What is a Horse Breast Collar?
A breast collar for horses, sometimes called a breast girth or breast strap, is an instrumental piece of riding equipment. It helps to keep the tack in place on horses with flat rib cages and broad shoulders, like the Shire horse. Its primary purpose is to enhance the safety of the rider.
What is an Equine Breast Collar Used for?
From a safety perspective, horse breast collars are essential. They provide a sense of security in the event of an accident, giving the rider time to dismount before the saddle slips off the horse. Additionally, they offer a firm base to hold onto, which is particularly useful for beginner riders and racers.
Despite this usefulness, breast collars for horses have also become a popular fashion statement, with many horse owners using them purely for aesthetics.
Our Preferred Horse Breast Collar
We picked A&K L'YDIA LED Horse Breastplate Collar-USB Rechargeable, 3 Lighting Modes Adjustable Reflective Elastic Night Flashing Light Bar Harness for Equestrian Show (Yellow-Green) as our favorite pick for several reasons.
To begin with, this breast collar is versatile. You can use it in horse shows when walking your horse at night and when galloping your horses. In other words, it spells safety for you and your horse.
This horse breast strap is also adjustable. If you find it deficient, you can contact its makers for a replacement or a refund.
Other Favorite Picks at a Glance
- A&K L'YDIA LED Horse Breastplate Collar-USB Rechargeable, 3 Lighting Modes Adjustable Reflective Elastic Night Flashing Light Bar Harness for Equestrian Show (Yellow-Green) (Best cross-body horse breast collar)
- Turquoise Cross Turquoise Beaded Collection (Best leather horse breast collar)
- Tough 1 Royal King Working Breast Collar (Best double-stitched horse breast collar)
- Weaver Leather Turquoise Cross Breast Collar (Best cowhide horse breast collar)
- Western Western Mohair 25-Strand Breast Collar W/Harness Leather Uptugs 55RT02 (Best western horse breast collar)
- Lussoro Genuine Leather Beautiful Tooled Tripping Horse Collar With Cutout Cross Steer Breast Collar With Tooled Finish (Best tool-finished horse breast collar)
- Frienda LED Light Horse Breastplate Collar Adjustable Visibility Tack Equestrian Safety Gear With 3 D-Ring 3 Lighting Modes for Night Horse Back Riding Horse Show (1 Piece, Blue) (Best LED-lit horse breast collar)
- Western Nylon Wide Straight Breast Collar (Best nylon horse breast collar)
- Showman Celtic Knot Headstall and Breast Collar Set With Rawhide Braided Accents (Best braid-accented horse breast collar)
- Henri de Rivel HDR Pro 5 Point Elastic Breastplate Horse Black (Best show horse breast collar)
- Showman Black and White Beaded Headstall and Breast Collar With Ombre Fringe (Best fancy horse breast collar)
The Best Breast Collars for Horses Under the Microscope
A&K L'YDIA LED Horse Breastplate Collar-USB Rechargeable, 3 Lighting Modes Adjustable Reflective Elastic Night Flashing Light Bar Harness for Equestrian Show (Yellow-Green): Best Cross-Body Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The A&K L’YDIA LED Horse Breastplate Collar features a design that features premium fluorescent retro-reflective webbing and 2,835 lamp beads. It is highly visible from up to 218.7 yards (200 meters) away when it lights. Also, it has three light modes: fast flashing light, long bright light, and slow flashing light.
This adjustable Y-shaped light strip has a universal circular joint to adjust the fit to the horse’s size.
After buying this horse collar, you can enjoy 24-hour customer service support. Also, it is a risk-free purchase with a no-questions-asked refund or replacement if unsatisfied.
Lastly, this horse collar is perfect for horse shows, walking horses at night, and galloping horses. It ensures they can safely move in the dark.
- Brand: A&K L’YDIA
- Style/s: Cross-body
- Material: Nylon
- Closure type: Button
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.43 x 1.89 inches (21.6 x 13.8 x 4.8 centimeters)
- Weight: 7.76 ounces (220 grams)
Turquoise Cross Turquoise Beaded Collection: Best Leather Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
If you are looking for a fancy breast collar for your horse, the Turquoise Cross Turquoise Beaded Collection is one of the best options. This beaded collar with intricate carved floral accents is both pretty and well-made of durable leather.
However, some reviews suggest it may run small, but it is adjustable to fit most average-sized breeds (13.3 to 17.3 hands or 1.4 to 1.8 meters tall). Made in India, the collar is relatively inexpensive and has received praise from some users for its quality.
- Brand: Turquoise Cross
- Style/s:
- Pony straight breast collar
- Browband headstall
- Ladies’ spur straps
- Noseband
- Pony browband headstall
- Sliding ear headstall
- Straight breast collar
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 5 x 6 x 15 inches (12.7 X 15.2 X 38.1 centimeters)
- Weight: 1.05 pounds (0.476 kilograms)
Tough 1 Royal King Working Breast Collar: Best Double-Stitched Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The Tough 1 Royal King Working Breast Collar offers style, beauty, and functionality. It boasts three color options (medium, dark, and light oil), stained edges, and fine imported leather material.
Also, it offers a perfect fit for petite horses such as Arabians. Lastly, it is double-stitched for extra durability, offering great value for its price.
- Brand: Tough 1
- Material: Leather
- Closure type: Drawstring
- Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 4 inches (15.24 x 10.16 x 10.16 centimeters)
- Weight: 10 ounces (283.5 grams)
Weaver Leather Turquoise Cross Breast Collar: Best Cowhide Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The Weaver Leather Turquoise Cross Breast Collar features genuine cowhide, making it to have superior quality. The equine breast collar features medium oil color. Lastly, non-rust stainless steel hardware completes its look.
- Brand: Weaver Leather
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 20.3 x 2.3 x 4.7 inches (51.6 x 5.8 x 11.9 centimeters)
- Weight: 1.41 pounds (0.64 kilograms)
Western Western Mohair 25-Strand Breast Collar W/Harness Leather Uptugs 55RT02: Best Western Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The Western Western Mohair 25-Strand Breast Collar has a design that fits an average-sized horse (13.3 to 17.3 hands or 1.4 to 1.8 meters tall). It features premium harness leather up-tugs and a pinch guard center. Also, it has rust-free stainless steel hardware.
- Brand: Challenger
- Style/s: Western
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 12.76 x 9.45 x 3.23 inches (32.4 x 24 x 8.4 centimeters)
- Weight: 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms)
Lussoro Genuine Leather Beautiful Tooled Tripping Horse Collar With Cutout Cross Steer Breast Collar With Tooled Finish: Best Tool-Finished Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The Lussoro Genuine Leather Beautiful Tooled Tripping Horse Collar comes from top-notch genuine leather. It also features a beautiful floral hand-tooled finish.
Additionally, this breast horse collar has rust-free stainless steel D rings and buckles and soft leather padding for comfort and safety. Lastly, its double stitching ensures durability, and the size is suitable for a full-grown horse.
- Brand: Lussoro
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 3 inches (17.8 x 12.7 x 7.62 centimeters)
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilograms)
Frienda LED Light Horse Breastplate Collar Adjustable Visibility Tack Equestrian Safety Gear With 3 D-Ring 3 Lighting Modes for Night Horse Back Riding Horse Show (1 Piece, Blue): Best LED-Lit Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
This blue Frienda LED Light Horse Breastplate Collar is perfect for making a lasting impression during horseback riding, horse shows, parades, and more. It also ensures your horse lights up in the dark.
This horse breast collar features a sturdy and durable nylon material for excellent abrasion resistance and cleaning convenience. It also has adjustable three square buckles to accommodate your horse’s chest circumference. Additionally, it’s suitable for horses between 12.2 and 18 hands high (HH).
The built-in LED light features three lighting modes (constant, quick-, and slow flashing), powered by two replaceable CR2016 button batteries. However, the battery box is not waterproof.
- Brand: Frienda
- Material: Nylon
- Closure type: Button
- Dimensions: 8.03 x 6.38 x 1.61 inches (20.4 x 16.2 x 4.1 centimeters)
- Weight: 0.8 pounds (0.44 kilograms)
Western Nylon Wide Straight Breast Collar: Best Nylon Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
This classic Western Nylon Wide Straight Breast Collar features a three-piece body and stainless steel hardware and dees. Crafted with premium ¼-inch (0.64 centimeters) thick neoprene and covered in nylon, it is easy to clean with just a damp cloth.
Also, this adjustable collar can fit several horse sizes and is available in a sleek black color.
- Brand: Aime Imports
- Material: Nylon, stainless steel, neoprene
- Dimensions: 15 x 6 x 3.5 inches (38.1 x 15.2 x 8.9 centimeters)
- Weight: 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms)
Showman Celtic Knot Headstall and Breast Collar Set With Rawhide Braided Accents: Best Braid-Accented Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
This stunning Showman Celtic Knot Headstall and Breast Collar Set features double-stitched, medium-oil leather for durability. It also has Celtic knot designs, horsehair tassels enhancements, and rawhide braiding for beauty. It is perfect for a unique look that won’t soon fade away!
This browband also features 5/8 x 7-inch (1.6 x 17.8 centimeters) leather split reins, allowing a horse to feel comfortable and relaxed.
- Brand: Showman
- Style/s: Browband
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 15 x 12 x 3 inches (38.1 x 30.5 x 7.6 centimeters)
- Weight: 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms)
Henri de Rivel HDR Pro 5 Point Elastic Breastplate Horse Black: Best Show Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
The Henri de Rivel Pro 5 Point Elastic Breastplate martingale with running attachment is an excellent choice for your horse while jumping because it is elastic.
Crafted with superior leather and durable stainless steel hardware, these martingales come in black and Australian nut colors. They also feature fleece padding at the shoulder area for maximum comfort.
The running attachment ensures your horse is secure and confident during jumps, providing a reliable and safe experience for ultimate performance.
- Brand: Henri de Rivel
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 26.5 x 14 x 2 inches (67.31 x 35.6 x 5.1 centimeters)
- Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilograms)
Showman Black and White Beaded Headstall and Breast Collar With Ombre Fringe: Best Fancy Horse Breast Collar
About the Product
This Showman Black and White Beaded Headstall and Breast Collar set features a medium leather headstall. It also has a breast collar with black and white beaded inlay, black stone conchos, and a stunning white-to-black ombre fringe for a fancy look.
Additionally, this set comes with 5/8 x 7-inch (1.6 x 17.8 centimeters) split leather reins that allow a horse to relax.
- Brand: Showman
- Material: Leather
- Dimensions: 21 x 12 x 5 inches (53.34 x 30.5 x 12.7 centimeters)
How to Find the Best Breast Collar for Horses
If you are looking forward to buying the best breast collar for your horse, consider the following aspects:
Size
When purchasing a breast collar, it is essential to ensure it fits properly. To do this, check the chest area and ensure that a fist can fit between the chest and collar, with room for a hand between the withers and straps.
If the tug straps wrap around the saddle’s D rings (found on both sides of the saddle, below the cantle) several times, the collar is too big. Additionally, you must ensure that there is not too much room where the collar is not snug against the horse’s body or too little space where it is too tight and uncomfortable.
If buying the Y-shape model, ensure no gap in the collar from the girth between the horse’s legs. With the right fit, the breast collar should be snug against the horse’s body without rubbing.
Style
Today, there are numerous varieties of breast collars on the market.
For those participating in English riding, the “hunting” or “stockman” style is a perfect choice, which looks like a ‘Y.’ This type of breast collar is typically ideal for hunters, endurance horses, show jumpers, and eventers.
Alternatively, there is the adjustable buckle-fastening collar, which provides a more secure and personalized fit. The main difference between the two is that the “Y” collar attaches to the saddle with scissor snaps, but this one has a buckle.
Material
We highly recommend investing in leather for the best durability, comfort for the horse, and longevity. Even though it may be an expensive option, it is worth the investment since lower-quality materials can cause discomfort for the horse and be unable to support the rider.
That said, many riders are happy with other materials such as neoprene, oxford cloth, nylon, and rope.
Price
When shopping for breast collars, affordability is sometimes not a top priority over quality. Nevertheless, make sure the collars you buy have a reasonable price.
Durability
The primary purpose of this equipment is to ensure the horse’s comfort and rider’s safety. So, always carefully examine all the collars you want to buy to ensure they are durable and safe.
Appearance
A breast collar’s aesthetics is highly important in our image-oriented society. Even though sometimes this aspect is not a primary focus, you may want to consider it when buying breast collars.
Consumer Feedback
It is important to find out what other consumers think of your preferred breast collars. The reviews often give a much better indication of the product’s quality than any advertisement ever can.
Why Trust The Horse’s Guide
We are horse enthusiasts who research equines, how to care for them, and how to get the best from them as their owners, caretakers, and lovers. For this reason, we carry out extensive research on anything we write about them, especially products associated with their overall well-being and performance.
We also consider all reviews about the equestrian products we write about to ensure our information reflects the users’ experience. Importantly, some of us are horse owners with experience with the products we write about. Additionally, we liaise with horse owners for new or primary information.
Final Thoughts
Admittedly, the breast collars for horses we have reviewed are some of the best on the market. However, we pick A&K L'YDIA LED Horse Breastplate Collar-USB Rechargeable, 3 Lighting Modes Adjustable Reflective Elastic Night Flashing Light Bar Harness for Equestrian Show (Yellow-Green) as the best one.
This horse breast strap is versatile and adjustable. It also gives you a money-back guarantee. However, the others that we reviewed are equally good.
Now that you know the best breast collars you can buy for your horse, it is time to improve your safety and the safety of your horse by buying one.
