Western Breastplates

How does the Western breastplate fit correctly?

A breastplate for Western saddle not only looks nice, it also serves an important purpose. Especially when riding through mountainous terrain or in ranchwork classes, the Western saddle should be well secured. A breastplate prevents the saddle from sliding backwards and thus pressing on the horse's lumbar spine. Therefore, it should fit well to do its job. At the same time, it must not be too tight, otherwise it could rub the coat, cause chafing or squeeze the horse's airways. As a guideline, four fingers should fit between the breastplate and the horse in motion.
Furthermore, the Western breastplate must not restrict the horse's shoulder movements because it rests on the point of shoulder. The side straps must therefore run above the point of shoulder, while the breastplate with the fork comes to rest centrally on the chest.
Correctly fitted, the breastplate only comes into play as soon as the Western saddle slips. Otherwise it lies passively on the horse and does not restrict its movements in any way.
Kramer Equestrian offers leather breastplates for Western saddles in a variety of colours and designs. They are available in one size, but can be adjusted multiple ways and are therefore adaptable to many different types of horses. In our online shop you will also find matching head stalls and Western reins. We also have suitable leather care products for the correct care of the Western breastplates.

Which breastplate is suitable for a Western saddle?

Specially designed Western breastplates are suitable for Western saddles. There are different types of breastplates depending on the main purpose of the breastplate. Primarily, breastplates hold the saddle in place and prevent it from slipping. If there are strong pulling forces on the saddle and the horse has to pull loads, for example when roping, this must also be taken into account when choosing the breastplate.

• Basic Style: Breastplates with narrow straps are not so much used to support the horse when pulling as to secure the saddle, for example, when riding through mountainous terrain. These styles only come into play as soon as the saddle slips backwards. Classic Western breastplates are popular with trail riders, but also with riders of show horses.
• Team Roping Collar: A breastplate similar to the classic style, but with wider straps, is popular for team roping or ranch work. It holds the saddle in place, while at the same time allowing the horse to pull loads from time to time due to the larger contact area.
• Pulling Collar: In contrast to the classic version, this style has two straps wrapped around the swell of the saddle. This means that it lies higher on the horse's shoulder and shifts the pulling points further upwards. Finally, the last strap is passed between the front legs and attached to the ring of the girth.
• Tripping Collar: The tripping collar is often used for steer roping/steer tripping, where large forces are applied to the saddle horn. This style consists of a very wide, curved breastplate that is stretched across the chest and fastened with two straps on each side of the saddle. The very wide breastplate allows the horse to hang properly into the breastplate to pull or endure heavy loads.

How should the Western breastplate be put on correctly?

Western breastplates are very easy to put on. Start with the first strap, which is attached to the saddle. Then the breastplate is placed around the neck and aligned. The fork should be in the middle and not squeeze the horse's windpipe. Now the second strap can be attached to the other side of the saddle. If necessary, the length of the straps must be adjusted here. Make sure that they are buckled in the same hole on both sides.
Finally, the last strap is passed between the front legs and fastened to the girth with a click. Again, set the correct length by doing the "four finger test".
Unlike English saddle breastplates, where the girth is often pulled through a leather loop, Western breastplates are simply attached to the girth with a buckle and click. This makes it very easy to attach and adjust.