Are shoulder relief girths good?

His owner/trainer has started using my StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth when she rides him and she was impressed with the quality, comfort and design of this girth. I have been very impressed overall with this girth. It's very high quality and really easy to keep clean.

Do I need a shoulder relief girth?

Does every horse need the Shoulder Relief Girth? No, some horses are lucky enough to have the conformation perfectly shaped for saddle fit. However, many horses do need it, and sadly there are way more horses that feel the pain of interference from the saddle than you might imagine.

What is a comfort girth?

The Equiport Comfort Girth is made from high quality, soft leather and is padded for extra comfort and to help prevent rubbing. Cross elastic inserts ensure even pressure distribution over a wide area, and the girth is shaped for a comfortable fit to allow free movement of the horse's elbow and shoulder.

Are elasticated girths good?

Having a girth with too much elastic can be as detrimental as a girth with no elastic. If it has too much give, it will allow the saddle to move too much as if your girth was too loose. So the elastic must be very sturdy without too much give. Condition of the girth is also important.

Why are dressage girths shorter?

Short girths are designed for saddles with long billets. Most dressage riders prefer a short girth because it keeps the area underneath the thighs and/or knees bulk-free. The downside is that the buckles are located farther down, directly on the horse's body.

Grand Prix Rider Kim Gentry

Are anatomical girths worth it?

A decent anatomical girth is well worth the investment. Anatomical girths come in a range of sizes and styles to suit most disciplines, breeds of horses, and workloads. However the greatest benefits can be seen in horses with big shoulder movements where the saddle will be secured firmly away from the scapula.

Is horse girth too tight?

To get an idea of how tight your particular girth needs to be given all the variables I mentioned above, check the position of your saddle now and then throughout your ride. If it tends to slip to one side or backward toward your horse's tail, the girth may need to be a hole tighter.

How should a girth fit a horse?

A correctly shaped girth should displace pressure as evenly as possible along its length. Ideally, it should have a wider surface area along the sternum of the horse, which is the strongest point of contact.

What is a Monoflap girth?

These girths are designed to work with a monoflap saddle and may have elastic ends or non elastic ends. These girths are shorter and often come with a belly guard area. Sizes are usually 20-32 inches. Monoflap girths can be synthetic or leather.

Why is my saddle sliding forward?

If the centre of gravity of the saddle is too far back right from the start, the saddle is again likely to slip forward when the horse is in motion. While riding, the saddle will make its way forward inch by inch. It is also possible that a saddle slips forward because it is too wide.

Where should western saddle sit on horse?

Which way does the girth go?

Make sure you fit the girth with the curved section facing forward (towards the forelimbs). The front of the girth is clearly marked. 7. For a short (dressage or event girth) fit the longest length possible so the buckles fasten away from the pressure-sensitive area behind the elbow.

What is a forward girth groove?

A forward girth groove means the girth sits in front of where the girth points fall. Usually, we would recommend this girth for horses only, however, in some cases, this girth can be used on ponies too (particularly on a jumping saddle).

What's the average size cinch for a horse?

Most horses are a 24-26" cinch, no matter what their height is. Some signs that your cinch may be too long include your horse being cinchy and even turning to bite you when your are cinching up.

What does anatomical girth mean?

Anatomical girths are designed to allow the saddle to sit further back off the shoulders, whilst still allowing the girth straps to line up with the girth buckles.

Which way does an anatomical girth sit?

If used correctly, the anatomical shape of the girth sits forward, in between the horses front legs in the forward girth grove, which we are finding is becoming increasingly more common amongst a lot of horses and ponies. This stablises the saddle and reduces the need for the saddle to shoot up the neck.

Why does a saddle have 3 girth straps?

The 1st & 4th girthing can sometimes help with lateral stability on rounder horses. The 1st & & 3rd girthing options are sometimes good for ponies and horses with no withers and high Spring ribs, these can help prevent a saddle slipping forwards.

Why do dressage saddles have long girth straps?

Girth in a dressage saddle is short. Although, the straps are long. It helps the rider experience close contact with their legs. The longer straps also ensure that the girths are buckled underneath the saddles, and not below the rider's legs.

Are girths measured from buckle to buckle?

Girths are measured from end of buckle to end of buckle, i.e. the full length, and normally come in two-inch increments. However, taking your old girth into the shop will ensure there's no guesswork.