I’m looking for a decent breastplate for a large (±17 hands) horse who will be competing in hunters and equitation. My saddle fits him very well, but his back is built a little uphill (thanks, withers:yes:) and my saddle has a tendency to slide back by the end of a ride, so, while I can get away without one, I think it would be a good idea to use one. I’d like to avoid elastic and padding, and I’d like decent quality leather, but I don’t want to spend $500 either… Anyone have recommendations? (Bonus points if it can be ordered with matching standing martingale attachment!)
http://www.tackzone.com/catalog/english-tack-breast-collars-c-144_170.html
Every breastplate has a pull-down menu where you can choose standing or running attachment. You’ll probably need the warmblood size, which is extra.
I have the first one (raised fancy stitched), and it is stunning.
I have a Nunn Finer that is very nice, all leather.
You used to see breastplates in the 1970’s, but they have been out of fashion for 30 years.
I had a horse who had a slide back problem. We would warm up, I would get off while the saddle was moved up, I would go in and do one round, come out, move saddle up, go back for second round.
LSS: We did what we needed to do to avoid using a breastplate. Look around you — I would be surprised if you saw many/any breastplates at an A show, and you certainly will not see one at an AA show in the hunters. That is not because you are the only one with a slide back problem. Everyone just “makes it work” as Tim Gunn would say.
Have you had a saddle fitter confirm that it really is a problem? We tend to want to put our saddles too far forward in hunter/jumperland and sometimes the sliding back is just the saddle finding the correct spot.
I’m sure there are some horses whose saddles will slide back too far, but if it were me I would want to confirm whether or not there actually is a problem before adding extra tack (and perhaps try a non-slip pad before resorting to showing in a breastplate).
I was using a breastplate for a long, long time until I discovered I was A. putting the saddle too far forward and B. using the wrong type of saddle pad.
Once I sorted these things out, I discovered my horse didn’t need a breastplate at all. HTH!
Kim
My old saddles all would slide back on Finnegan. He has high withers and hollows behind the withers. New custom saddle and it stays in place. My second ride in my new saddle I took him on an hour trail ride, up and down hills, trotting and cantering. When I got back to the trailer I realized how loose my girth was. That saddle never moved.
I would have a good saddle fitter come out and check the fit of your saddle.
I third or fourth making sure the saddle is placed in the right place. Once I started doing that, I almost eliminated the problem. I am also notorious for under tightening my girth (years of grooming and riding girthy, special snowflake event horses makes makes you paranoid), so double check your girthing habits.
All good points above, however, if your horse really needs a breastplate, do not let fashion and what is in dictate what you use on your horse. A breastplate is certainly not common on the A circuit, but you aren’t going to get dinged for it by good judges.
It’s not against the rules, however it’s not in fashion. I wore a breastplate in the hunters a few times (mostly at local shows), because that is what our hunt horses wore while hunting. It was just second nature to put them on as a junior.
However, now that I am older, I would probably just keep it off. Especially if it was on “just because” rather than as a functional piece of equipment.
I show in the A/AA hunters and haven’t seen a breast plate on at least 25 years… Not to say you can’t but there are a few other options I’m not sure if you have tried already to help keep your saddle from slipping.
Have you tried either a non slip type show saddle pad like an ECOGOLD that has a non slip underside? Or both of these can be put directly on the horses back under the saddle pad and prevent or limit slipping: http://marystack.com/gel-eze-under-bandage/?cmp=googleproducts&kw=geleze-under-bandage&gclid=CJnzpdbVg8kCFQ6maQodnjgJqg
or
http://www.doversaddlery.com/riders-international-no-slip-saddle-pad/p/X1-19059/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchantAdv&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=114&zmap=0019059008726X1-19059&mkwid=sIq1ibIPN&crid=75877012687&mp_kw=&mp_mt=&pdv=c&gclid=CKGTnsTVg8kCFQUMaQodU-QCqQ
Also the Professional Choice Girts also have a non-slip material on the underside and may help as well.
Odd that there seems a dislike for a breast collar/plate but many Hunter riders think a horse looks “in dressed” with out a sranding martingale. ? Five Star Tack sells beautiful breastplates as does Nunn Finer
Smith-Worthington has nice classic hunting breastplates for a reasonable price with standing attachments if needed.
I would be interested to hear what judges think about this matter. Personally I think hunter breastplates are quite nice-looking, and they are so much easier to deal with at shows than standing martingales. I know fashion matters to a lot of hunter riders, but I’m more interested in whether or not a breastplate would affect the judging.
Love my Antares breastplate but I don’t get much use out of it because my trainer won’t let me wear it in the show ring. We do move the saddle up if we need to.
Dewey, that is a great point. I’d love to see what judges say. Does anyone know why breastplates went out of fashion in the first place? It’s like a lot of things with showing though. I don’t follow the fashion trends no matter and never really did and I’ve always done well if my horse and I deserved it and politics didn’t get in the way.
I guess really it’s what you prefer.
If you choose a very traditional, discreet appearing one it won’t be so noticeable. I have shown in the AA hunters with a breastplate recently. It wasn’t my first choice, but I was having saddle fit issues on a horse with an expressive jump that shifted the saddle back. It turned out you couldn’t really tell. Unless you look closely at the photos, it looks nearly just like a martingale. Everyone is so used to seeing martingales, not breastplates, that I think many people looked at the horse and “saw” a martingale. It didn’t affect our placings. Thankfully we quickly solved the fit issue and now we are able to “get by” with hidden non-slip accessories and rarely getting off to fix things. Now, mind you, I would not recommend a Nunn Finer breastplate that you would wear in the hunt field (as much as I love those things). I would suggest something thinner that is raised and stitched, and use a thin, show hunter style standing martingale attachment for camouflage (again, not a thick, plain hunting style one).
I agree that breastplates are “out,” but I still use one every ride because it makes a good “Oh, Jesus” strap. Considering I am currently on the DL from getting dumped on my shoulder, I’ll keep it, thanks, fashion be damned.
Also think that if you ride well, no judge will be worried that your horse is in a breastplate and not a martingale.
The ones Dewy posted seem fine for the hunters – simple, thin, dark, plain, minimal hardware. Then, this post derails a bit off what is appropriate for the huntershow ring.
I have an App, and he needs everything he wears to be conservative if he is to have a chance at placing. Here is the type of breastplate you need to show hunters. He is wearing one from Ovation.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3191771607623&l=4aa05e9feb
The Nunn Finer one is too thick and noticeable for the hunter ring. Don’t want that hardware on the side.
