[3Bays]

A question for you English riders: regardless of your specific discipline of English riding, do any of you REGULARLY use breastplates? And, why?


I was recently in a discussion with a fellow rider and she said that she ALWAYS has her horse wear a breastplate even if she's just doing flat work in the arena. (She does not use martingales of any kind). She said that she feels that it just looks "more classy" and that if she's in trouble with the horse getting frisky that it also gives her something to grab on to so she doesn't fall off.

I have only used a breastplate for hunting or long/overnight trailrides.

Comments? Opinions?

[HorseCraze120]

I use a breastplate to keep the saddle/saddle pad from slipping back. My girl has a wide body! LOL. I dont use any kind of martingale, just the breastplate.

Also it helps when you have a horse being bad, it is something to hold on too.

[PaintedRocket]

Originally Posted by hOrSeCrAzE120

I use a breastplate to keep the saddle/saddle pad from slipping back. My girl has a wide body! LOL. I dont use any kind of martingale, just the breastplate.

I use one on Miracle for the same reason. My saddle and pad tends to slip back (even when the girth is as snug as it should be) and it helps to keep it in place. I don't use martingales on Miracle, he's fine enough w/o one. I do use breastplates along with martingales on Rion during my lessons.

I've never been told to grab onto the breastplate if your horse is being naughty as a precaution of falling off.. I wouldn't even think of doing so really.. how is it supposed to help you stay on? Stability maybe? Its not something I'd recommend doing. If you're in a sticky situation and know how to properly excecute a emergency dismount, then by all means, do that instead..

[GO-X-COUNTRY]

I use a breastplate for the same reasons as posted above. To keep my saddle from slipping. I have never used one for just "looks" because I just see it as an unnecessary piece of tack on my horse. That's just me though.

[Nevada_Silk]

I use a breastplate to keep my saddle in place. Never in my life have I used a martingale....never will either.

I do think that a breastplate added makes for a more put together look...but that's just me.

[olz_rox_272]

yes, same as everyone else, im pretty sure a breast plate is used to stop the saddle from slipping back. i thought it was only used in jumping, and i dont know any1 who uses it for flat work.

[Chester]

Our high withered tb wears a breastplate. It just makes me feel better to know the saddle won't slip back.

It also has the advantage that we can and do clip the martinggale rings onto for jumping. They do not come into play unless he wishes to raise his head too far. Better safe than sorry.

[Catalyst]

I use a Y breastplate, always have.
I like the security of knowing that the saddle and cloth isn't going slip.
I don't use a martingale though.

[Quick2Skip01]

My sisters big QH mare has to have a breastplate otherwise her saddle slips wayyy back. I have thought of using one on Skip, but he doesn't really have a problem with saddle slippage. I do see a lot of them on the flat in HUS pleasure classes, and eq though.