How to Fit a Breast Collar

A breast collar is an important piece of safety equipment.

While English and Western disciplines may be vastly different, they do share a similar piece of equipment: the breast collar. Breast collars, also known as breast plates by English riders, fit over the horse's chest and attach to the saddle to keep it from slipping back toward the tail. Breast collars are essential during strenuous events such as reining, roping, and eventing to keep the saddle properly centered over the horse's back. A properly fitted breast collar keeps horse and rider safe and comfortable.

Things You'll Need

• Halter
• Lead rope
• Brush
• Saddle pad
• Saddle

Instructions

1. Catch the horse and slip a halter over its head. Attach a lead rope and tie the horse to a solid tie ring or hitching post. If the horse hasn't been trained to stand tied, ask a helper to hold it.

2. Brush the horse's back with a soft-bristle brush to remove dirt and debris, then center a saddle pad between the withers and the hip. Set the saddle squarely over the saddle pad, and tighten the cinch gently to keep the saddle from falling off.

3. Hold the breast collar in front of the horse's chest so it forms a "Y" shape and buckle the left side of the breast collar to the D-ring on the left side of the saddle. Step around the horse and buckle the right side of the breast collar to the saddle.

4. Adjust the buckles on both sides of the breast collar until the collar sits just above the point of the shoulder. You should be able to pull the collar three to four inches away from the shoulder on each side. This allows the front legs to move freely as you work the horse.

5. Slide the bottom strap between the horse's front legs, and clip it to the small D-ring on the cinch. Tighten the strap so there is approximately two inches of slack, in case the saddle shifts slightly during your ride.

Tips & Warnings

• Always unhook your breast collar first when untacking the horse. If you loosen the cinch before the breast collar and the horse spooks, it could become tangled in the tack and get hurt.

References

• DiscoverHorses.com: Correct Fit for Breast Collar and Back Cinch