Horse Breastplates

The main role of a horse breastplate is to prevent the saddle from slipping too far back while riding. Breastplates are very often and willingly used during show jumping – both in the arena and in demanding terrain during cross-country.

Breastplate — what is its function and when to use it?

Many people use breastplates treating them rather as an elegant decorative element, not fully understanding their proper application. Although there is nothing wrong with this, and indeed a high-quality leather breastplate can be a beautiful addition to your equestrian tack in terms of aesthetics, it is worth knowing its true, stabilizing effect.

Unlike some auxiliary reins or side reins, which, if used incorrectly, can harm the horse, using a breastplate carries no such risk. When deciding on it, we only need to know how to properly fit it so that it fulfills its function as best as possible and provides the animal with full freedom of movement.

When is a horse breastplate needed?

Regardless of the riding style or the model we choose, the main task will always be the same – to keep the saddle in the right place and prevent it from slipping back towards the hindquarters.

Many horses, due to their specific conformation, are more predisposed to the saddle slipping off their back. We are talking especially about horses with high withers, strong, broad shoulders, or those with a narrow chest. With such body types, it can be difficult to keep the equipment in the right position, no matter how well it is fitted by a saddle fitter and how tightly the girth is pulled (remember that over-tightening the girth is harmful and has a negative impact on the quality of the horse's movement).

Sometimes the use of a breastplate is also recommended due to the type of work performed. The saddle is much more exposed to slipping when riding on uneven terrain with a lot of steep uphill and downhill slopes. Breastplates are also used during Western riding, show jumping, or in the case of racehorses, where very light saddles lie less stably on the back.

It is also worth remembering about safety – although these are rare situations, a breastplate prevents the saddle from dangerously twisting under the horse's belly when the girth or billets break.

Types of breastplates in the Balotade® offer

In our assortment, you will find various models that will be perfect for any training. The most popular are models made of strong buffalo leather and elastic inserts. We offer, among others:

• Jumping breastplate: A classic model with elastic bands that do not restrict shoulder movement (e.g., our bestselling Balotade® X model).
• Breastplate with martingale: An extremely practical 2-in-1 solution, eagerly chosen by show jumpers (e.g., the Balotade® Shell model).
• 5-point breastplate: A model that connects to the tack in as many as five places, providing the maximum possible saddle stabilization, often enriched with natural sheepskin padding to protect against chafing.

How to properly fit a breastplate?

Like most equestrian equipment, for this element to work properly, it must be perfectly tailored to the horse's dimensions:

• Too loose will not fulfill its stabilizing function.
• Too tight can cause discomfort, chafing, and severely restrict the horse's stride.
• Between the leather straps and the horse's chest, a flat hand should easily fit without feeling strong pressure.
• The straps must not dig into the skin, and the strap running between the front legs to the girth must not hang too loosely. In extreme cases, a horse jumping over an obstacle could catch a hoof in it, which threatens a very dangerous fall.

If we are dealing with an exceptionally sensitive mount, it is worth choosing models that have soft fleece or sheepskin inserts, especially at the rosette and on the shoulders, where the skin is most exposed to friction.