Extra strap on a Wintec Isabell?

[Pippity]

I'm temporarily riding in a borrowed Wintec Isabell, and it has a weird extra strap on the bottom of the saddle flaps, evidently designed to be fastened over the girth.

Does anybody know what the hell it's meant to do?

All I know is it's a sodding nuisance! My share horse inflates like a balloon, so I end up tightening the girth about four holes in the first five minutes of riding. The extra strap can't be tightened from on board, so I end up with it flapping around.

On top of that, I'm a short arse and it invariably trips me up when I'm carrying the saddle.

The damn thing would have been chopped off by now if it was my saddle.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Other just holds the saddle flaps down I think. Mine had one.

 

[Pippity]

Other just holds the saddle flaps down I think. Mine had one.

I know synthetic saddles are light, but light enough that the flaps are likely to float away???

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I know synthetic saddles are light, but light enough that the flaps are likely to float away???

Lol someone must have thought so.

To be fair I never gave it much thought as it didn't cause me any problems

 

[Vodkagirly]

Just to stop the flaps catching on your boots. When I've been looking at ebay, a lot have had the strap removed.

 

[nato]

I bought mine second hand and it didnt have the straps. Must have had them removed!

 

[Tapir]

It's because of the equisuede used. The straps stop the flaps sticking and moving when the rider uses their legs.

 

[Myloubylou]

I had mine removed by the saddler, didn't do anything useful & sometimes slipped past girth so concerned it'd rub. No issues found without it

 

[Pippity]

I had mine removed by the saddler, didn't do anything useful & sometimes slipped past girth so concerned it'd rub. No issues found without it

If it was my saddle, it'd be coming off, too!

 

[MyBoyChe]

I think from memory its an "overgirth" Mine had it, designed to hold the saddle close to the horse for dressage, I left it on and never found it an issue, just fastened it over the dressage girth and tucked the ends away.

 

[smellsofhorse]

I've got one.
Doesn't bother me or cause a nussance.
I just fasten it over the girth!

The saddler did say it could be removed once when checking the fit of the saddle but I haven't bothered as it causes no trouble!

 

[MissTyc]

I had one on my leather Bates Isabell so I can't imagine it is because of the synthetic fabric of the Wintec version ...
Mine never bothered me, until it got ripped off in an unfortunately incident with an unfriendly gate. Oops.