Girth tightness?

[CobSunshine]

Hi guys,

I've just got the Stubben Trevira girth as reccomended on here, the width of it impressed me to distribute the load and the saddle wouldn't budge at all. (only thing I had trouble with was the breastplate girth attachment as it bunched up the girth at first in the middle)

Once on my horse he did a cat stretch yesterday with me sat on him, and stomped his front foot quite a lot. I'm wondering if its too tight.

Are you supposed to be able to slide your hand under the belly easily or should it be a case of pushing your hand between horse and girth?

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Nice girths aren't they ? Interesting question though,my pet hate is over tightened girths. I tend to do it tight enough to be able to slide my hand under without having to force it while not having it so loose that I could 'ping' it. Better to mount, ride for a few minutes warming up and then re check the tightness or before doing faster work/jumping. However, riding with a loose girth is a good test of balance, the saddle should remain in place without being anchored and the rider depending on the girth to remain in place. Not recommended for Health and Safety reasons though...particularly on an XC course.

 

[Rouletterose]

Nice girths aren't they ? Interesting question though,my pet hate is over tightened girths. I tend to do it tight enough to be able to slide my hand under without having to force it while not having it so loose that I could 'ping' it. Better to mount, ride for a few minutes warming up and then re check the tightness or before doing faster work/jumping. However, riding with a loose girth is a good test of balance, the saddle should remain in place without being anchored and the rider depending on the girth to remain in place. Not recommended for Health and Safety reasons though...particularly on an XC course.

This made me smile I hate overtight girths! mine is always just tight enough for me to mount without the saddle moving, and I rarely tighten it again for flat work in the school and the saddle doesn't budge. If going out hacking accross fields and up and down hill at speed then I usually tightn it again when I have been out for say a mile or two.

My instructor nearly always says with a huge grin 'your girths hanging!' she's used to me. But I think an overtight girth is very uncomfortable for the horse.

 

[Kokopelli]

I'm awful when it comes to girths! I spent half of my riding lesson yesterday with air showing between his belly and the girth!

When I actually remember to do it up I like to be able to fit a hand fairly comfortably between horse and girth.