Do you use a breastplate?

I only really have one horse that needs a breastplate but by god they all wear one! Usually a simple hunting breastplate. I refer to it as my seatbelt. I can't tell you how many times they have saved my bacon. I couldn't give two hoots what anyone thinks, it works for me and my horses and I shall carry on using them :)
 
Hunter breastplate all the time for me to hang on to in an emergency. Horse also trained to slow/stop when it is pulled so saving the mouth out hunting ect.
 
I have never needed to use one for any of my horses until now. My TB has high withers that go a long way back and I don't have his girth overly tight (he's suffered from KS and gastric ulcers) so he wears a standard simple breastplate that goes around his chest and is wrapped in nice thick sheepskin. Does the trick. :)
 
I always use a breastplate both on my very young horse and my more established young horse. The last thing I need is the saddle slipping when either of them are having a "moment" so it's a matter of safety precaution for me. Also gives me something to grab on to when the ground feels like it could be coming up fast any moment :D
 
Not a breastplate - I use a polo breastgirth. Ron's saddle (Wow, shallow seat, XC flap) fits, and is regularly checked, but it slides back when he jumps anything bigger than about 2foot - saddlers (about 3) have said it's because his shoulder is so big, that it just pushes the saddle out of the way - even the wow with its greater flexibility, it's just the best we've found.

That said, while he has it on for hunting, and anytime when we might be jumping, I don't bother with it for hacking or flatwork. Plus, it gives me a neck strap for if he decided to be a tit (which he does from time to time, even at 18! :eek:)
 
I use a breastplate for xc and hunting, just for safety precaution and for whens my mares having one of her extra special moments :D
 
i have a breastplate/running martingale cos when fox is excited his head goes up up UP! and before i got his saddle refitted it was sliding back quite a bit, probably doesnt need the breastplate anymore but ive misplaced the stand alone martingale :rolleyes: its not doing him any harm wearning the breastplate so im in no rush to go buy a new martingale
 
I do! A hunting one with a running martingale attatchment. The saddle doesn't move but on planky TB it has been a lifeline more than once. Being attached to the saddle I know where it is when I need it, while a neckstrap on his rubberyness could go awol.
 
Nope, no breastplate, martingale or neck strap. Out hunting it has been commented on that I might want one but saddle never moves and don't want to encourage my old habit of tipping forward to grab a strap. I did buy a gorgeous 5 point breastplate which would have looked stunning but at end of day would just have been one more bit of tack to clean.
 
It was drilled into me that one must be used for hunting (worked for a Master) so I always wear one for hunting. It also helps when mounting a plaited/hogged horse that isn't waiting around :D
I use one on BBB for jumping as she has such a massive jump I don't want to test my saddle/girth. Having said that it has never pulled tight on her so I guess she probably doesn't need it.
 
Should I have one to be correct for hunting? It would look smart and give me something to grab when plaited..... Go on......give me a reason to shop :-)
 
My boy wears one for everything except schooling as long as I don't have to hack to the school. He wears a 5 point for cross country but just a normal one for everything else. His saddle has been fitted to him so I know it's not that, he just has that sort of conformation that means it slips back.
 
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