How to Install a Breast Collar

Breast collars are pieces of equipment used in both English and Western riding disciplines to keep the saddle from sliding out of place down a horse’s back. Called a breast plate in English riding, this particular piece of tack is used mainly in strenuous eventing and jumping competitions. Western cutters, ropers and reiners need a breast collar because of the fast turns and drops their horses perform in their sport. Knowing how to properly fasten a breast collar to the saddle and adjust it to fit the horse keeps horseback riders and their mounts comfortable and safe.

Things You'll Need

  • Saddle
  • Saddle pad
  • Girth
  • Breast Collar
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Tack up your horse with his saddle pad and saddle leaving the girth unfastened.

    • 2

      Place the neck strap of the breast collar over your horse’s neck adjacent to his withers.
      Adjust both of the buckles on the right and left sides of the neck strap so that the center of the breast collar rests in the middle of your horse’s chest, leaving a hand’s width of space so that the collar is not too tight.

    • 3

      Buckle the left collar strap close to your horse’s shoulder to the D-ring on the left side of your saddle. Buckle the right strap of the breast collar to the right saddle D-ring. Adjust the buckles so that you can get your hand between your horse’s shoulder and the strap on both sides.

    • 4

      Weave your horse’s girth through the leather oval of the girth strap on the bottom of the breast collar, making sure that the oval is situated in the middle of your horse’s chest between his two front legs. Secure your saddle by tightening the girth.

    • 5

      Adjust the buckle on the girth strap so that you can fit your fist between your horse’s chest and the strap.