Girth grooves and girths.

[jumpingjenny]

Evening all, new poster here. I wonder if you knowledgeable lot could help. I have a new pony who has very big shoulders which means his saddle sits quite far back (behind the shoulder as it should!). One saddler told me that the pony should have a straight girth as he has a “herring gut” which will mean an anatomical girth will push a saddle back further (so I sold my fairfax - at a loss of course!) and the new more local saddler has said to go for an anatomical forward shaped girth (like a fairfax!) as he has a forward girth groove.
Pony is currently in a straight non elasticated girth which sits far back - as the saddle does.

I just wondered if any of you have a similar shape pony and what girth you find best? It is hard when two qualified professionals give you different advice and I really want the pony to be comfortable. I can’t decide where his “groove” is!

Thank you in advance.

 

[sbloom]

There's barely any groove imo, which girth straps are you using or does it only have centre girth straps anyway (ie traditional 3 in the middle)? Correct placement for a regular English made saddle is tree points three fingers breadth behind the very back edge of the shoulder blade, a lot further back than most realise. A photo with saddle on and the girth as you currently have it would be useful.

 

[jumpingjenny]

I will get a photo today, thank you.

 

[lynz88]

Looks very similar to my boy with a huge shoulder. I need to place the saddle a little further back to accommodate the long sloping withers and big shoulder and as sbloom has indirectly pointed out (and also a discussion at my saddle fitting) most people place saddles too far forward. I use just a straight double elastic cheapie fuzzy girth (both long and now short) which typically keeps the saddle in place if it fits correctly. That said, because of his shoulder, he has a tendancy to push saddles back (had this issue with 1 saddle I tried the other day).

 

[ycbm]

The Fairfax is hardly curved at all. Take your eyes off the leather and look at the buckles. They almost point out sideways. I think your guy needs a banana girth where the buckles point more forwards when the girth is laid flat. Harry Dabbs are good girth for this. Heritage also used to sell them on ebay but I think both are no longer available.
.

 

[ycbm]

I found the Dabbs ones. I prefer the waffle ones for washability, but they don't seem to be available.

Harry Dabbs Curved Leather Dressage Girth - Denchworth Equestrian

Fabulous quality curved leather dressage girth made from Full Grain English leather with triple crossover elastic at both ends which are concealed behind neat leather pockets. Contoured for extra comfort which distributes pressure evenly. Stainless steel roller buckles for easy use.

denchworthequestrian.co.uk

 

[jumpingjenny]

I found the Dabbs ones. I prefer the waffle ones for washability, but they don't seem to be available.

Harry Dabbs Curved Leather Dressage Girth - Denchworth Equestrian

Fabulous quality curved leather dressage girth made from Full Grain English leather with triple crossover elastic at both ends which are concealed behind neat leather pockets. Contoured for extra comfort which distributes pressure evenly. Stainless steel roller buckles for easy use.

denchworthequestrian.co.uk

I wonder if they do a long version that is also without elastic? I’ll look! Thank you

 

[jumpingjenny]

 

[jumpingjenny]

Here he is girthed up in a straight Albion girth @sbloom

 

[jumpingjenny]

There's barely any groove imo, which girth straps are you using or does it only have centre girth straps anyway (ie traditional 3 in the middle)? Correct placement for a regular English made saddle is tree points three fingers breadth behind the very back edge of the shoulder blade, a lot further back than most realise. A photo with saddle on and the girth as you currently have it would be useful.

I’ve posted a photo below thank you. The saddle is on the middle two girth straps not using the point or balance straps.

 

[sbloom]

Looks fine to me! I dislike the Fairfax, on so many horses all it does is put pressure on the back edge rather than the front edge.