Girth suggestions for downhill/big rib cage horse?

[GrassChop]

Hello all,

I was wondering if I could have some advice on what I can try to stop my saddle slipping forwards please.

It does fit very well and recently had the saddle fitter out to check it, however, she is croup high with a round Arab rib cage and quite the grass belly currently! I am using a Harry Dabbs curved girth but this doesn't seem to be doing the trick and it ends up pushing into the back of her shoulders.

Any suggestions please?

Thank you!

 

[Sossigpoker]

I have a short backed cob with not a lot of wither and my saddler recommended a crescent girth by Mattes. Wonder if that might suit ? Mine and has a forward girth groove.

 

[shortstuff99]

I have an H-girth on mine.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have a similar shape arab I use a kentaur dijon leather girth, although his saddle doesn't move forward as he has a wither but he has a forward girth groove and is croup high so an anatomical is the only thing that works.

My other arab is rounder and flatter backed so his saddle can move and he has a flexi girth.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I have a similar shape arab I use a kentaur dijon leather girth, although his saddle doesn't move forward as he has a wither but he has a forward girth groove and is croup high so an anatomical is the only thing that works.

My other arab is rounder and flatter backed so his saddle can move and he has a flexi girth.

Just had a look and they look nice but why do they have to only come with elastic at the ends like most nice looking girths ? So frustrating trying to have a look around and not finding anatomical girths without the elastic (I have a fairly round cob so elastic doesn't really work )

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Just had a look and they look nice but why do they have to only come with elastic at the ends like most nice looking girths ? So frustrating trying to have a look around and not finding anatomical girths without the elastic (I have a fairly round cob so elastic doesn't really work )

I thought that about my flat round arab I used to use leather girth with no elastic but the flexi girth does work.

Have you tried a gel acavello anti slip pad my friend uses them on her show ponies and the saddles don't move at all.

 

[sbloom]

I use elasticated girths most of the time and fit almost all wide horses and ponies with large ribcages, so it can depend on how the saddle is fitted. I find I seldom need a curved girth even on these shapes, but if the Dabbs isn't working then you may need more of the banana shape of the Mattes, or even try a Fairfax/Prolite, the trouble is on big bellies they can dig in at the back edge. Do you have a point strap? If you don't then keeping the saddle back may not be possible, though some saddle fitters don't like them as their saddle fitting "model" means there are issues with using one (pulling the front down if they fit a little curvier in the tree for instance).

 

[sbloom]

Have you tried a gel acavello anti slip pad my friend uses them on her show ponies and the saddles don't move at all.

Should be an absolute last resort to use a grippy pad and there are slightly kinder ones (Barnsby, Limpet)

https://www.facebook.com/equinemanipulationandmassage/videos/ - I never seem to be able to post a link directly to the video so hopefully this works.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Should be an absolute last resort to use a grippy pad and there are slightly kinder ones (Barnsby, Limpet)

https://www.facebook.com/equinemanipulationandmassage/videos/ - I never seem to be able to post a link directly to the video so hopefully this works.

I personally don't use the grippy gel pads and I kind of agree with you on that front, I would always be careful using them on certain horses though.

 

[GrassChop]

I thought that about my flat round arab I used to use leather girth with no elastic but the flexi girth does work.

Have you tried a gel acavello anti slip pad my friend uses them on her show ponies and the saddles don't move at all.

I did try the gel pad on top of a saddle pad and it helped but I think it still shifted slightly. I expect it will be better when she loses the grass belly!

 

[GrassChop]

I use elasticated girths most of the time and fit almost all wide horses and ponies with large ribcages, so it can depend on how the saddle is fitted. I find I seldom need a curved girth even on these shapes, but if the Dabbs isn't working then you may need more of the banana shape of the Mattes, or even try a Fairfax/Prolite, the trouble is on big bellies they can dig in at the back edge. Do you have a point strap? If you don't then keeping the saddle back may not be possible, though some saddle fitters don't like them as their saddle fitting "model" means there are issues with using one (pulling the front down if they fit a little curvier in the tree for instance).

Mine definitely prefers an elastic one as she is quite sensitive in general.
I was always under the impression that the girth straps should point straight down so a curved girth would accommodate this and still go forwards into the girth groove. Is this the case or is it okay for the straps to be angled forwards slightly?
Sadly there isn't a point strap. She is flat backed and it is an H&C VSD model I believe. She is somewhat wide but narrow chested, it's all in the belly! It doesn't slip onto her shoulder as such, more right on the edge so her leg can still come back but I feel it is just pushing against it if that makes sense. I can still get my hand under there.

 

[GrassChop]

Should be an absolute last resort to use a grippy pad and there are slightly kinder ones (Barnsby, Limpet)

https://www.facebook.com/equinemanipulationandmassage/videos/ - I never seem to be able to post a link directly to the video so hopefully this works.

I'd never have thought to put it directly on the skin, just seems like common sense not to!

 

[Sossigpoker]

My new saddle is a lot more stable than my Kent and Masters one was (it's Lavinia Mitchell one ) but I've carried on using the non elasticated girth with the sheepskin that i was using previously. I haven't tried an elasticated girth with the current saddle as just assumed that flat back and round- ish belly is never a good combination with elasticated girths ?

 

[GrassChop]

My new saddle is a lot more stable than my Kent and Masters one was (it's Lavinia Mitchell one ) but I've carried on using the non elasticated girth with the sheepskin that i was using previously. I haven't tried an elasticated girth with the current saddle as just assumed that flat back and round- ish belly is never a good combination with elasticated girths ?

What style girth are you using please?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I manage to get non elastic leather ones there are often second hand ones on ebay.

 

[sbloom]

Mine definitely prefers an elastic one as she is quite sensitive in general.
I was always under the impression that the girth straps should point straight down so a curved girth would accommodate this and still go forwards into the girth groove. Is this the case or is it okay for the straps to be angled forwards slightly?
Sadly there isn't a point strap. She is flat backed and it is an H&C VSD model I believe. She is somewhat wide but narrow chested, it's all in the belly! It doesn't slip onto her shoulder as such, more right on the edge so her leg can still come back but I feel it is just pushing against it if that makes sense. I can still get my hand under there.

I've heard a few people say that girth straps should point straight down but have never found that to be true, hardly any horse or pony I fit would fulfill that one. If the fit is good in the vast majority of cases the saddle will stay back, but that's with point straps. You may have to go to the type of fit, which may be possible, or not, with your saddle, in order to use a point strap, it lines the girth up much better with the forward girth groove. If it works then it doesn't pull the front down but it does keep the saddle back, so giving shoulder freedom.

My new saddle is a lot more stable than my Kent and Masters one was (it's Lavinia Mitchell one ) but I've carried on using the non elasticated girth with the sheepskin that i was using previously. I haven't tried an elasticated girth with the current saddle as just assumed that flat back and round- ish belly is never a good combination with elasticated girths ?

Again, so many people say that you can't use elasticated girths on wide horses, I find the opposite, but, as with point straps, it's the saddles I fit and the way I fit I guess. I just hate anything being blanket advice, that you "must" or must never do anything in particular. I have had a row with Centaur Biomechanics on FB, they do some great work, but the research supposedly showing that elastic causes instability does not, I'm afraid, trump our collective over 70 years experience fitting OUR saddles on wide horses and I fail to see how they think their small sample of elite horses in one study can possibly be extrapolated to all horses and ponies with all saddles. Strong elastic both ends, or the Stubben cord girth. It's all I recommend.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I've heard a few people say that girth straps should point straight down but have never found that to be true, hardly any horse or pony I fit would fulfill that one. If the fit is good in the vast majority of cases the saddle will stay back, but that's with point straps. You may have to go to the type of fit, which may be possible, or not, with your saddle, in order to use a point strap, it lines the girth up much better with the forward girth groove. If it works then it doesn't pull the front down but it does keep the saddle back, so giving shoulder freedom.



Again, so many people say that you can't use elasticated girths on wide horses, I find the opposite, but, as with point straps, it's the saddles I fit and the way I fit I guess. I just hate anything being blanket advice, that you "must" or must never do anything in particular. I have had a row with Centaur Biomechanics on FB, they do some great work, but the research supposedly showing that elastic causes instability does not, I'm afraid, trump our collective over 70 years experience fitting OUR saddles on wide horses and I fail to see how they think their small sample of elite horses in one study can possibly be extrapolated to all horses and ponies with all saddles. Strong elastic both ends, or the Stubben cord girth. It's all I recommend.

With me it's more of a case of it being "the done thing " as in that you don't use elastic on cobs because the saddle will rock. So when i had saddle stability issues with my Kent and masters saddle naturally I went and got a non-eiasticated girth. I was in the tack shop today and looked at some girths with very strong elastic and given that I now have a much better fitting saddle I'd be surprised if that caused instability.

 

[Sossigpoker]

What style girth are you using please?

I use the Thorogood cob girth with a Nuumed sheep skin sleeve.

 

[GrassChop]

I've heard a few people say that girth straps should point straight down but have never found that to be true, hardly any horse or pony I fit would fulfill that one. If the fit is good in the vast majority of cases the saddle will stay back, but that's with point straps. You may have to go to the type of fit, which may be possible, or not, with your saddle, in order to use a point strap, it lines the girth up much better with the forward girth groove. If it works then it doesn't pull the front down but it does keep the saddle back, so giving shoulder freedom.

Is it worth seeing if I can get point straps put on in this case?

 

[Wizpop]

Definitely recommend the WOW H girth having had exactly that problem. Pricey but worth it. Fits any saddle.

 

[sbloom]

Is it worth seeing if I can get point straps put on in this case?

You need to ask your fitter, it may not match with his or her way of fitting a saddle.

 

[GrassChop]

You need to ask your fitter, it may not match with his or her way of fitting a saddle.

He said it will definitely help having them put on so I may give that a go.

 

[sbloom]

He said it will definitely help having them put on so I may give that a go.

Great, people think girths solve all sorts of issues but they're usually just the finishing touch, the fit must be right, and that includes girth straps. If there is no webbing already there it will involve having to open up the tree to attach webbing which is more expensive. Why saddles designed for wider horses have no point straps astonishes me, even those for other shapes ought to at least have webbing provided.

 

[MissTyc]

I found this really helpful when selecting a girth for funny shaped pony. Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to find what I needed for a good price.
https://www.bridleandride.com/Files...pics/anatomic-girth-shapes-...-just-a-few.png

 

[GrassChop]

Great, people think girths solve all sorts of issues but they're usually just the finishing touch, the fit must be right, and that includes girth straps. If there is no webbing already there it will involve having to open up the tree to attach webbing which is more expensive. Why saddles designed for wider horses have no point straps astonishes me, even those for other shapes ought to at least have webbing provided.

Yes, he said it will be about £70 which isn't too bad if it stops it banging into her shoulders.
I agree, it would make sense to provide the straps or webbing at least to be able to have the option to adjust it fully to fit if they are needed as horses are all universal!

 

[GrassChop]

I found this really helpful when selecting a girth for funny shaped pony. Once I knew what I was looking for, I was able to find what I needed for a good price.
https://www.bridleandride.com/Files...pics/anatomic-girth-shapes-...-just-a-few.png

Thank you, she is definitely crescent shaped but all of these shaped girths seem to be quite pricey!