Buckaroo John's Blog — Breast Collar

    The breast collar, or breastplate, is a piece of tack used on horses in a variety of disciplines.  The purpose of the breast collar is to keep the saddle or harness from sliding back. The variation of a breastplate used for western riding, is referred to as a breast collar. The term breastplate is occasionally used, though western riders generally use breast collar to refer to both designs. Breast collars can attach to the saddle rigging or dee rings on the front of the saddle.  In either case, an additional strap usually runs between the front legs and attaches to the cinch. Some...

The purpose of a breast collar is to prevent the saddle from sliding backwards on your horse’s back. Saddle fit is obviously very important, but it’s nice to have the security and peace of mind a breast collar provides, especially when climbing hills, packing, roping or branding. The style of breast collar you decide to use will be based upon the type of riding you do and personal preference. The wider the breast collar is, the more the pressure is dispersed across the chest. Here are a few styles of breast collars and a few types of riding they are...