Dressage girths - how do you do them up when on board?!

[NooNoo59]

Hi I have just bought a dressage saddle, now I am 55 pretty stiff and short and cant reach down to do the girth up once I am board, do ride on my own a times, how do others manage?

 

[PorkChop]

Hmmm, don't think there is an easy answer I'm afraid. Do you have one side that is less stiff? So you tighten as much as you can and tuck the straps in on one side and then do the last hole or two on the other side once on board, then don't worry about tucking the ends in.

I know how you feel as there have been days after a fall for example that it is a real struggle - cue lots of huffing and puffing

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I found it difficult to start with, but with practice I could easily reach both sides.

 

[Cragrat]

Make sure your hat fits and is done up!


Sorry, not much help.

 

[Louby]

Im having the same issue with a 'normal' saddle Im used to a dressage saddle and its second nature to bend down and do the girth up but boy am I struggling with the normal saddle. Cant wait to get my dressage saddle back! I think you just get used to it

 

[kassieg]

with great difficulty !!

my legs dislocate & sometimes when I bend down to do the girth 1 pops out causing me incredible pain & i have to sort of slide off & start again!

I do it up as much as possible before I get on ! luckily my mare isn't 1 for blowing out so I'm normally ok

 

[Darkwater]

It can be difficult. I find it helps to have a girth that is slightly on the longer side - The further up the girth straps your girth is, the easier you will find it is to reach it. Otherwise, just make sure it is tightened as much as possible before getting on.

 

[Deltaflyer]

I'm also 55 and short (only 5ft) so when I got my first ever dressage saddle a few months ago I wondered how I'd manage doing the girth. I'm lucky that I'm still quite flexible so luckily don't find it a problem. My biggest problem is getting off!! LOL

Maybe you could find some sort of exercise that you could do that might help you become a bit more limber to help with this problem.

 

[gina2201]

Long arms! Having just ridden in my new dressage saddle today I tightened it as much as reasonable before getting on. Having a horse who will stand still after being mounted is a bonus and reaching down. Good point regarding a longer girth too.

 

[mandyroberts]

I don't - my horse knows I'm vulnerable and its dangerous. He stands for me to mount but if I try to do the girth it gets messy. On 'safe' horses I could reach by leaning forward and putting my leg back. I'm old & short too!

 

[Pinkvboots]

You could get the girth straps changed so they are short like a gp saddle.

 

[old hand]

Ditto the comments about a longer girth, and make sure you oil the straps regularly so it tightens easily.

 

[Sukistokes2]

Sorry , no help, I can't reach either. If hacking I do it up before getting up, if at a show I kidnap someone who looks horsey to do it for me.

 

[rara007]

I have a Wide pony with only a 18 Inch girth (flaps almost do up under him!) - I can't manage to reach that far under with a loose girth- his saddle slips round very easily at the best of time + I have an arthritic wrist anyway, that I got by trying to reach down playing games younger! So no, no help, I do it up before on and don't use 'fluff' that squashes down!

 

[DD265]

My boy tended not to stand still to have it done. I was working on training him (but being ridden infrequently it wasn't particularly effective) so if there was somebody about to help I'd ask.

Then I invested in a Flexi-girth and it doesn't need tightening once you're on.

 

[catkin]

You could get the girth straps changed so they are short like a gp saddle.

I've done this with mine, it's great.