The hunting breastplate consists of a yoke (with a neck and wither strap), a 

breast strap at the bottom of the yoke which runs through the horse’s front legs and attaches to the girth, and two straps at the top of the yoke which attach to the D-rings of a saddle. There are usually buckles for adjusting the size of the yoke as well as the length of the straps which attach to the saddle and girth. The hunting breastplate not only helps to prevent the saddle from slipping but also may be used to attach standing and running martingales, which are clipped or buckled onto a ring at the chest. The breastplate should not be fitted in any way that will restrict the horse’s movement.

Special attention should be paid to the shoulders, chest, and the area between the horse’s front legs. In general, a fist should fit between the breastplate and the horse’s chest, and there should be a hand’s width between the wither strap and the withers. The breast strap should have some slack, and care should be taken that its buckle doesn’t rub the sensitive skin in the area. It should also be adjusted so that the chest straps lie above the point of the shoulder so that the horse’s motion is not restricted.

The attachment can be purchased separately.

small pony 

pony

cob

full