Breastplates - best style and function?

[fivestrideline]

This may belong in Eventing, but since I’m planning on only doing XC schooling and sticking to the H/J rings…

I’ve seen some interesting posts about breastplates and styles that can restrict shoulder freedom - how much of this is marketing? I’d like a breastplate for XC trips and trail riding, but wouldn’t mind having one for the jumper ring as a grab strap and for safety. So, shoulder freedom is important to me.

In the past I had a hunt style that clipped to the D rings (not a fan), and a 3 point that clipped to the girth on either side. Now I’m seeing some interesting ones that don’t clip between the legs at all - sort of a modified polo style?

Thoughts on the best designs? Obviously my saddle should fit, but there’s only so much you can do when going straight up a cliff on a horse shaped like a barrel or one shaped like a slab (I have both).

[fivestrideline]

Examples of styles I’m seeing (pics from google)

[NancyM]

I’m not a fan. Once your saddle has slipped far enough for a breastplate to come into play, the game is already over. JMHO. Use a shammy under your saddle if you are that concerned about it slipping. If you want a neck strap to hold onto at times, use a neck strap or a yoke. As a funny aside, I was once told by a friend (who was not a rider himself, but a trainer) that the yoke is called the “chicken strap”. It slayed me!!! I’ve never forgotten that one. So, if you feel like you need a chicken strap, put one on!!!

[Lusoluv]

William Fox-Pitt and Courtney Cooper ride with neck straps EVERY ride, whether at home schooling or at a 5*. I’m a member of the “chicken strap” club, although I’m not in the same universe as the above mentioned riders!

[IPEsq]

I think if they are actually needed to keep the saddle in place (which means there’s some tension being applied), all of the designs have the potential to restrict the shoulder. At worst I’ve seen atrophy of the muscle in line with whichever strap design that horse used. I try not to use them if possible (which for me since I don’t do anything other than the occasional small jump, log or bank xc, is never). If you need one for everyday riding then I think you have a saddle problem. Sure, a lot of people use them for ease of attaching things like a running martingale attachment, and maybe it saves buying a lot of extra tack. In that case I’d likely go sans martingale if I didn’t have one that wasn’t also a breast plate.

[fivestrideline]

To be clear - the saddle fits when doing ring work and toodling around the pasture. I’ve had a couple instances of Heave-Ho-ing up an embankment that has caused the saddle to slip back a tad (enough to consider but not enforce getting off to adjust), which is what triggered this discussion. My past breastplates were for a horse I no longer have and a saddle that definitely didn’t fit - but I also didn’t know any better. I do not own one currently.

Around here, a breastplate is standard equipment for XC. One of my coaches wants them for safety - better to have it and not need than to get into a bad spot and wish you’d had one on. Also, @IPEsq was right, a breastplate doesn’t slide around like the neck loop of a martingale - a bonus feature but minor since I rarely use one. I do hate yanking the neck loop back after every long rein walk break though.

[Whoaovergo]

Clever with leather makes a neck strap with attachment to one d ring, so you have movement but it also won’t slide up their neck. I use that in combination with my correct connect free motion breastplate.

[endlessclimb]

I love my correct connect neck strap with the raised handle. It clips to the d rings so it isn’t going anywhere and the leather quality is very nice.

I don’t like the breastplates that don’t clip between the legs because you could never put a martingale on them. If you have a horse that you’re sure would never need a martingale, then they’re probably fine.

Generally I don’t ride with one, and if I do, it’s because I like how it looks. I’m partial to bridge breastplates.

[Hawks_Nest]

So I believe it was fairfax that did the research and concluded that a breastplate with an attachment between the legs changes the way horses jump. Correct connect makes a great neckstrap or breastplate neckstrap combo (I actually own the 3in1 one for using with my students, as the handles are an excellent training aid for riders with busy hands).

The low tech way is to use bailing twine or a flash strap to attach your stirrup leather neck strap to the saddle so it can’t slide away.

[beowulf]

Fairfax did a study on breastplates and designed a breastplate that has the least restrictive design. Shop around for look-alikes if you don’t want to spend the ~$400 on the real thing. I believe the Correct Connect is a close copy-cat. CC’s leather is really nice from my one experience borrowing a used one.

I don’t like breastplates that connect through the legs as they do impact shoulder freedom. But you need them for a martingale.

If I am not riding with a neck strap, I ride with a breastplate. You can easily make a neck-strap connect to the D-ring of your saddle. Either take an old blanket tail-strap and loop it through the neck strap, or make your own with a recycled flash strap – connect a clip on either end and viola, insta-attachment.

I use an old fashioned elastic or polo breastplate. Just be careful, not all of them are fitted to ‘modern’ specs - my large chested horse is too wide for most F/S or O/S breastplates.

[lenapesadie]

OP, if you decide you want a Correct Connect thingy. I have one. It’s been used on a horse a grand total of one time. I’m happy to part with it for a song.

I will disagree about the leather quality though. I think it’s sub par at best. I don’t use it bc it catches my horse when he stretches down. YMMV

[SweetestDownfall]

So far Correct Connect is what works best and most comfortably for my horse!

[evntr95]

VRTACK Anatomic Breastplate "Simla" Long Bridge with Snap Rings Attachment

I really like this particular breastplate. It’s a cheaper version of some high end brand styles like D’yon, but the leather quality is still pretty nice. It is easy to attach, doesn’t rub my saddle at the d-rings unlike previous breastcollars I owned, and it doubles as a running martingale, which I consider an essential piece of safety equipment on XC. I did have to have a leather shop extend the martingale length for me as I found it a bit too short, but I tend to like my running martingales relatively loose compared to how I see other people adjusting them.

[Lusoluv]

I’m not gonna tell anyone not to use a piece of equipment if they think it’s absolutely necessary, but I’ll never use a running martingale. Last year in SJ warm up I saw a wreck that was made much worse by one. A horse crashed through an oxer. The rider put her hands on the neck while leaning, so accidentally pulled the bridle off while going over his head. Horse started trotting away but the swinging bridle & reins (still connected by the running M) started hitting his legs and caused him to panic. He caused some other horses to spook and dump their riders as he ran full tilt to the stabling area, bridle flogging him on. Luckily I was not close enough to be affected, but it was frightful to witness!

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Unfortunately, pulling a bridle off will normally cue a lot of panic. Both for the horse and bystanders.

I’m not sure I understand how the running caused or contributed to this happening?

That being said, I am often more concerned about poorly adjusted standings (thankfully not in eventing!).

[Lusoluv]

Because the bridle was still attached to him via the reins & running martingale. So the faster he trotted, the harder the dragging headstall hit his legs and flung around, also hitting other horses he came near. Don’t know if you’ve ever used one, but with a running martingale, the bridle may fall off, but it is still attached to the horse until the reins are unbuckled or the leather breaks.

[fivestrideline]

Right. Not arguing - but I’ve seen this happen without a martingale when the bridle comes off but the reins remain around the neck. Bridle was tangling up in the horse’s legs and hitting him as he galloped around.

One benefit to a running is that if a rider falls, the reins generally can’t fly over the horse’s head and get tangled up UNLESS the bridle comes off. Pros and cons to everything, as is horses!

[Live_Wire]

I use a breastcollar on a custom fitted saddle for this exact reason. I would rather have one and not need it, than not have one and be sliding back on my horse. I have the same opinion towards a neck strap.

For cross country I use a 4-point breastcollar that attaches to the girth straps and d-rings accompanied by a Clever with Leather neckstrap with attachment. It has elastic inserts so there is some forgiveness. I don’t feel it inhibits my horses at all. I will not use anything that goes between the legs and attaches underneath the horse because I am paranoid about a hoof getting caught - I’ve seen it happen more than once.

ETA: This is the one I use

Removable Sheepskin Racing (French) Breastplate