Breastplate fitting - how loose is too loose?

_MizElz_

_MizElz_

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I bought Ellie a lovely new breastplate from Equiport at Hickstead...the only problem is, I'm worried that it's too big :confused:

We decided on Cob size as she's quite dainty, but even that seems to be coming up very big on her. It fits beautifully around her chest, but dangles quite low between her legs :confused: I have two options - send it back and get a refund, or punch a couple more holes (I have about 4/5 inches of spare leather) to make it a bit shorter.

I had a look at my friend's breastplate on her horse, and that seems to hang down quite far - further than Ellie's old one did on her. A flick through the H&H has shown quite a variety in degrees of looseness - so what is correct? I'd be worried about having it too loose, as surely that could cause her to catch her legs when jumping...?

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I'd punch a hole and take it right up to that last brass ring, that should sort it. :) I like to fit mine so you can easily slip a hand underneath all the way down but not much more, I don't like to see them baggy.
 
Miles too loose IMO, but it is really nice and smart so I'd just pop another hole in it about 3" higher up. As BM says, you'd not want a pony as then it would be too tight around her chest.

I think you want to be able to fit your hand with an extra inch or so perpendicular to the chest between the leather and the horse (if that makes sense?!)
 
Is it meant to have a clip on it? It looks like it would be the right size if the girth went went through the loop rather than it clip on.

Take it to a saddlers and get it shorted properly, if you're going to keep it. It won't cost you much and will look much smarted in the long run. It would be very easy for them to take 6" of the end then reattatch the buckle. I have odd shaped horses and have to do it myself to much of my tack.
 
Yep its definitely too loose. I had to buy a cob one for my boy and the strap that attaches to the girth was far too long but fitted nicely across his chest so a similar story to yours! I took mine to my local tack shop and they very kindly shorted the girth strap to a perfect length - free of charge - there are then for me :). Its definitely not worth sending it back IMO though.
 
Thank you very much for all the responses! I have taken it into my local saddlers today, and they are hopefully going to shorten it by 6 inches for me.

Thanks all! :)

PS. Kallibear - I deliberately bought one with the clip on it as I think it will make it so much easier for tacking up/untacking! But I think you're right - it's the clip that is making the difference in fit. Hopefully it should be fine once shortened :)
 
Sounds good. I bought one without a clip but I needed a clip (agreed - much easier!) so added my own. Which made the girth part even more far-too-long! :rolleyes:
 
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