Breastplate issues

[Frivian]

Hi all,

I have been using the same breastplate/girth combination on my horse for years now. He’s very sensitive about tack (girths in particular) and I have been basically afraid to try any kind of new girth because of this. I currently use a polo-style breastplate and a Prof Choice Ventech girth. My saddle fitter approved of the girth I was using last year and stated that my horse did not need an anatomic girth due to his conformation. He gets rubs really easily and can be very girthy if he doesn’t like the way something feels. He’s been absolutely wonderful since his last saddle fitting/adjustment which was in Sept 2016, so I’m also hesitant to change to anything that might make him sore.

Here’s the problem - in pictures I can see that my breastplate is pulling really hard on the girth elastic over fences. I always attach the breastplate to the first billet/strap only because I don’t like the way it feels under my leg when it’s on both. It always seems loose enough when my horse is standing at rest, and if I make it any looser, it doesn’t really seem to be tight enough to actually be useful. It moves with his shoulders, and when he’s cantering you can see it moving up and down. But over jumps, it pulls the girth a lot. It’s clearly affecting the condition of the girth - my current one is less than a year old and the elastic already seems really worn and stretched out.

I uploaded some pictures of what I mean (all photos by GRC Photography). I included pics of a canter sequence so you can see how the breastplate moves with his shoulders during a canter stride, and then a pic of him extending over an XC jump where we got a longer spot. These pics were all taken from the same event.

See pics here (I couldn’t figure out how to put the canter pics in the right order, but it’s good enough to get the idea):
http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/Frivian/library/

As I get ready for the season, I’m wondering what I can/should do differently. Does the breastplate need to be looser? Attached to a different part of the girth? Or should I buy a different kind of girth and/or a five point breastplate? Thanks!

[mmeqcenter]

Yeah I’d get a different breastplate. Doesn’t sound like you need a different girth, especially with the difficulties you’ve had.
A 5-point, or I’d go for a hunter-type, where it connects to the girth between the front legs, has a loop all the way around the neck like a martingale, then two strap that connect to the D-rings under the pommel. That’s what I use on my mare presently, as I can’t seem to find a 5-point that reaches the D-rings up top for me.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1104213529689608&set=pb.100003029149096.-2207520000.1487097330.&type=3&theater

Either one, connecting to the body of the girth or the saddle instead of the elastic of the girth is going to be sturdier.

[WNT]

When I used a polo breastplate, I hooked it to the rear elastic and under the front elastic. I also had it set lower on the girth, below the girth loop on the pad and sitting where the elastic is stitched to the girth.

[visorvet]

+1 running it under the first billet helps to diffuse forces so billet #2 is less likely to get focally scrunched the way billet #1 is in your photos.
I can’t personally feel the difference of the two configurations under my leg, but if you really really don’t want to do that you can flip the girth every ride so wear is evenly distributed across all 4 elastics (different 2 each day), which will buy you time until the girth needs replacement.

[Xctrygirl]

Ok first putting a device meant to hold your saddle in place means it should be anchored to something that is NOT going to move/stretch. Polo Breastplates and the like are meant to be attached to the billet, not the girth.

See pic of my horse with his straight across breastplate here:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/_DSC0961_DVCTA_8-22-15_2048px_zpsxxnftsfi.jpg

You don’t ‘need’ a new breastplate. You do need to put this one on the equipment as it was intended.

You also could want a new breastplate, but that’s a different ball of wax.

Additionally it merits mentioning that the original design of the 3 point (hunt) breastplate had MUCH longer straps than the current models and they too ran under the flap to be held in place by having the first billet inside of the loop to hold them. Now we see them on D savers or D Rings (still a bad idea) but all breastplates were originally designed to anchor on the billets.

If you go to Rolex stop by the museum there and look at some of the old tack. It’s very evident.

~Emily

[Frivian]

@Xctrygirl

Ok first putting a device meant to hold your saddle in place means it should be anchored to something that is NOT going to move/stretch. Polo Breastplates and the like are meant to be attached to the billet, not the girth.

See pic of my horse with his straight across breastplate here:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/_DSC0961_DVCTA_8-22-15_2048px_zpsxxnftsfi.jpg

You don’t ‘need’ a new breastplate. You do need to put this one on the equipment as it was intended.

You also could want a new breastplate, but that’s a different ball of wax.

Additionally it merits mentioning that the original design of the 3 point (hunt) breastplate had MUCH longer straps than the current models and they too ran under the flap to be held in place by having the first billet inside of the loop to hold them. Now we see them on D savers or D Rings (still a bad idea) but all breastplates were originally designed to anchor on the billets.

If you go to Rolex stop by the museum there and look at some of the old tack. It’s very evident.

~Emily

My billets must be much shorter than yours, because it seems to me that if I slid the breastplate up so that it was only attached to the billet and not the girth elastic, it would be way too high on my horse’s neck. I thought breastplates weren’t supposed to go across their necks like that. But I can try it the next time I jump and see if it works better that way…

I used to ride with the breastplate lower so that it was below where the elastic sits and was only attached to the girth part, but that makes it sit below the saddle pad and gives him rubs. So that’s not really an option for him.

I think I know what you’re talking about with the 3 point breastplates and I believe that Nunn Finer still makes one like that.

[Xctrygirl]

@Frivian

My billets must be much shorter than yours, because it seems to me that if I slid the breastplate up so that it was only attached to the billet and not the girth elastic, it would be way too high on my horse’s neck. I thought breastplates weren’t supposed to go across their necks like that. But I can try it the next time I jump and see if it works better that way…

I used to ride with the breastplate lower so that it was below where the elastic sits and was only attached to the girth part, but that makes it sit below the saddle pad and gives him rubs. So that’s not really an option for him.

I think I know what you’re talking about with the 3 point breastplates and I believe that Nunn Finer still makes one like that.

Hi Frivian,

Take a look at this pic. It’s from 10 days ago and that saddle is my new Devoucoux and I promise that sucker has some of the shortest billets that I have ever owned!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m147/Xctrygirl/16665059_10154371073472759_8982784891639664442_o_zpszhmzoo5y.jpg

All you do is lengthen the loop so the leather can surround the billet and slide the keeper to hold it in place. Then I wedge the girth buckle against the bottom of the breastplate loop so it helps hold it in place.

With the correct size girth and saddle in position it will still be very close to straight across their chest. If you have a girth that goes higher up on the billets on each side, I would suggest getting a smaller girth so you’re only on hole 3-4 on each side at your tightest. This also gives you more room to work if you need it after a blowfish moment.

Good luck!

~Emily

[fordtraktor]

You might be interested in this breastplate (hybrid 3 pt.) It has nylon instead of leather loops so they are very thin when attached to billets. I can’t feel a thing and I am the kind of sensitive person thick stirrup leathers and even big girth buckles drive crazy: http://www.sstack.com/product/joseph…e-attachement/

I have one and can’t talk highly enough about the gorgeous leather and that the neck strap is just where I like it for an “oh $hit” device (not too far back.). Super adjustable and the price is very good!!!

[Fancy_That]

Agree with XCountrygirl. I love this type of breastplate. I dont like breastplates with the bottom strap that goes between their pectoral muscles and attach to the bottom of the girth. My favorite is the polo style or 4 point, which is the Polo style with integrated wither strap.

Anyways - see if you can attach it to your saddle at the billets, and not using the one elastic girth strap. That should help!