80/16/1-2

Two identical breast-straps used on a farm at Woolhampton Cottage, Berkshire, where 3 pairs of Shire horses were kept.
These are two identical breast-straps used on the farm at Woolhampton Cottage, Woolhampton, Berkshire, where three pairs of Shire horses were kept. The brasses incorporate a crescent, heart and diamond in their designs. The breast strap joins the collar and the girth of the saddle between the two front legs. This strap is often referred to as a 'martingale' but a truer description is that of a breast plate. The breast plate of the heavy horse harness, if it were worn for any other reason than to carry decorations, helped to keep the collar from riding upwards or the girth from slipping backwards.

2 identical breast straps: leather; brass; good condition

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: Breastrap // Accession number: 80/16/-1-2 // Classification: Livestock, Horses harness // Negative number: // Acquisition method: Gift // Acquired from, date: Miss Blythe-Currie [...] // Store: // Condition: Good// Recorder, date: DJE, 25.2.80 // Description: Two identical breastraps consisting of long leather straps with a loop at each end to which is joined a wider piece of leather which supports the three brasses. The brasses incorporate a crescent, heart and diamond in their designs. The buckles are also of brass. // Dimensions: Overall length: 98cms // Associated information: Used on Woolhampton Cottage farm where 3 pairs of shire horses were used. // The breastrap joins collar and the girth of the saddle between the two front legs. This strap is often referred to as a 'martingale' but a truer description is that of breastplate or breastrap. The breastplate of the heavy horse harness, if it were worn for any other reason than to carry decorations, helped to keep the collar from riding upwards or the girth from slipping backwards // References: T. Keegan 'The Heavy Horse' 1973', Letter, MERL to Miss Blyth-Currie, 3 March 1980 – 'Dear Miss Blyth-Currie, // Here is a receipt for the items Mr. Brigden and myself picked up the other week. All the items have found a place in the museum collections, and we would like to thank you again for contacting us. // Yours sincerely, // David J. Eveleigh, // Museum Assistant.'