Horse Breastplates, How To Install On Your Horse

The Hunting breastplate are the most commonly used in English riding. They are fitted by sliding the encircled leather over the horses head, this is called the Yolk. Off this is the breast strap that attaches to the underside of the girth (between the horses front legs). The remaining two smaller straps on either side of the withers attach to the D-rings of the saddle. This can sometimes be a problem as this is a weak point for attachment and can often be pulled out. Standing and running martingales can be attached to the ring on the front of this breastplate. They are used in Cross Country, Show Jumping, Show Hunting, Eventing, Steeplechase, Flat Racing, Endurance riders and by Fox Hunters.

The Polo Breastplate attaches as leather, elastic or webbing strip across the front of the horse’s chest from billet to billet. Attachment here makes it a very secure breastplate. The strap running over the top of the withers can be altered to raise or lower its height. This brilliantly secured breastplate is more favourable in higher risk disciplines, Eventing, Polo, Show Jumping and Cross Country especially. This is a brilliant design as it gives the horse complete freedom of movement at its shoulder although it can interfere with horses breathing if the exercise being undertaken means that the horses head becomes too low. It should sit horizontally across the chest with 3-4 inches width between withers and wither strap and between chest and chest strap.

The Breast girth of Loop breast girth is a simpler but similar design to the Polo breastplate. It attaches to either D-ring of the saddle, running across the underside of the horse’s neck. There is almost no shoulder restriction however breathing can be restricted as poor fitting can make the breast girth onto the horse’s windpipe.