Breastplates and Martingales: Fitting, Function, and Common Mistakes
Keep the saddle secure, the contact clear, and your horse comfortable.
Breastplates and martingales are useful tools-but only when fitted well and used for the right reasons. Here's a clear guide to what each type does, how to fit them step-by-step, and the pitfalls that quietly create rubbing, resistance, or even safety risks.
What they're for (and not for)
- Breastplates: stop the saddle sliding back and add stability over fences or terrain; offer attachment points for a martingale.
- Martingales: refine the line of the rein when the head comes too high (running) or limit abrupt head-throwing (standing); the goal is clarity, not force.
- Not for: hiding poor saddle fit, replacing schooling, or clamping posture into place.
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Breastplates-types at a glance
Tip: For jumping or XC, billet-attachments are stronger than D-ring clips alone.
How to fit a breastplate (any style)
- Saddle on, girth up, horse standing square.
- Wither strap: lies flat at the base of the neck; you should slide a hand under it-not tight like a neck strap.
- Shoulder clearance: chest straps run behind the point of shoulder, not across it. Ask the horse to walk-no "snagging" as the scapula moves.
- Centre ring/yoke: sits above the chest muscles, not bouncing low; a hand's width from the bottom of the neck is a good start.
- Girth/billet attachments: equal length both sides; the breastplate should steady the saddle, not pull it forward.
- Final check in motion: trot and canter; you should see normal shoulder reach and breathing, with no strap twanging or rubbing.
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Common mistakes
- Using a breastplate to fix a too-narrow or downhill saddle balance.
- Elastic too tight, shortening the stride.
- Clipping only to D-rings with ultra-short straps (can rip); use billet straps or dee-savers.
- Fluffy pads left dirty - salt + grit = sores.
Martingales-types, use, and fit
Running Martingale (forked)
Function: When the horse lifts the head above the bit, the forks act via the reins to lower the line of contact; neutral when the neck is in a normal position.
Fit-step-by-step:
- Attach the neck strap so you can fit a hand between strap and neck.
- Buckle the chest piece so the fork junction sits above the chest, not banging the sternum.
- Adjust fork length so that, with rider's hands level at the withers, the rings just meet the reins without pulling them down. Another check: hold the martingale rings up-they should reach the throat-latch area.
- Slide martingale stops onto the reins between bit and rings to prevent the rings riding up to the bit.
Pros: Releases instantly; widely legal; good for jumping and youngsters.
Cons: If too short, it fixes the hand low and creates a heavy, downhill feel.
Bib Martingale (running + bib)
Function: As per running, with a leather bib joining the forks to keep them aligned and prevent a rein going over the head.
Fit: Same as running; ensure the bib does not touch the throatlatch or interfere with the windpipe.
Best for: Very keen jumpers; horses that grab a rein; muddy/wet conditions.
Standing Martingale (to the cavesson)
Function: Limits sudden, high head carriage by anchoring the noseband to the girth.
Fit-step-by-step:
- Must attach to a plain cavesson (not to a flash/drop/figure-eight strap).
- Adjust length so that, with the head in a normal position, you can lift the martingale strap to the horse's throatlatch without pulling the noseband down.
- The neck strap should pass a hand's width from the neck; not tight.
Pros: Simple, consistent limit on abrupt head-throwing.
Cons: Offers no release if too tight; can interfere with bascule and breathing over a fence when over-short. Often restricted in dressage-check rules.
Quick decision guide
- Horse gets high/strong only when excited or jumping: Running or bib martingale.
- Abrupt head-throwing that hits the rider: Carefully fitted standing (with coaching).
- Saddle drifts back on round types: 3-point or Y breastplate.
- Big efforts/XC and saddle stability concerns: 5-point with shearling pads-only as loose as will do the job.
Fit checks you can do in 60 seconds
Breastplate
- Hand under wither strap, easy.
- Straps do not cross the point of shoulder.
- Center yoke steady, not thumping chest.
- Saddle stays put without being dragged forward.
Martingale
- Neck strap = a hand's width.
- Running: rings reach throat-latch; rein line free at normal head carriage; stops on reins in place.
- Standing: can lift to throat-latch; attaches to cavesson only.
- No rubs at chest or between forelegs after work.
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Safety & maintenance
- Check stitching, billets, and elastic weekly-perished elastic looks fine until it snaps.
- Rinse sweat; condition leather lightly; keep sheepskin clean and fluffed.
- Replace cheap carabiners/clips that bend open; use solid hardware.
- For running/bib, confirm rein width suits the rings to avoid snagging.
Troubleshooting: symptoms → solutions
Rules & compatibility notes (quick)
- Standing: use plain cavesson; typically not allowed in dressage; allowed in many showjumping/hunter classes-check your rulebook.
- Running/Bib: usually allowed for jumping/eventing; not for dressage tests.
- Figure-eight nosebands pair well with running/bib; standing must not attach to them.
Final word
Choose the least restrictive setup that keeps the saddle secure and the rein line clear. Fit so everything is neutral at a normal head/neck, only engaging when needed, and revisit after a few rides-small adjustments make big differences.