Elastic breastplate - do you prefer wither strap or not, why?

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adsthelad

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On the hunt for a breastplate as I've noticed how my saddle slips back a lot due to my horse's massive shoulders. I would use it particularly for jumping and faster work, but possibly also for some flatwork.
I was looking at elastic ones, and it's between one with more adjustment but no wither strap or one with less but it does have the wither strap.
http://www.prestigeitaly.com/scheda.asp?menu=accessories&IDproduct=194&LAN=ENG
or
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/02...tic_Breastplate_Black_893248.jpg?v=1450101139
(I can get a nice discount off of these two!)
What is the benefit of a wither strap?
Thanks :)
 
Your second link is blank - perhaps you need an account to sign in?

If you are using a breastplate to correct saddle slip the first question needs to be why the saddle slips. That will tell you the structure of the breastplate you need.

I'm presuming your saddle has been checked and professionally fitted so it is the best fit you can achieve on an animal that changes shape rapidly or has a conformational issue making saddles complex to fit? If your saddle slips because it doesn't fit - please sort that out first!

Then... if the saddle slips from the top you can get away with a 3 point like your first link. This holds the saddle in place from the D rings only. But if your saddle slips from the girth all this will do is make matters worse. The girth point will still slip but the top of the saddle be held in place tipping you forward and digging the saddle into the horse's shoulder. In that scenario you need a 5 point breast plate - or a racing breastplate -to hold the saddle at the girth. Ideally if you are correcting saddle slip you'll want something that fits correctly and isn't hugely elastic - which will defeat the purpose of holding the saddle in place.

Many riders (myself included) use a breastplate for fast work not because the saddle slips but as additional insurance should something go wrong. (Breastplates are required for some disciplines as a safety measure.) Some use one because it looks nice -fair enough. They do! That is where the highly elasticated ones come in.

In any event - the portion which runs across the withers has two purposes. To stabilize the structure so it doesn't slip laterally; and for something to hang on to. Its closer to the saddle than a neck strap or the martingale strap and if all else fails will give you a point to grab to keep you in place - or help you get back - that isn't the horses' mouth. If you are hunting or going XC some form of neck strap - even just a stirrup leather around the neck - is a very good idea.
 
Personally prefer a strap across the withers, I have a one occasion seen one become undone/break from the D ring and without the strap it would end up flapping around. Although the chances of this happening are slim I prefer to safe than sorry especially going xc.
 
Mine is the same as the first link. I prefer it to my 5 point as I think it is much more light weight and allows more freedom. I only use it as a precautionary measure when jumping and doing fast work.
EventingMum makes an interesting point about the strap keeping it in place should the d ring clip snap. Not something I had considered before!
 
If you saddle is slipping & has been checked etc, I'd go for a 5 point ! They are fantastic at doing their job & really keep the saddle in place
 
Neck strap always for me. I find it much easier to tack up and untack if the breastplate doesn't flop all over the place when unhooked.

I am amazed by seeing people undo a girth without first undoing the breastplate attachments to the d rings like some of my friends do. It seems to me to be a recipe for total disaster if the horse moves unexpectedly. The temptation to do it as a shortcut if you have no neck strap is far too high for me.
 
i don't use one at the moment because due to young horses conformation her saddles tend to slip forward if anything so not needed but i prefer without the wither strap because i have a neckstrap that i use which is more useful than having the strap over the wither which just gets in the way!
 
Thanks for all of your replies!
I probably will go for the wither strap one, for that extra bit of security should a clip snap. I haven't really thought about whether the saddle is slipping from the top or the girth, but I would assume that it is from the top by his shoulders pushing the saddle back.
I am getting a new saddle so maybe that will solve some slippage problems, and then the breastplate will be mostly for precaution.
I was having a look, and there's also the option of something like this: http://www.prestigeitaly.com/scheda.asp?menu=accessories&IDproduct=171&LAN=ENG that seems almost to be a between a 3-point attaching to the d's and a 5-point. Unless I'm very wrong?
 
I have something like you last link, much prefer it to a normal hunting breastplate as it won't pull the saddle down at the front. It is also less bulky than a 5 point and as someone who only show jumps I really didn't need a 5 point. I also have a Salamo one which is lovely, very good value for money and has elastic unlike the CWD one I also have.
 
I have one like the first link you posted. I was not bothered about having the wither strap as I've never been any use at getting hold of a neck strap. I always like a good handful of mane much higher up the neck!
 
I like a hunting breastplate on tall horses with big shoulders and long necks - gives me something close to grab if needed! Neck strap or nothing for the little ones.

I would try different styles before deciding which one to go for, some horses really don't like some versions. We had to get a hunting breastplate with elastic sections for sis' horse instead of the normal leather variety, and my horse doesn't like breastplates at all.
 
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