Girths and Saddle Movement

Kenzo

Kenzo

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Ok this may sound like a really stupid question but does changing girths alter/create movement of your saddle.

Reason I ask is, since the saddle fitter came to check my boys saddle (which she said fits absolutely fine, as well as it been fitted by someone else prior also trained in fitting saddles (I'm known double checker lol and always like a second opinion) I disposed of my other girth horowgood elasticised at one one end and is now hung up in the tack room collecting dust, was a (as advised by saddler not good for their backs etc) so bought a leather one (elastic at both ends) but had to take it back as it was a touch too small, so never got to use it, anyway changed it for a wintec comfort girth, have a slight stretchiness in the middle (so they can breath/expand better)...again recommended by saddle fitter.

But since using this girth, I have noticed that its a pain in the bum to pull up, its either too tight...or took slack and I've noticed that my saddle rides forward a little and is coming just slightly onto the wither area and is not int he same position as when it started but when I used my original girth, this never happened as I'd of noticed. Plus me and the OH have given it a stretch test...(tug of war lol...I know strange vission!) and there no give in it to be honest. My boy is not very shapely to be neither and his belly sides do blend into his shoulders (if you see what I mean).

So I'm thinking I'll perhaps I should go back and buy another with elastic at both sides, do you think this will make a difference, has anyone ever come across this before?

My boy has dropped a little weight from a month ago when the saddle fitter came out but...prior to that back in Feb..March etc he was the same weight then and the saddle didn't ride forward, so don't think it would have much to do with that (just in case anybody asks the obvious question).

Sounds a daft question but I like to consider every possible reason and explore every avenue so to speak.
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Well I have the opposite problem, and yes girths make a huge difference to saddle fit.

So my saddles go backwards and have found the fully elastic girths not to be great for this (in my case a JHL gel girth), so I swapped to no elastic, but this is then too tight and he cannot move. So went to my albion ultima humane girth, but this also slipped and then tried a cheapy elasticated at both ends girth I picked up at one of those clearance sales, this worked the best.

So I am now on the hunt for a 26" professionals choice as my boys have shrunk from the 30 & 32" ones i have !!!
 
Varying which girth straps you use (if you have 3 on each side) will affect the way the saddle sits. I had to use the 1st and 3rd on one side and 1st and 2nd on the other when my horse had uneven musculature.

Why do you feel the need to use elasticated girths ? Why not just buy a regular girth, synthetic or leather. The elastic "give" is only supposed to be mild, so pulling on it with your boyfriend isn't going to be a conclusive test.
 
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Varying which girth straps you use (if you have 3 on each side) will affect the way the saddle sits. I had to use the 1st and 3rd on one side and 1st and 2nd on the other when my horse had uneven musculature.

Why do you feel the need to use elasticated girths ? Why not just buy a regular girth, synthetic or leather. The elastic "give" is only supposed to be mild, so pulling on it with your boyfriend isn't going to be a conclusive test.

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Hi, yes I know its not a conclusive test, that was just for a bit of fun really...on the a serious note, yes my saddle actually has 4 girthing options, the first and the 3rd have to be used and those are the ones that I have always used prior to the second saddle fitting/check and what my saddle fitter said to use.

I like to use an elasticated girth as I personally feel there kinder and allow better movement also there is not as much risk in over tightening etc...perhaps it's just a gimic..who knows unless a horse can actually tell us, but I think they are better.
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Thanks for your thoughts
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[ QUOTE ]
Well I have the opposite problem, and yes girths make a huge difference to saddle fit.

So my saddles go backwards and have found the fully elastic girths not to be great for this (in my case a JHL gel girth), so I swapped to no elastic, but this is then too tight and he cannot move. So went to my albion ultima humane girth, but this also slipped and then tried a cheapy elasticated at both ends girth I picked up at one of those clearance sales, this worked the best.

So I am now on the hunt for a 26" professionals choice as my boys have shrunk from the 30 & 32" ones i have !!!

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hmmm well that is intersting, you have convinced me I'm not going mad then, I'll go girth shopping again and buy the GFS (eleastic at both ends) and see how we go from there.

Thanks you
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I recently bought a new saddle and the fitter advised me to use a thorogood girth which I did however by boy hates it, he has always been good to saddle up but when I do up the girth when using the thorogood he kicks his belly, before I used a leather girth with elastic both ends and I think that just gives a little bit more and makes it more comfortable for him so I am going back to using that girth.
 
Girths do affect the fit. Elastic has more give, so when your horse is moving, the saddle doesnt move. If the girth is rigid, it will cause the saddle to move.

Have you tried a stubben cord girth?

Also, I would not advocate using different girthing arrangements on either side as this will create tension on different parts of your horse's back.
 
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Girths do affect the fit. Elastic has more give, so when your horse is moving, the saddle doesnt move. If the girth is rigid, it will cause the saddle to move.

Have you tried a stubben cord girth?

Also, I would not advocate using different girthing arrangements on either side as this will create tension on different parts of your horse's back.

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Hi, no I have not tried the stubben cord girth but I'll have look on internet to see what exactly they are etc and no I wouldnt alter my girthing system, I know how it is now is working correctly so no worries there.

Thank you
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Would echo using the Stubben Trevira string girth, I use them on both my big WB's and they go very nicely in them, they are super wide so spread the pressure, fully recommend them!
 
I think they are normally about £20 - you can get them on ebay quite easily. They stretch over the girth area so spread the pressure around a bigger surface area and absorb the movement quite well (especially for horses with bigger movement). Alternatively I would get a leather girth with elastic at both ends. Kentaur have a really nice one that is anatomically shaped (which is good for forward girth grooves).

Under no circumstances are you allowed to go back to the one-sided elastic girth.
 
Hi yes I've had a look and yes there cheap as chips, my wintec cost me £30.00 and I'd of thought the Stubben ones would of been alot more.

No I know, I wouldnt go back to my original girth as thats why I changed in the first place, thank you for help and I'll let you know how I get on.
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I would sell the wintec one - they are really popular and you should be able to get pretty much what you paid for it.

Better yet, the cord ones are machine washable (although follow the instructions or they might shrink). One less bit of tack to clean!
 
Yeah I will do, only bought it on 8th of this month, bet my local tack shops sick of seeing my face lately!
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oh well more loyalty points on the card though
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The girth I use makes a massive difference to my horse because she has a forward girth line. I used a wintec comfort girth and like you found it was always too tight or too lose. It used to slip forward into her girth grove with a tendancy to drag the saddle forward with it.
My saddler has sold me an aerborn humane girth because it can sit where it wants to sit (in the girth grove) but because the straps swivel round on the girth it doesnt encourage the saddle forward. It works much better and my horse goes fine in it.
Ive heard great things about the stubben girth but i havent tried one.x
 
Really, oh good well again I'm glad it was not just my imagination then, I think you have experienced exactly what I have been by the sounds of things, I'm glad I brought it up now, because some people might of been following this post and thought arrrhhh yes mabe that could be our problem too, so not a really a daft question after all.
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strangely enough I'm having the same problem a week late. My wintec dressage girth keeps slipping forward & catching on her elbows. Will try that stubben one I think. Have you resolved your problems?
 
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