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Cruppers & Britchen Straps

We are often ask about cruppers & britchen (or britchin') straps...what do they look like? are they considered mandatory tack on longears? do donkeys only use them? what about mules? where can they find photo or illustration references so they can build one for their model?

One highly recommended source is the book"The Definitive Donkey: A Textbook on the Modern Ass" by Betsy & Paul Hutchins, and available through the ADMS website, (see Hee Haw Book Service there). It's very informative, beautifully illustrated, and well worth the price.

Cruppers and/or britchen straps are NOT mandatory tack in the showring; they are just meant to be helpful and realistic because let's face it, donkeys in general are flat withered and very narrow along the back, rendoring saddles to slide around a bit. The use of Cruppers (and Britchen straps) can correct that, making for a safer ride. Mules in general also tend to inherit their Donkey parent low withers, and so can benefit from these same added tack incentives as well. That's why you often see cruppers and/or britchen straps on them. If the animal is particularly narrow, then a simple breastcollar might also be added. It will help stabilize the saddle position, keeping it from sliding backwards while the crupper/britchen gear stops the saddle from sliding forward.

Cruppers should be custom fit, and lie square center & flat atop the dorsal line of the animal. It begins at the base of the saddle where the strap first attaches itself to a special ring under the cantle, then runs down the dorsal line of the animal, following the rump crease where the leather then splits, circling under the tail, and attaching back onto itself on top (dock area). If the tail is pulled upright slightly, then the crupper is on too tight. If it dangles, it's too loose. Cruppers should lie flat and snug.

Generally speaking, Donkeys in Western type classes are ridden under McClellan or Australian Stock type saddles. These will be the ones most often seen with the additional crupper or britchen strap rigging. The same rings true with Mules and Hinnies, although the more traditional type western saddles with round or square skirts, can also be seen.

In English or gaited type classes, Donks as well as Mules and Hinnys will use regular Huntseat or Saddleseat type saddles, just like horses. Even in these conditions, you'll commonly see a crupper attached from the back of the huntseat saddle directly to the tail among longears. Britchin' straps however are only used on western type saddles.

Cruppers (and britchen gear) are normally made out of leather and have a series of rings, buckles and snaps, as illustrated on the left. When opting for a full britchen strap rigging, the crupper used will only be a partial one, beginning at the saddle base, running topside along the dorsal or spine, but stopping short of the tail. Instead, it attaches itself to a special heavy leather ring midpoint between the hips, where long leather hip straps hang down each side of the

animal, the bottom ends (of the hip straps & inside flank strap) coming together on the underside of the wide rump strap, connecting it with the back strap or partial crupper located topside.

The yoke itself fastens underneath the back jockey of the western or aussie saddle, with the ring, snap, and keeper following behind in ascending order.

Building a crupper or britchen rigging for your Brown Sunshine or Brighty model really isn't as complicated as it sounds. With a little practise, patience, and ingenuity, you'll have one downpat in no time!

(This Page last updated: November 30, 2000)