Attaching the girth, do you use straps 1 and 3 or 1 and 2?

I have a wintec 500 and it seems there is too big a distance between 1 and 3, hence why they don't do up on the same hole. Will check the webbing and see if I can use 1 and 2. I would ask a saddler but live in France and they don't seem to be very common here. Will try also contacting Wintec direct.

Also I have never heard of putting on bridle first, always do it the other way around!!!!!
 
I use what ever the saddler tells me to use on that specific horse/pony which depends on the saddle, it's fit, and the shape of the horse in question.
 
i always use 1 and 3.......i was worried because 1 and 3 go up to different holes (1st one can go to 5 and 3rd only to 4) but she said that was absolutley fine and due to the natural stretch in the leather
 
I do 1 and 3 too - always have - just thought it evened out the pressure more. However I have to be awkward and say that I have 4 straps on my saddle....

I am ignoring the very front one though as it is very forward and believe it may have been added for a very strange shaped horse???

Also, I too put saddle on 1st when tied up outside stable - just because I like to leave her for a min before tightening up girth and also it is easier to do that than undo headcollar, put on bridle, do up headcollar, put on saddle, undo headcollar. Just put on saddle, undo headcollar, put on bridle, tighten up girth and go....

However, if she is in the stable I "catch" her with the bridle first. I suppose if I used a martingale though I would have to put the bridle on first. Cannot see why it would be a henous crime though.....??
 
I was always taught to use 1 & 3, and always have done. No idea why though :p

On a horse WITH a martingale, I put the bridle on first, on a horse WITHOUT a martingale, I put the saddle on first.
 
Last edited:
I mostly use 1 and 3 just because, also I saddle first however at a pony club centre I help at his is a big no no as horsey could run off with saddle when being bridled and potentially lie down with it, saddle costs more to replace than a bit of broken bridle in that situation.
 
On my horse i do 1 and 3 as saddle fitter told me to do so when he fitted the saddle but on other horses have done 1 and 2, depends on saddle and horse. As long as you do it so you have girth attached to the two different pieces of webbing so on most saddles dont do 2 and 3 as this is not safe.
 
Why not saddle before bridle? I always do this while my mare chews away at her haynet so I can then tighten the girth slowly without her complaining.

Is it a safety thing?


Superstition... pure and simple lol. He is a very old fashioned cob dealer and "luck" is every thing lol
 
1 and 3. If tacking up a horse with martingale or breastplate, I put this on first, then the saddle and always the bridle last. I probably find it easier this way as my mare is such a fidgit and will rub or scrape her bridle which would end up in a right mess if I put it on first!
 
I use the first and second ones on the left and the second and third ones on the right. I was advised to do this by my saddler as my boy's saddle slips slightly to the right, and this helps to keep it in the middle.
 
Usually 1 & 3 because, I was always taught if 1 snaps, you can move that girth strap back to 2, and if three snaps you can move it forward to 2. If you have them on 1&2, and 1 snaps, you have to undo 2 (so get off and undo girth)

But, just to confuse things, I have mine on 2&3, because they are 'actually' 1&3 but at some point somebody's taken the middle one off and reattached it as a point strap :D

J&C
 
Top