EMPATHY Contour Breastplate by ZILCO

THE MK4 EMPATHY CONTOUR BREASTPLATE BY ZILCO 

Reasearch & Development/Design features

The unique, improved MK4 Empathy breastplate is a careful blend of ancient and proven harness systems, with lightweight materials that combine strength, with low maintenance and maximum comfort.  Research into the ideal breastplate shape has been meticulously researched right back to the days of the charioteers of ancient Greece. Studies of load bearing areas and the horse's skeletal and muscular anatomy have all been taken into consideration. The result is a breastplate that combines the load bearing and efficiency of a full breastplate with lightness and a more versatile and adjustable fitting.

The MK4 Empathy works with the horse's conformation instead of against it, by allowing greater freedom of movement through the shoulder area, enabling the horse to pull a load with minimum restriction to limb movement or pressure on the shoulder joint.

The trace buckle now features a pivoting ring which allows a more comfortable fit across the shoulder, regardless of the line of draft. This allows the collar to rotate with the movement of the horse's shoulders, and allows greater freedom of stride. 

Suitable for:

• Facilitating best possible paces and freedom of movement in any horse or pony.
• Animals with a low headset, who benefit greatly from this design.
• Animals with shoulder lameness from strains, old injuries or stiffness in the shoulder.
• Horses or ponies that tend to shorten their stride when in draft. 

Materials and Fittings:

• To maintain the curved shape, it is sturidly made with a central core of Zilco strapping. This ensures maximum strength under the toughest of marathon conditions.  
• Soft padded waffle lining on the bearing surfaces of the breastplate, wither and martingale.  
• Quick release connection for traces
• All stainless steel fittings. 

This breastcollar set comes complete with:  Breastplate, Wither Strap, Martingale and Quick Release Trace fittings, all of which are available for separate purchase.  It is also available as an OPTION in all Zilco Classic Harness and is standard in the SL Sportz Set for Shetland sized ponies.

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