I use all 3. But it depends on your horse. I use the breast collar bc we do hills and I don't want the saddle to slip back. I use the front cinch for guarantee and a back cinch in the off chance the horse was to throw a buck.
I also like the way the saddle looks with a back cinch(thats the only real reason why I use it)
I use all 3 as well, though sometimes I go without the breast collar. The back cinch is great for "just in case" moments as it keeps the back of the saddle from tipping forward when going downhill and depending on the horse & saddle, that doesn't have to be a huge hill either.
I like the look of the breast collar but it also helps to keep the saddle in place and provides a little assistance if the saddle starts to slide to the side.
If you don't own a back cinch and breast collar yet and you're just going to be doing flat trails, I wouldn't worry about rushing out to buy them. I was told they aren't NEEDED unless you're doing actual work to help keep the saddle in place.
Most of my horses get just the front cinch. (none of my saddles have a back cinch...lmao). One horse gets a breast collar any time his saddle is on because you just look at him sideways and his saddle slides.
Husbands horse is fixing to get a breastcollar too, though, cause his saddle slides quite a bit.
It probaboy depends on the saddle, Mine is shorter so don't think a back cinch is needed fo rmuch. It does give you somewhere to tie the bottom od your saddle bag to keep it from flopping around.
Recently I am questioning the use of a breast strap. I never see them do much besides flap around and add some bling to your horse.
Seems like if it was tight enough to actually keep your saddle from going back it would be painfull or rub pretty bad. Maybe they are supposed to be that tight but I always see them with a couple inches of slack,
You always need a front cinch - it's what keeps you saddle on. I use the other two but the trick is to know how to adjust them otherwise they are only there for show.
The trails we ride make the rear cinch and a breast collar helpful.
I used all 3 this summer because I was riding all over hills and my saddle didn't fit so it would move around. The breastcollar helped quite a bit with keeping my saddle from sliding back when Abby got all sweaty. She also liked to poof out her belly so after riding for a short time, my back cinch was completely useless. Lately now that I've been using a saddle that fits, I've only been using a front cinch, but I've also onkly really donr arena work. Posted via Mobile Device
Just to kind of add to this back cinch buisness... I was watching a training video and the horse freaked out when to rope was tied there to get her use to the back cinch. She wasn't broke at all and hadn't really been handled to much prior to the training video. I am interested it using a back cinch for the just in case moments but to be honest don't want to really go through the whole process of a freaking out horse lol... Call me lazy but I trained Copper and just don't want to do anymore new things lol. Anywho... Copper is wonderful under the saddle and very resposive now... Do you think that he would react that way or just kinda be like... really mom... you're putting something else on me?
And I to answer I am a believer in breast collars...the more sercuity the better I think.