If you scroll down on the link its the second picture of him… breezing, I assume.
And it looks like the girth attachment of his brestplate is flapping down around between his front legs?? 
It kind of looks like a bad photoshop job…?? But I didn’t know/think they touched up pics like that???
It’s just really loose. I’ve seen a lot of race horses with breastplates like that. I always think “doesn’t someone have a hole punch!?”
I always leave them slightly looser when they are going out to work. Think of how much they are going to be using those shoulders, I don’t want the yoke sqeezing them. If the rider has a problem with the looseness, I have a problem with the rider. They don’t need to be hanging off the yoke IMO.
so, if its so loose why even bother having it then? (not trying to sound snarky BTW :))
[QUOTE=wcporter;6986540]
so, if its so loose why even bother having it then? (not trying to sound snarky BTW :))[/QUOTE]
To keep the rider from throwing a hissy fit! Haha. Some might totally disagree, to each his own. It obviously isn’t effecting Kevin Krigger in this pictur.
I use a breast collar to stabilize the saddle. The one on the link is so loose it doesn’t seem likely it would help with anything. Eventing horses gallop and jump and their collars never look like this. Like another poster said, “Does anybody have a hole punch”? 
[QUOTE=Gestalt;6986794]
I use a breast collar to stabilize the saddle. The one on the link is so loose it doesn’t seem likely it would help with anything. Eventing horses gallop and jump and their collars never look like this. Like another poster said, “Does anybody have a hole punch”? :)[/QUOTE]
This isn’t technically a “breast collar”, it is a yoke. It does not attach to the saddle the way that the breast collar you use for eventing does. The purpose of the yoke is not to hold the saddle in place. It goes around the horse’s neck like a collar and attaches once at the bottom of the girth.
Here is a picture of one (not advertising here this was just the best link I could find) http://www.bigdweb.com/mobile/Leather-Racing-Yoke-Light/productinfo/66LH/
running martingale
This is a what the running martingale, what we call rings, attaches to during routine gallops. The running attachment is usually removed for any kind of speed work or gate work to not restrict the horses movement. It is left on without the attachment because most riders/gallop people usually slip their finger through the neck strap part if a horse acts up, or to stay outta their mouth if a horse becomes unbalanced. Essential piece of equipment, has nothing to do with securing the saddle. Can also save your life, rather then pulling one over on yourself!
[QUOTE=summerly;6987001]
This is a what the running martingale, what we call rings, attaches to during routine gallops. The running attachment is usually removed for any kind of speed work or gate work to not restrict the horses movement. It is left on without the attachment because most riders/gallop people usually slip their finger through the neck strap part if a horse acts up, or to stay outta their mouth if a horse becomes unbalanced. Essential piece of equipment, has nothing to do with securing the saddle. Can also save your life, rather then pulling one over on yourself![/QUOTE]
Thanks for the clarification! Since no martingale was attached I mistakenly thought it was for saddle securement. So if it is helpful to the rider, why did a poster make a comment about riders throwing hissy fits?
[QUOTE=Angelico;6986960]
This isn’t technically a “breast collar”, it is a yoke. It does not attach to the saddle the way that the breast collar you use for eventing does. The purpose of the yoke is not to hold the saddle in place. It goes around the horse’s neck like a collar and attaches once at the bottom of the girth.
Here is a picture of one (not advertising here this was just the best link I could find) http://www.bigdweb.com/mobile/Leather-Racing-Yoke-Light/productinfo/66LH/[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the link.
[QUOTE=Gestalt;6987175]
Thanks for the clarification! Since no martingale was attached I mistakenly thought it was for saddle securement. So if it is helpful to the rider, why did a poster make a comment about riders throwing hissy fits?[/QUOTE]
Like I said, to each his own. I will slip my finger through the yoke from time to time, it’s habbit. However, I don’t feel that a rider that is taking a horse out for a work should be dependent on a yoke. Especially one that is trying to convince me that he/she is a formidable jockey. They won’t have it in a race. I see far too many riders hanging off the yoke in the mornings. I know it’s tough, but learn to balance guys. That said I will ALWAYS send them out in the mornings with with one, it’s just what ya do.
I’d be concerned that the horse could put a leg through a yolk that loose, if he/she decided to hop around a bit…
If the rider wants something to hang on to, then why not use a neck strap? Having a piece of leather that loose hanging between the horses legs seems at the least pointless and potentially dangerous.
Maybe I am crazy, but it looks like he is slipping his left hand down and pulling on that yoke. That horse looks like he is always halfway out of control, very up headed, etc. Maybe he uses that to communicate with the horse somewhat, like those neck straps that the Europeans use more than you see here in the states. Helps if the horse likes to jump out from under you too like this one seems like he would like to try. It looks a little scary to me how it is slipping so much to one side, I don’t care what, I don’t like to see loose tack like that, ever.
EXACTLY :uhoh:
[QUOTE=Calamber;6988030]
Maybe I am crazy, but it looks like he is slipping his left hand down and pulling on that yoke. That horse looks like he is always halfway out of control, very up headed, etc. Maybe he uses that to communicate with the horse somewhat, like those neck straps that the Europeans use more than you see here in the states. Helps if the horse likes to jump out from under you too like this one seems like he would like to try. It looks a little scary to me how it is slipping so much to one side, I don’t care what, I don’t like to see loose tack like that, ever.[/QUOTE]
This horse is working, not galloping. He isn’t out of cotrol, his rider is letting him out. He is not a show horse, he can have his head wherever he pleases, it is just this horse’s particular style. When you work a horse you take the rings off. Why a neck strap? The riders and horses are used to a yoke. I have NEVER seen a horse get a leg through a yoke, I never even considered it. I’m around a LOT of horses every day. Every one of them is wearing a yoke. Never a problem, I think we know what we are doing.
It isn’t near as loose as it looks. However they will move around a bit. They aren’t supposed to be tight. If you can’t move it from side to side a little, it is too tight. They HAVE to be slightly loose.
No one would expect a yoke to be tight, but to be hanging so loose from the girth to the neck strap (IMHO)does seem sloppy and unnecessary. (I bet that yours aren’t THAT poorly adjusted). Well fitted is possible without being tight.
I don’t see anything about the horse or rider that looks out of control…
Such a good day of racing today. Congrats to Gary Stevens on 2 good wins!
Totally acceptable yoke in this pic. If you imagined the horse standing the strap wouldnt be near his knees. Yes, you can tighten the neck strap which won’t affect the length of the strap running thru his legs.
I galloped horses for almost 30 years and have never had one put a foot thru the yoke. I’m sure Doug would have adjusted it if he thought it looked dangerously loose! 
I have a yoke, because Lucky doesn’t need a martingale, but once in a while I gallop him or ride out in very open areas and I like having an ‘oh-$#it’ strap that doesn’t slide up and down the neck completely, hence an attachment to the girth. And if I NEED a martingale, I can just put an attachment on.
I’ll slip my finger in the yoke on certain horses, I have a filly right now that likes to spin and make sudden right hand turns when galloping, helps me stay with her. I have a colt who you can’t hook your finger in the yoke for when he bucks you’ll get launched when the yoke tightens up. Last year I also galloped a filly using the yoke to rate her. You’d leave a loop in your reins and use the yoke to slow her down, she’d run off if you touched her mouth.
Other than being pulled sideways I don’t see anything wrong with the yoke in the picture. I think the O’Neill operation just might know what they’re doing…
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