Girth Sizing

[Friesianfoal1999]

Hi,

I’m trying to find a girth for my mare. She has a custom saddle due to poor confirmation and has a cut back at the front which turns into a dressage style girth on a gp saddle.

Her current girth is a 34” and too long as it’s rippling.

I bought a new one at 28” because I googled the -20 rule.

But it seems too small?

Can I use a gp girth if I add higher punch holes?

Ps. Saddler is coming out so I’m keeping the new girth until I see her.

Any advice appreciated

 

[Auslander]

Hi,

I’m trying to find a girth for my mare. She has a custom saddle due to poor confirmation and has a cut back at the front which turns into a dressage style girth on a gp saddle.

Her current girth is a 34” and too long as it’s rippling.

I bought a new one at 28” because I googled the -20 rule.

But it seems too small?

Can I use a gp girth if I add higher punch holes?

Ps. Saddler is coming out so I’m keeping the new girth until I see her.

Any advice appreciated

What do you mean by rippling? It's only too long if you can't pull it tight enough to keep the saddle on surely?
LOoking at the pics, I prefer the longer one, as it doesn't get in the way of the elbows - my saddler has drummed it into me to use the longest dressage girth I can get away with

 

[ycbm]

Centaur biomechanics testing showed that if you are using a short girth, then you should use a girth which comes up as close to the bottom of the flap as you can get it.

Even your longer one is shorter than any I use.

.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Its not too long but longer if that makes sense. I cant describe the ripple, I will have to take another photo. Instead of it being smooth against her body, the leather has like a ripple in points causing pressure points, like it digs in a bit. The girth goes up to the top holes as well

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Centaur biomechanics testing showed that if you are using a short girth, then you should use a girth which comes up as close to the bottom of the flap as you can get it.

Even your longer one is shorter than any I use.

.

interesting info thanks! even for dressage?

 

[milliepops]

Yep I would def go with the longer one.

Mine almost touch the saddle flaps when tightened, you can see where the buckles are in this pic

 

[milliepops]

if it's not sitting flush against her side then perhaps you need one that is shaped differently, rather than shorter.

 

[rayneheinze]

if it's not sitting flush against her side then perhaps you need one that is shaped differently, rather than shorter.

I think you might be right, it’s a shame because it’s a lovely girth. But quite old, the leather is so soft from age that it just bends if that makes any sense. What length girth do you have on yours? Seems the longer girth’s are rare. On the websites it stops at 32 sometimes.

 

[milliepops]

well that horse has quite a narrow ribcage, that is a 28" girth that was bought for my welsh cob, it sits in the same place on her. But if you have a bigger horse then you need to find something suitable that comes in a long enough size.

If you aren't sure what would work I think I'd hang on and ask your saddler what shape girth would suit her. Or see if you can borrow some to try from friends on the yard?

 

[ycbm]

interesting info thanks! even for dressage?

Especially for dressage, they have measured the horses' stride length and it I creases when the buckles are high and there aren't any girth straps to pinch the horse.

Mine look just like MP's.

.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

well that horse has quite a narrow ribcage, that is a 28" girth that was bought for my welsh cob, it sits in the same place on her. But if you have a bigger horse then you need to find something suitable that comes in a long enough size.

If you aren't sure what would work I think I'd hang on and ask your saddler what shape girth would suit her. Or see if you can borrow some to try from friends on the yard?

Yeah I think I will wait for her regardless. I always thought my mare had a small rib cage obviously not. She’s only a 16hh thoroughbred which is why I asked your size he looks so much bigger!
Thanks for advice

 

[milliepops]

it partly depends on your saddle flap length though, on a GP/jumping saddle you are going to end up needing a longer girth to get the same proximity to the saddle flaps than on a dressage saddle with longer flaps.

 

[Auslander]

My horse takes a 34in dressage girth - I like the shaped merino ones from FSS, which go up to 38"
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSS-Luxu...Contact-Mono-Flap-Comfort-Girth-/121824287030