Dressage girth sizing

[Fruitcake]

I have an appointment for a fitting for a new saddle for mini cob next week. He currently has a GP, but I'm looking to get a dressage saddle for him. He's currently in a 42" long girth, but I want to be sure I have a suitable girth to try the new saddles.

Does the subtract 20" rule work? I have a selection of 22", 24" and 26" girths hanging around from the other horses. Am I right to hope at least one of those will be OK?

 

[Lady Jane]

It depends on the saddle. Make sure its long enough ie won't rub elbow. Your saddler should be able to advise. You could try your shorter girths to get the right measurement

 

[Barton Bounty]

I agree with LJ when I had a dressage saddle I used 22/24 and my boys in a 48/50 standard girth ?

 

[Fruitcake]

? I think 22" is the shortest I have. Obviously I'll get whatever length he needs long term, but just want to be sure I've got something to try the saddle with. I hope he's not like BB's horse as subtracting 26" would mean a 16"!

 

[Barton Bounty]

? I think 22" is the shortest I have. Obviously I'll get whatever length he needs long term, but just want to be sure I've got something to try the saddle with. I hope he's not like BB's horse as subtracting 26" would mean a 16"!

I thought it was very bizarre ??? but just sold them all a few months ago lol ?

 

[sbloom]

Your fitter should carry demos, ask them first as it would be a shame to get the wrong size. 22" is the smallest demo I carry, and the smallest I have needed for a dressage fitting. I've certainly never met a pony that genuinely needed anything as small as an 18" yet you see people buying them all the time.

Girth size is buckle end to buckle end, but the correct fitting is the largest overall length that will fit without interfering with your numnah/pad, so a different measurement. Always take into account how much the padding extends beyond the buckles for this reason, and there is no formula that works exactly enough for this especially as many people quoting a formula that works for them likely have a slightly too long long girth so subtract more inches than necessary for a short girth as well as not taking into account the padding (my customers mostly have as short a long girth as possible, better for stability).

 

[Fruitcake]

Your fitter should carry demos, ask them first as it would be a shame to get the wrong size. 22" is the smallest demo I carry, and the smallest I have needed for a dressage fitting. I've certainly never met a pony that genuinely needed anything as small as an 18" yet you see people buying them all the time.

Girth size is buckle end to buckle end, but the correct fitting is the largest overall length that will fit without interfering with your numnah/pad, so a different measurement. Always take into account how much the padding extends beyond the buckles for this reason, and there is no formula that works exactly enough for this especially as many people quoting a formula that works for them likely have a slightly too long long girth so subtract more inches than necessary for a short girth as well as not taking into account the padding (my customers mostly have as short a long girth as possible, better for stability).

Yes, I don’t intend to buy a new one before getting the saddle fitted. Hopefully one of the (many) spare I have should be OK - at least for trying. That’s really helpful about 22” usually being short enough, thanks. He’s definitely not a small pony. He’s only 13hh but is probably as wide as he is tall! (Not particularly fat, but a stocky little cob). There’s a selection of shapes from 22” to 26” lying around. I really should start to embrace eBay and start to move things on when I don’t need them: I practically have a tack shop!

 

[little_critter]

Your fitter should carry demos, ask them first as it would be a shame to get the wrong size. 22" is the smallest demo I carry, and the smallest I have needed for a dressage fitting. I've certainly never met a pony that genuinely needed anything as small as an 18" yet you see people buying them all the time.

Girth size is buckle end to buckle end, but the correct fitting is the largest overall length that will fit without interfering with your numnah/pad, so a different measurement. Always take into account how much the padding extends beyond the buckles for this reason, and there is no formula that works exactly enough for this especially as many people quoting a formula that works for them likely have a slightly too long long girth so subtract more inches than necessary for a short girth as well as not taking into account the padding (my customers mostly have as short a long girth as possible, better for stability).

Thanks for the ‘and doesn’t interfere with the saddle cloth’ bit. I’ve made sure to clear my horses elbows but the girth does just overlap the saddle cloth. Ill keep an eye out for the next size down.
I was wondering why so many people seemed to use what sounded to me to be too short girths. It seems I’m erring on the long side.

 

[sbloom]

Thanks for the ‘and doesn’t interfere with the saddle cloth’ bit. I’ve made sure to clear my horses elbows but the girth does just overlap the saddle cloth. Ill keep an eye out for the next size down.
I was wondering why so many people seemed to use what sounded to me to be too short girths. It seems I’m erring on the long side.

I have no idea why people go for such short girths when there's so much info around about buckles not being by the elbow. I think this idea that you take off a fixed amount from a long girth is part of it, and the buckle end to buckle end sizing plays a part too. If we have two sizes marked, including overall length, it would help a lot. And had more photos showing correct length girths on social media etc, a bit like the number of photos we're all seeing day after day with saddles up on the shoulder and tipping back, so leading to people putting saddles on too far forwards.

Mattes have photos showing a sheepskin girth up over the bottom of the pad, if your "too long" girth isn't causing an issue then you're probably fine, equally we know that everything can look fine but try a better set up and you feel the benefits so there's no firm answer on this one!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I like my dressage girth to be quite high so it's just below the bottom of the saddle cloth for reference it's a 28" and the horse is a 15.3 Arab who is quite deep through the girth.

It's probably good to try a few at different lengths all horses are different some will take offence to it in the wrong place but be fine if the buckles are sitting higher or lower.

My other Arab just didn't get on with a short girth at all I think its the way his built, very forward girth groove and his barrel is very round and not that deep, so the girth has no where to sit nicely so when I ordered him a new dressage saddle I had it made with short straps so I can use a long girth, his much happier this way so it made sense.

 

[Roxylola]

Charlie has never been anything less than 46 in a long girth and wears a 30 short so your selection should have something