Dressage Girths caused large rub.

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jaysh

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I had to hack my horse out in her dressage saddle, it was only for a hour & half hack but she has now got a really nasty girth rub right on her elbow.
I have been using a really expensive leather padded dressage girth. its not the buckle area, its lower down, blood & hair stuck to it, poor horse must have been in so much pain.
Obviously wont ride her now until it heals but i tried the saddle on today with a much thinner dressage girth to see how that would sit with her and the cream i put on her wound touched the girth when i walked her a couple of strides. The saddle is in the correct place, it wont go back but the girth is rubbing the wound when her leg comes back.
Where exactly should the dressage girth sit? How high should the buckles be up her side?

Ive looked at some photos on google and they all vary, some sit with the buckle right at the elbow, others higher up.

Any ideas what i can do/use on her?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks
 
My instructor looked at my various girths, when we were trying saddles the other day and she used the length of girth which put the buckles further up, as in not right behind the elbow.
Maybe something with sheepskin might help? I have a sheepy cover on my youngster's girth as he's a fussy so and so and will make faces when you do up girths anyway, much worse if no sheepskin!
 
Thanks ecrozier, I normally ride her in her barefoot western with a fluffy professionals choice cinch and from hours of hacks, she has never had a rub before.

Another question....do you measure dressage girths from buckle to buckle or from the actual end of girth. Mine measures 26" buckle to buckle but the padded leather comes past that and measures to 29", i need to get her a longer one i think aswell.
 
Buckle should be above the elbow. Some dressage saddles offer shorter straps to avoid this - although it means the buckle is under the saddle flap I can't see a problem with that.
Would also make tightening the girth easier, when on board.
 
Funnily enough my boy's long girth for his jump saddle is a professional's choice one. When I can afford it I will be buying the dressage one too.
 
My boy's skin kept pinching and rubbing under all his girths and the only one I found that has never rubbed him is the Stubben string girths :)
 
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