Hey everybody! Just wanted to see if anybody had any opinions on running with breast collars. The lady that helps me with my horses thinks they restrict the shoulders and she runs without them but doesn’t have any right now that run with a tie down. I agree they prolly do restrict the movement of the shoulder but I use a tie down. Anybody have thoughts on running without a breast collar but still running with the tie down? There’s no other option but to either run with it or without it right? Thanks everybody!!

Just tie a loop of light cord (very light)  around the horse's neck to hold up the tie down. Or, use a pulling collar, which leaves shoulders free

I definitely don't wanna start an argument or anything so I ask this purely out of curiousity and as respectful as possible. But would using a thin cord on his neck not put added pressure on his neck when he pulls or leans on the tie down in a run? I'm pretty sure the people we bought him from used this when we went to try him. I guess I just haven't seen to many people who do this. Or how would that work? Also thanks so much for the reply

A light weight pulling collar would work very well, and they free up the shoulders. But really a breast collar thats not real snug and set up a little higher with a strap up over the withers would work, they are called a wither strap, the strap helps to keep the Breastcollar off the point of shoulders. 

It would be like english riders use.  It doesn't pull on the neck, it just holds the tie down strap in place.  I hope this helps.

yes it does! Thanks so much! I think I'm gonna try and start using this instead of his breast collar. I don't ride him in a tie down when I'm just riding at home or slow working the pattern only in a run. Would you suggest working him in it a few times before a run just so we don't have any surprises?

If he's already use to a tie down, it's no different.

Couldn't you also argue that using a tie down is doing to restrict your horse's movement?

So if your friend is opposed to breastcollars, why is she okay with tie downs?

(honest question)

When adjusted correctly and when fit correctly, the breastcollar should not resctict movement. With that said, I always always use a wither strap with my breastcollars to keep the straps high enough when they go across the shoulder.

Personally, I would not feel safe running in a tie down without a breastcollar. Should the horse happen to trip and get a leg through the tie down strap, it's going to be a disaster. It's just a safety check to prevent the tie down strap from going too low in a situation like that.

What is the reason that you use a tie down for your horse, and why do you feel it helps? And what kind of tie down?

We use just a soft leather tie down. I try to keep it pretty loose. He's always used one as far as I know. He can get a little fired up and strung out in a run so it helps him kinda stifen up and he does lean on it some. I had not used a whither strap him but have used it on previous horses. She adjusted my tack a little and loosened up the breastcollar but I did feel like it was kinda low and not to mention he's off the track and is used to running with nothing on his shoulders. Honestly I am about to just loose the tie down one of these days but will have to work up the nerve. Because he has improved so much on his collection. I ran him without it when I first got him and he was real strung out and wouldn't hardly get set for his turn. She's not necessarily opposed to breast collars just believes the less chance of restriction up there the better. And I do agree with the tie down it does restrict forward motion probably which is why I try to keep it as loose as possible but still doing its job. 

Without some sort of breast collar etc, you are ASKING for a wreck if your horse should stumble or fall. I would never run a horse without some sort of string or breast collar to keep that tie down strap from flopping out in front ...... A breast collar that is properly adjusted will not restrict their shoulders! 

Yes I do not want a wreck and want the fastest safest runs we can make and will not run without something holding up his tie down. And that's what I thought with the breastcollar too loose it's hanging to low not allowing him to reach. And do not let the tie down so loose it's hanging down but loose enough to let him have some run but is still doing it's job. Do y'all use tie downs any other reason on the pattern but for balance, considering one had the proper buttons and was properly finished without any major issues? And how productive and safe is using a string to hold the tie down strap in place? Thanks!

To the OP, how are you using the tie down with a breast collar, are you running the tie down strap up under the breast collar or threw a keeper? 

Post a picture of how you are using the tie down on your horse and this will give us an ideal of what you are talking about with the breast collar being to loose.

this is about the best one I've got not great but hopefully it can show a bit. This was last summer. 

You can use a thin long belt around the neck and run your tie down through it. The breast collar is not hindering the shoulders. One leg is always in front of the other leaving the breast collar sitting at an angle. That breast collar keeps your saddle from sliding back cause your cinch is never tight. It stops the saddle from catapulting you into the dirt in a turn should your cinch break. It's a live saver...yours. use it.

Especially if you have the tie down loose, you have got to have a safety measure (the tie down). I personally prefer to have a loop of leather tied on to the front to run by tie down through. Some breastcollars come with an extra D ring on them for a tie down.

Here's an example of my horse. I prefer the more narrow type breastcollars and I use the wither strap to keep it up higher so it's not going to interfere with shoulder movement. But you also really should not have your breastcollar tight enough to restict shoulder movement anyway. I like my breastcollar just as another safety feature .... like heaven forbid my cinch would break during a run or something. (which would be a disaster anyway .... but maybe would help).

picture:

My horse with a tie down

I only use a tie down when I make a run. I started doing that last fall. Once in a while, she gets a little "push nose" in the air during the run (usually coming around the 2nd barrel) or sometimes coming into the arena. Not bad, but we've done a little better with the tie down to prevent that at speed, and we just keep working on things in slow work. I despise running with a tie down but it's working for now and what she needs for now, so we're rolling with it.

Tiany Schuster has won a lot of money with a tie down supported by a leather string and no breast collar

I have used the light leather loop around the neck several have mentioned with one of mine. I had my pads custom made and just tied a loop of leather in the hole in the front of the pad and hooked the "tie down holder" to the front of the pad which kept it in place (didn't move up and down the neck) and put no pressure on the shoulders. It worked like a charm. I don't have a good picture of it, but it worked for me.