Do things like fly veils, breast plates, and stud girths, affect a horses performance?
This is a good question. I think it may depend on where you are riding, and what the goal is. For example, for riding out on the trails it would differ from what is needed in competition. Bits, saddles, breast plates, etc. are all distractions. But they may be needed to accomplish goals. If by “stiff” you mean restricted, then all tack makes a horse “stiff” to some degree. Fly veils can prevent the distraction of flies, but produce distraction and irritation from the veil itself. It’s about determining which is the lesser of evils. Breast plates pull and tug on the chest, but they also keep saddles from slipping backward, so which distraction is worse? I don’t know what stud girths are, so I can’t comment on that. But I believe that every device affects a horse’s performance, and depending on the situation, it can enhance it or detract from it.
