I've always wondered, what's a breast strap for?:talking about tack?

I've always used one but never really been quite sure, what's a horses breast strap for when you're using a western saddle?Its purpose is to keep the saddle from sliding back, and is most helpful on horses with large shoulders and a flat ribcage. It is also a safety feature, especially on cross-country, should a rider's girth or billets break, as she will have enough time to stop the horse and dismount before the saddle slipped off the animal's back or underneath its belly.When going up a steep hill it helps keep the saddle from sliping backwards.Well one of the uses is to stop the saddle from falling back. My horse has a massive whither and the saddle slides down his back so i put it on and it keeps it up... another use for it is to attach rings(martingale) to it...but i no sum people that use it because it gives them a sence of safty

Hope this helpedThe breast strap is usually used to keep the saddle placed correctly on the whithers if the horse is prone to having a smoother back where the saddle can slide back, or the saddle isn't fit properly to the horse.  In some circles it is considered more fashion than function.  Sorry, all I can think of is the big craze in breast straps when "Bonanza" came out with the opening scenes with one of the horses sporting a breast strap.  Oh ... Hollywood ... went and done it again.It is used for show mostly, but lots need them.

My horse, is 16.3, with a massive sloping shoulder, which goes with the big withers. Her withers force the saddle to go backwords, which as you know, isn't good.

It is used to keep saddles from sliding back too far, in both western and english.

It is used commonly at my barn for contesting. It helps the saddle from tipping off the horses back while going around a barrell.It's used to keep a saddle in place. Say you're horse has something "different" with his/her confirmation on the back, shoulders, withers etc. then it will keep it from sliding around. Also if you're going up a hill or galloping then it will help to keep it in place.A breast strap is used to keep the saddle from sliding back while you ride. Some saddles may not slide back when the horse go's up a hill or is running. But that is what the breast strap is for.the purpose of a brest strap is to prevent the saddle from slipping back and so your not riding on his/her butt!For english it is called the "breast collar".  It was first used in foxhunts (where hunters origanilly started) to keep the saddle from moving too much when going through rough terrain.  Now it is usually only for looks b/c in the hunter ring there is no rough terrain.  But the western saddle is much bigger and heavier there for if it moves A LOT it can hurt the horse sometimes.  So the breast strap is used to hold the saddle from slipping down the horses back.  Especially when going up hill or if your horse reared.  There is also a strap (idk the name) that you hook to the saddle and put the tail through to prevent the saddle from slipping forward.it is to keep the saddle from slipping back on the horses back. Used especally in speed events when the saddle is more likely to slip back. English saddles can use them too, alot of horses that are eventers or jumpers use them because they are running and jumping so much
hope this helps u!The 3 way breast collars are used to keep a saddle in correct position on a horses back, yes, to keep it from sliding back but to also help keep it centered so it does not "roll" from side to side.  

A breast plate will not keep the saddle from rolling, it will only keep the saddle from sliding back on a horse.

The breast collar has a function, not just for look, I ride each and every horse with a 3 way breast collar to ensure my saddle does not roll in turns and stays in place on my horses.  

How many times I have seen unexperienced riders going down the trail and all of a sudden the saddle is under the horse and the rider on the ground.  I've seen saddles come out of those situations looking like it had been through a meat grinder.   A $40.00 3 way could have atleast kept that saddle from slipping all the way around that belly.  A lot cheaper than buying a new saddle!

So anyway, my point is that it does serve a function and a good one at that!At the track we called them breastplates and sometimes you would see one on a horse that raced exclusively on the flat but more times they would be used on the steeplechase horses. The purpose which all have correctly stated is to stop the saddle from slipping backwards.It is used and attached to the saddle for a purpose. It keeps the saddle from slipping backwards and it keeps it the saddle in line on the shoudlers.

I would purchase one if I were you. They have all kinds of styles. Most people win them at the Ranch Rodeos but you can go to a local tack & saddle shop and get you one.

I have never ridden a horse without one.the breast collar is to keep the saddle from moving all around on the horses back.

in pleasure it makes the whole package of the horse and rider look more completeA breat collar can keep your saddle from slidding backwards.  Lots of people do not ride with one.