Breastplates & Martingales

Breastplates and Martingales — Saddle Security and Head Carriage

A breastplate prevents your saddle from slipping backward, which is particularly important for horses with flat or mutton withers, during jumping, or when riding uphill on trails. A martingale helps manage a horse's head carriage by preventing the head from coming up above the angle of control. Solo Saddlers stocks both in a range of styles and materials for every discipline.

Types of Breastplates

Hunting breastplate — The most traditional style, featuring a yoke that sits at the base of the neck with straps running to the D-rings on the saddle and through the girth. Distributes pressure evenly and stays stable during fast work. Many include a martingale attachment ring.

Elastic breastplate — A more modern design with elastic inserts that allow greater freedom of movement through the shoulder. Popular for jumping and eventing, where horses need to stretch over fences without restriction.

3-point breastplate — A simpler design with three attachment points (two at the saddle D-rings, one at the girth). Lightweight and unobtrusive, these are popular for everyday use and competition where a full hunting breastplate isn't needed.

5-point breastplate — Offers maximum stability with additional straps that pass between the front legs and connect to the girth at multiple points. Common in endurance riding and for horses that need extra saddle security on varied terrain.

Martingales

Running martingale — The most widely used type. The reins pass through rings attached to a strap from the girth, providing a downward action when the horse raises its head above the desired level. Must always be used with rein stops to prevent the rings from catching on the bit or rein buckle.

Standing martingale — Attaches to the noseband (cavesson only, never a drop or flash) and provides a fixed limit on how high the horse can raise its head. Simpler than a running martingale but less versatile.

Irish martingale — A small strap connecting the reins under the neck to prevent them from going over the horse's head. Common in racing and not a true martingale in terms of controlling head carriage.

When Do You Need One?

If your saddle slips back during riding — especially on hills, during jumping, or with a horse that has poor wither definition — a breastplate is essential. If your horse throws its head up, evading the bit and making contact difficult, a martingale can help while you work on the underlying training issue. Many jumping riders use a breastplate with an integrated martingale attachment as standard.

Fitting Tips

A breastplate should be snug enough to prevent saddle slip but not so tight that it restricts the horse's shoulder movement. You should be able to fit a fist between the yoke and the horse's chest. Martingale straps should be long enough that they only come into action when the horse raises its head above the desired level — if they're pulling the reins down constantly, they're too short.

Complete your tack setup by browsing our saddlery collection and bridles to ensure everything works together.