I’m doing my first 25 mile LD ride in about a month and I’m trying to figure out what type of headstall and breastplate to get. I do a lot of trail riding so I will be using them often. I ride in a barrel saddle so I’m not sure if I need a different type of breastplate than if I was using an English saddle or an endurance saddle? I know that I would like a halter/bridle combo but I’m not sure what brands I should be looking at. My horse wears shoes on the from so I always ride him with bell boots. I usually use classic equine bell boots and I’ve never had a problem with them on water crossings and such but is there a different type of bell boot you’d recommend? Any recommendations about tack and websites to buy off of would be much appreciated!!
I recommend Moss Rock Endurance, American Trail Gear, and Zilco for brands that carry great breast collars and bridle/halter combos.
If your saddle has been working so far don’t mess with it. See how it works on an actual LD. Test for back and girth soreness/galls after the ride(s).
Does your horse over reach or are the bell boots just there for average protection? If not needed I’d ditch them.
Have FUN!~
I use Riding Warehouse and Distance Depot for pretty much everything. I bought a halter bridle from Distance Depot and I love it! 
They both have excellent customer service.
I like Distance Depot for tack. But if you already have a bridle and breastplate you like, I’d wait, see what some other people have at the ride, get some opinions. There are halter/bridles with bit hangers, with snap on browbands, some ride with a rope halter and the snap on, there are so many choices! And many opinions too (I prefer the bit hangers, and don’t use a breastplate, and ride in a dressage saddle)
I agree about possibly ditching the bell boots. Anything that can rub, get mud caught underneath, etc, is usually avoided. That being said, if you’ve done some longer rides at speed with the bell boots and they work for you, that’s OK too.
I think you’ll find endurance is truly “whatever works for you and your horse.” I love seeing all the options, colors, etc. And have fun!
duplicate!
Thank you for all the responses!
I usually use a leather headstall with a rope halter underneath but I’m wanting something that is easier to clean and I’ve heard that the endurance bridles are easier to clean.
He is slightly clumsy with his feet so I prefer to keep the bell boots on him. I’ve never had a problem and we’ve been doing a lot of 15-20 mile rides over difficult terrain. Would you recommend the classic equine bell boots or rubber bell boots?
My saddle has been slipping back a little bit on steep hills so I’ve been borrowing a breast collar, but it is a little bit small for him so I’ve had to add extensions, but I’d really like to get him his own that fits him. All the endurance breastplates that I’ve seen have been fairly thin (width wise) so I’m not sure how they would do holding up a western saddle. Anyone have any experience with that?
My saddle fits him really well (thankfully!!) and I’ve had no issues with it on our longer rides.
Most endurance tack is made of beta or biothane. Both are very easy to clean- I consider a ride in the rain= clean tack.
If you like to ride with the separate halter, I would look at the add on bridles. ( this style http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Zilco_Deluxe_Snap-On_Trail_Bridle_Headstall/descpage-ZDTBSS.html)
I wouldn’t worry about the endurance breastplate holding up to the weight of a western saddle- they are made of biothane, which is much stronger than leather. I personally prefer the padded style (http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Zilco_Deluxe_Trail_Breastplate/descpage-ZDBSS.html) , but I haven’t seen any issues from people using the ones without padding. Good sites include riding warehouse, distance depot, american trail gear and many others. The biggest concern for endurance is comfort for the horse, then you.
I guess I’m just used to the breast collars being quite wide so it seems to me that the thinner ones would dig into the horse more? However I haven’t heard about anyone having problems with that so I’m probably just overthinking things! The one you posted is much wider than the others I’ve seen, thanks for the links!
First and foremost, use what works!
I prefer the headstalls that either use the browband to snap on, or have the browband on the halter and just snap at the poll like Taylored tack’s do, much easier than bit hangers especially if you ride with a broken bit, or really any bit.
As for breast collars I like the endurance “style” (english looking) because they allow you to adjust them morse so they sit on the horses shoulders in the right place. I also kinda prefer the ones without any waffle padding since some horses can be allergic to the neoprene and I feel like it can hold sand and other crud that rubs. As for the thickness, you’ll get use to looking at them, I’ve yet to have one padded or otherwise rub, although I have seen it happen since horses can just be fragile flowers.
Also my opinion on the bell-boots, if you cannot ditch them, would be as plain and soft/ flexible as you can get them. No-turns can cause some pretty bad rubs if they get a little twisted, just check them often.
Have fun!
We sell a lot of Zilco halter/bridle combinations for this purpose, as well as breastplates. They clean so easily and the fact that the bridle can snap off so handily is a big bonus.
If you’re riding in a western type saddle, watch out where you attach an english style breastplate. I was doing that and the rings on my saddle were sort of high. As the saddle slid back, the tension up high on the saddle caused the front of it to dig down and eventually made my horse sore. Try to attach the breast collar to the rigging Ds or in that general area if you can. Two Horse Tack specializes in biothane and has a western breast collar with optional “over the wither strap” that keeps the breast collar from sagging down. It’s described near the bottom of this page. http://www.twohorsetack.com/p-35-western-breast-collar-made-from-beta-biothane-any-2-color-combo.aspx
