Breastplates
Your saddle stays anchored.
Breastplates, bibs and hunting styles that hold the saddle steady over hills, jumps and rough ground.
Horse Breastplates
A horse breastplate stops your saddle sliding backwards. If your saddle creeps back on hills, over fences or on a lean-shouldered horse, a breastplate anchors it to the girth and shoulders so it stays where you put it. Our Horse Breastplate collection has 55 designs, 35 of them in stock right now, from a hi-vis Firefoot Reflective Breastplate at £11.46 up to the Premier Equine Invorio 5 Point Breastplate at £147.60.
In a hurry?
- Cheapest leather breastplate in stock: Windsor Breastplate, £19.23 (Pony, Cob and Full, black or havana brown).
- Best all-rounder for hacking and jumping: Shires Aviemore Hunt Weight Breastplate, £29.70.
- Want a martingale built in: HKM Breastplate With Martingale, £43.99.
- Cross-country and eventing: Shires Salisbury Five Point Breastplate, £80.99.
- Seen on the road in winter: Firefoot Reflective Breastplate, £11.46.
- Not sure on size or type? Get in touch and our team will help.
Which type of breastplate do I need?
There are four common shapes. The right one depends on how much your saddle moves and what you do with your horse.
| Type | How it works | Best for | In stock from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting breastplate | Neck strap with two straps to the saddle D-rings and one girth strap | Hacking, hunting, general riding, traditional look | Shires Aviemore Hunt Weight Breastplate, £29.70 |
| Three-point / V-check | Y-shaped chest piece attaching at two saddle points and the girth | Jumping and schooling, sits clear of the shoulder | JHL V-Check Breastplate, £29.46 |
| Five-point | Adds two straps to the girth behind the elbow for extra hold | Cross-country, eventing, horses with flat withers | Shires Salisbury Five Point Breastplate, £80.99 |
| Hi-vis / reflective | Lightweight reflective webbing worn over the chest | Road hacking and dark mornings, worn alongside leather tack | Firefoot Reflective Breastplate, £11.46 |
Do I need elastic in the breastplate?
Elastic inserts let the chest strap give slightly as your horse stretches and gallops, which many riders prefer for jumping and faster work. In-stock elasticated options include the Rhinegold V Check Elasticated Breastplate at £43.26, the John Whitaker Eastwood V-Check Elastic Breastplate at £49.57 and the Velociti Rapida Elastic Breastplate at £55.80.
What if my horse is sensitive over the chest?
Padded and sheepskin-lined designs spread pressure over a wider area and are a sensible starting point for a horse that objects to a plain leather strap. In stock now: the Collegiate Comfitec Opulux 3-Point Padded Raised Breastplate With Running Attachment at £71.99 and the John Whitaker Valencia Premium 5-Point Sheepskin Breastplate at £111.23. Rubbing can also be a fit or a soundness issue, so if your horse is reactive to touch or has a sore patch, speak to your vet or saddle fitter before you keep riding in it.
How much should I spend?
Under £30 gets you a sound plain leather breastplate such as the Windsor Breastplate at £19.23, the Heritage Breastplate at £28.75 or the JHL V-Check Breastplate at £29.46. The £40-£70 band buys thicker leather and better hardware, like the Windsor Hunting Breastplate at £49.73 or the Cameo Equine Performance Breastplate at £59.95. Above £85 you are into competition leather and shaped ergonomic designs: the Shires Velociti LUSSO Elite Breastplate at £90.00, the LeMieux Arika Elasticated Breastplate at £89.95, the LeMieux Breastplate (D-Ring Attachment) at £99.95, the Premier Equine Norbello Hunter Breastplate at £108.00 and the Horseware Micklem Breastplate W/Martingale at £129.95.
What size breastplate should I order?
Breastplates follow the same Pony, Cob, Full, X-Full sizing as your bridle, so if your horse takes a Cob bridle, start with a Cob breastplate. Most of our range covers Pony to Full and several go up to X-Full, including the Whitaker Breastplate Ready To Ride at £46.27 and the Shires Velociti LUSSO Elite Elastic Breastplate at £90.00. Warmblood sizing is available on the Collegiate Comfitec Opulux 3-Point Padded Raised Breastplate at £71.99. Every design has adjustable buckles, so a size either way usually still fits.
Breastplate questions, answered
What does a horse breastplate actually do?
It links the saddle to the girth across the horse's chest and shoulders so the saddle cannot slide backwards. That matters most on horses with big shoulders and low withers, and in situations where the saddle is pulled back: steep hills, jumping, and fast work. It is a stabiliser, not a substitute for a correctly fitted saddle. If your saddle is moving a lot, book a saddle fitter as well as buying a breastplate.
What is the difference between a three-point and a five-point breastplate?
A three-point attaches at two saddle points and the girth. A five-point adds two extra straps that run back to the girth behind the elbow, which holds the saddle down as well as forward and keeps the chest piece from riding up. Three-point designs such as the Shires Salisbury Three Point Breastplate at £42.29 suit everyday schooling and jumping. Five-point designs such as the Shires Salisbury Five Point Breastplate at £80.99 or the Premier Equine Invorio 5 Point Breastplate at £147.60 are the usual choice for cross-country and eventing.
How tight should a breastplate be?
Snug, not tight. You should be able to slide a flat hand between the chest strap and your horse, and the neck strap should sit clear of the windpipe with roughly a hand's width of room. Check it again after ten minutes of work, because leather settles. A breastplate that is done up too tightly restricts the shoulder and can rub, so if you find marks or your horse shortens his stride, loosen it and reassess the fit.
Can I attach a martingale to a breastplate?
Yes. Many breastplates have a central ring or loop that takes a standing or running martingale attachment, which saves running two separate pieces of tack. Some come with the attachment included, such as the HKM Breastplate With Martingale at £43.99, the Horseware Micklem Breastplate W/Martingale at £129.95, the Eco Rider Hunt Breastplate with Martingale Attachment at £69.95 and the Collegiate Comfitec Opulux 3-Point Padded Raised Breastplate With Running Attachment at £71.99. Check your discipline's rules before competing, as martingale use is restricted in some classes.
Which breastplate size fits my horse?
Match your bridle size as a starting point: Pony, Cob, Full or X-Full. Ponies and small natives usually take Pony, most horses around 15hh to 16hh take Cob or Full, and 16.2hh upwards often needs Full or X-Full. Wide, chunky types such as warmbloods and heavier cobs may be better in a Warmblood-sized design like the Collegiate Comfitec Opulux 3-Point at £71.99. All buckles adjust, so there is room to fine-tune.
Do you sell hi-vis or reflective breastplates?
Yes. Reflective breastplates are lightweight and go over your normal tack for road hacking in poor light. In stock now are the Firefoot Reflective Breastplate at £11.46 in yellow, and the Shires Equi-Flector Breastplate at £14.40 in yellow, pink or orange in Pony/Cob and Cob/Full sizes. They are a visibility aid rather than a saddle stabiliser, so if you also need the saddle held forward, wear one alongside a leather breastplate.
Still deciding?
Tell us your horse's build, your saddle and what you do with him, and we will point you at the right shape and size. Get in touch and our team will help.
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Last reviewed 2026-07-26 by the Just Horse Riders team.