Breast Collar or Crupper?

This is one of those questions that has popped up in our mail several times, so we thought we’d address it here in our blog.

It’s important to get this right because these two saddle accessories are designed to prevent the opposite problem.

The crupper is a strap attached to the back of the saddle that goes around the base of the horse’s tail. It’s designed to keep a saddle from slipping forward, especially in cases of steep descents. A horse has to be introduced to the feel of a crupper and desensitized before hitting the trails.

The breast collar is a combination of straps that go around the front of the horse and attach to the saddle. Its purpose is to prevent the saddle from slipping backwards. Breast collars are the more common and popular of the two accessories as they help stabilize a saddle, an important asset for both novice riders and professionals involved in competition or real ranch work.