday use I have a fleece lined one, for shows etc. and leather one.

[craz4crtrs]

Yes and almost every time. If I am just doing arena work, not necessarily. I mostly trail ride, and ride quite a few hills. I also like the stability of the breast collar when mounting and dismounting out on the trail.

[Bluey]

Every saddle we have has a breast collar attached or on it right along with the cinch, Western or English saddles.

For us, it is standard equipment.

Once, I bought this new feedlot horse.
I was riding him that first time gathering some cattle to sort and move to another pasture.

Started trotting out there and my horse kept acting up.
I could not figure what was wrong, but he sure was not happy with something, throwing his head around and jumping sideways.
I got off, checked under the saddle, all tack, nothing was wrong.

My neighbor and his little daughter were with me, so I didn’t want my horse to spook hers.
I tried to ride some more and the new horse was getting worse.
Not being the time and place to do anything about that, I was ready to go back for another horse.

Then he started biting at his chest, so I took the breast collar off, that was a mohair one and he calmed right down and was much nicer after that.

We later figured he was very skin sensitive and that mohair on his chest was driving him nuts.
Still wondering why the mohair cinch was not?
Anyway, I used a leather breast collar on him after that.

[Rusty15]

The only people I know that don’t use breast collars are the Western Pleasure people. All the trail riders, barrel racers, mounted shooters (including myself) use breastcollars all the time.

[goodhors]

Yes, every saddle here has a breast collar on it. Better to be SAFE than sorry! The breast collars have more than paid their way in PREVENTING problems, which can happen even more with kids or doing things in a hurry.

I am not a big fan of girthing so tight horse horse can’t catch his breath, which I see with the ring riders, Pleasure Show folks. So if not checked regularly on a long ride, saddle can become loose. Breast collar will prevent saddle turning ALL the way, so you can control the situation. Kids regularly forget to check girths or tighten after warming up, so turned saddles with breast collar can save them too! They DO remember to check better afterwards for a long time!

I use the Y shaped types, they fit the horses better, Western horse or Sporthorses wearing Western tack. These all have the ring in chest center to allow leather movement, not solid as some decorative Y breast collars are made. Haven’t used any of the Buckaroo style pulling breast collars, which are more like old-fashioned stuff seen on Silver and the Lone Ranger.

Horses used for speed things, after a cow, doing games, Barrels, can make a saddle slip back with takeoff, so breast collar is helpful there too.

I have Hunting Breastplates on the English saddles, same reasons. Keeps the saddles in their proper places, whatever you do with the horses. A big jump can set a saddle back too far, if not using the breastplate. None of the other types of English breast collars seem to do the job as well, all allow slippage.

I don’t use elastics, on girth or as part of the breast collar. I don’t want horse tack to be “self-adjusting” with stretch factor.

We use the breast collars because they work for the horses. All ours have good shoulders, saddles that fit. Breast collars have their place and have proven to be worthwhile in daily use when “the unexpected” happens. Only a minute to do them up or undo straps on the saddle, when putting tack on or off.

[Flash44]

Just one more piece of tack to clean…

[Showbizz]

In general, I never use one. I never show in one. But I have done endurance in the past and always used one for my endurance horses.

[UrbanHennery]

I use one for trail riding so I can leave the cinch a bit looser. Don’t use on in the arena (reining) - and most of the time that I see one on a reiner in a show class it’s because the rider is attempting to compensate for poor saddle fit by holding the saddle from slipping back.

[beau159]

For regular riding, I do not use one.

When I am barrel racing, I use it as a “safety” feature for running at high speeds. My saddles fit well, so they don’t serve any purpose for keeping my saddle in place, unless something happens to break during a run.

[paulaedwina]

Yes. Fella, my percheron/standardbred gelding has linebacker shoulders and I used one to keep the saddle from sliding back. Now that you have me thinking about it I wonder if it is still necessary at all since we fit our Western tree so darned well?

Paula

[paulaedwina]

Outside of utility, Western breast collars sure are pretty.

[Tee]

Yeah, I think they look very nice too. (I have to admit, that’s probably part of the reason I like to use them. LOL)

[paulaedwina]

I think that’s completely legitimate! :lol:

[cutter99]

I use them here on every saddle, every ride.

[Aspen1]

I see way too many breast collars holding saddles too far forward. Can rarely find pictures of them prior to the mid 1900’s, so they weren’t in use for 100s of years. Don’t know if its the horses that have changed or just the thinking that has changed, but a saddle that fits doesn’t need a breast collar to keep it in place or safe. Lots of working cowboys rope big stuff without breast collars and their saddles stay in place. The one we have here has only ever been used on two horses in 25 years - both with oddball backs that the saddles didn’t fit well. Many horses would be better of if their owners left their breast collars hanging on the wall. Just my opinion.

[paulaedwina]

But they’re so pretty so I’ll keep wearing mine

[billiebob]

I use a breastplate with my uncle’s western saddle…no, I did not get the terminology wrong, I use an english hunting breastplate with a western saddle. I ride on a lot of terrain and the cowpony is a fat, no-withered little chunk. His saddle fits well, I’m just kind of paranoid. I do like having the strap across the withers for mounting. As much as I would like a snazzy breast collar, it’s hard to justify the expense when my $10 breastplate does the job well and is super simple to clean.

[Luseride]

Trail riding, timed events, team penning, yes depending on the horse. For showing no but that is much slower work and the saddles fit well.

I do use one on our mule every time we ride but that is another kettle of fish as far as fitting a saddle well. She also has a crupper.