What part of the horse is the girth?

A girth, sometimes called a cinch (Western riding), is a piece of equipment used to keep the saddle in place on a horse or other animal. It passes under the barrel of the equine, usually attached to the saddle on both sides by two or three leather straps called billets.

Where should my girth sit?

Forget the old rule of thumb that the girth should sit one hand-width behind the elbow. Each horse has a different conformation and the correct position depends on the horse's individual anatomy and saddle fit.

What side does the girth go on?

In 2013, a study on the girth revealed that the pressure points of the girth were located on the caudal (rear) side of the elbow and across the sternum.

Where should a saddle and girth sit on a horse?

Once the saddle is in the correct position, the girth should sit in the horse's natural girth groove and attach to the billet straps, which it lines up with vertically. It's imperative that the girth is attached to the correct straps; if none of the straps point directly to the girth, then new ones need to be added.

What part of the saddle is the cinch?

Pull up the Cinch Strap

The cinch strap is located underneath the fender of the saddle on the offside. The ring you will be tying it to should be easily seen and accessed as long as you hooked the left stirrup over the saddle horn.

Girth Buckle Placement - How comfortable is your girth for your horse?

What is a saddle girth?

A girth is a very important addition to your saddle. Without it, your saddle is of little use. A girth is a broad strap of material like webbing, leather, or cotton that goes around the horse to secure the saddle onto the horse's back.

How tight should a girth be on a horse?

It is recommended, therefore, that girth tightness be no more than 22 pounds when the horse is standing still. At this tightness the girth will be snug against your horse's body but you will still be able to slide three fingers underneath it.

How should a horse's girth fit?

Converting Between Long and Dressage Girth Lengths

If you know your horse's girth size and you need to switch between a long and a short girth, add or subtract 20 inches. For example, if you use a 48-inch girth with your jumping saddle, you should try a 28-inch girth with your dressage saddle.

Which side of horse does the elastic go on a girth?

You'll want to attach the left side of your girth or the elastic end to the left side of your saddle. On this side, tighten the girth considerably; however, always make sure that your buckles are always on the sale holes of the first and third billet.

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.

Do girths hurt horses?

It extends the length of your horse's underside all the way up into the girth area. The delicate balance of the hindgut is easily disrupted for many reasons, causing minor pain at best and serious conditions like ulcers and colic at worst. Many assume a girthing problem is related to the stomach.

Can you cinch a horse too tight?

Riding with your cinch too loose can be a big problem for you, causing your saddle to slip; while fastening the cinch too tightly can cause a big problem for your horse by making him sore or giving him girth galls or even a hemotoma.

How do you tell what size girth your horse needs?

How to determine your cinch size: Measure your horse from the center of the underside of his chest in the girth area. Bring the tape up to just below the widest part of his ribcage (about 4" above and behind the elbow). Multiply this measurement by two and you will have a good idea of what size cinch your horse needs.

What is the back of the saddle called?

Cantle: The back of the saddle that gently curves upwards for backward seat support. Twist: The “twist” is the part of the saddle tree that sits just below the pommel in front of the “seat” of the saddle (circled in the image). This is a part of the saddle that determines how the saddle sits between the rider's legs.

Where is the Latigo on a saddle?

And most saddles have a latigo (the long leather or nylon strap) on the on-side and an off billet (a shorter strap with holes in it) on the off-side.

What does the girth do for horses?

The girth is designed to keep the saddle on the horse, keeping it secure and to prevent it from slipping from side to side. A horse's girth attaches by buckles to your saddles' “billet straps”. These are the three straps underneath the top flap, on each side of the saddle.

What is the strap under the horse called?

Cinch: The strap that goes around a horse's belly to secure the saddle in place. This is the Western-style term for the strap. In English riding, it's called a girth. Saddle blanket: A blanket used to pad a saddle, more for the horse's comfort than the rider.

Do saddles come with a girth and stirrups?

Unlike Western saddles, English saddles do not usually come with stirrups – you will have to buy these separately. Girth – while the girth is not technically part of the saddle, without it, your saddle is useless. The girth is what secures the saddle to the horse's back.

Why does my saddle slip sideways?

Make sure you have sensible tension on your girth, a saddle slipping sideways is often caused by having the girth too loose, many horses expand the chest when the girth is first tightened, once mounted circle a couple of times then re-tighten the girth.