Girths: curved and / or anatomical - confused!

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Walrus

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Hello,

apologies for repeating a question that has been posted here quite a few times.

I'm trying to understand the different between a curved girth and an anatomical girth.

Pony has a forward girth groove and a bit of a belly (he's a fell so it's in the genes!). I'm currently saddle shopping and have been for the best part of 3 months (yes, it's that painful). I've started thinking about girthing options as well as he can be quite sensitive in the girth area and also his girth groove is very forwards (a sliding forward saddle is one reason the saddle shopping is taking an age).

I've read a few threads on here about various girths and how a forward curved girth can help. I've also read a bit about the buckles being level or also following the curve and whether this makes a difference? I've also received conflicting advice as to whether elastic is good or not - at the moment, I'm under the impression it's not??

many of the threads here relate to dressage girths and I'm looking for something to go with a normal working hunter saddle.

Any recommendations for girths or what I need to consider when choosing a girth?

Thanks

:)
 
the words anatomical and curved are both used for the same thing.

You are correct about the buckles. Most "curved" girths are actually straight girths with a wiggle in the middle. True curved girths are curved from buckle to buckle and when laid flat on the floor the buckles are at a definite angle.

The ones I know of like this are the FFS/Treadstone (slightly) The Bates/Wintec cair and the Heritage one sold on eBay.

There is a very big difference between a true curved girth and a "fudged" one. If you use a fudged one on a horse that needs a curved one, the back edge of the girth will dig into the stomach and the front will be looser.

I think elastic is fine as long as it's at both ends and you don't wrench it tight.
 
Thank you. Will have a look at those mentioned - i was struggling to find non-dressage versions for some reason but having a quick look these look good. :)
 
OK, so I've been away and had a look at the curved girth option and I'm still confused. I looked at the Heritage girths on ebay but the curved girth is a dressage girth not a normal girth. I emailed them asking about longer curved girths and the one they recommended is one that is straight with a wiggle in the middle.

But then I had a thought (bear with me) - a dressage saddle has long straps and a short girth, whilst a normal girth is longer. So do the straight straps of the dressage saddle equal the straight part of a longer girth and then the "wiggle" in the longer girth equals having a curved girth on the dressage saddle?

Probably one for cptrayes......

:)
 
Hope you don't mind me asking, but I was just wondering if you ever found a non dressage girth - or if you went for the "wiggle" heritage girth, as I'm having this dilemma myself?! :o
 
Thanks cptrayes :-)
So would the Heritage wiggley girth not achieve the same thing? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question but I'm still learning :o
 
Yes, the first link was the one I saw first but no good for me as a it's a dressage girth.
The second link was the one I was thinking about, I have one week to make my decision, well less than that as then I'm back from my hols and will be riding with my nice new saddle :D
 
magic14 said:
Thanks cptrayes :-)
So would the Heritage wiggley girth not achieve the same thing? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question but I'm still learning :o
Click to expand...

Well all I can say really is that in my experience if your horse needs a true curved girth then nothing fits like a true curved girth. I even bought a cair and took out the airbag for one of mine (the airbag made it unstable to jump in, because of that horse's shape).
 
magic14 said:
Yes, the first link was the one I saw first but no good for me as a it's a dressage girth.
The second link was the one I was thinking about, I have one week to make my decision, well less than that as then I'm back from my hols and will be riding with my nice new saddle :D
Click to expand...

God I am blind :rolleyes: if you get the second one let me know what you think of it!
 
Thanks cptrayes :-) It's not that he needs a curved one it's just I am thinking along more the more comfort line of things.
Lol FfionW - I will let you know how we get on :-)
 
Well due to various reasons I never managed to order my girth, however I'm not in the process of talking with Heritage.
Problemo though... at saddle fitting Bob's was measure at 42" girth, last night I had my first ride with my new saddle, got a spare 42" girth and it was too big! So I may have to order the 40" - which I'm guessing is going to be more expensive! I'm learning nothing is ever simple when it comes to horses! :rolleyes:
 
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