Breastplates

[Elissa]

Due to my horse's lack of withers :) I'm interested in buying a breastplate to help keep the saddle from slipping. By a miraculous stroke of luck I bought a second hand saddle that fit perfectly! However, (my ignorance of saddles is about to show) it doesn't have any rings on it to attach a breastplate to. Does this mean my saddle is dressage, or for some reason it just doesn't have rings on it? Is there anything I can do about it, either in attaching rings (haha) or being able to attach a breastplate anyhow?
Thanks in advance.

[summer]

First of all, you need to be sure that a breastplate is what you need. A breastplate only keeps your saddle from slipping back, something that won't necessarily be a problem for a horse with a shallow wither. If your saddle is slipping forward, then you need either a crupper, or an insert under your saddle that will build up the pommel and discourage the saddle from sliding forward. If your saddle is slipping from side to side, the problem is more likely to be in the shape of your horse's back (or maybe he's a bit tubby?) Again, there are special saddle pads that can help. You need to get a specialist saddle fitter to come out and check that your saddle really does fit (no matter what the shape of the horse, a correctly fitting saddle shouldn't slip on a fit horse). They can give you advice on how to meake sure your saddle is the right one for your horse, and on any other equipment you need. If you need to fit anything to your saddle, they can also put rings on (useful for clipping a hoof pick to when hacking, anyway)or suggest if a breastgirth (which doesn't need clips) is better for you. Most saddle fitters will come out free of charge, and most large saddlers have a qualified resident saddler or will be able to put you in touch with one. Are you in the UK? The is an organisation here, the Federation of master saddlers, that will be happy to help you.