Girths!

It isn't adjustable but any wider it would sit directly on his wither believe it or not (I have had it all checked). I've changed my set up since that photo as one side fits "perfectly" and the other side is a challenge because of extreme muscle atrophy from some other issues he has going on. It's seriously like 1 side is 1 horse and the other side is a totally different horse ??
 
lynz88 said:
It isn't adjustable but any wider it would sit directly on his wither believe it or not (I have had it all checked). I've changed my set up since that photo as one side fits "perfectly" and the other side is a challenge because of extreme muscle atrophy from some other issues he has going on. It's seriously like 1 side is 1 horse and the other side is a totally different horse ??
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??? i get that lol! How about using a shimmable pad or a riser? That might help where the girth is pressured too.
My boy has one shoulder bigger than the other, and I have to have different air in one side of the saddle than the other, and different straps to girth to. Nothing is ever easy lol
 
That's exactly what I've changed!!! ???? I have the prolite shimmable wither pad which really does make a difference. One side has nothing in it and the other side has the shimmable layers. I think I am going to give the Shires girth a go and if he's happier then yay. If he's more miserable, then I've only lost £35 and will give the prolite with a fleece lining a go.

(PS separately the Ron Fields stuff hasn't solved his grumpiness problem but I have noticed he is working amazingly well over his back and actually engaging his hind end.....so it must be having some effect but wasn't quite what I was going for. I think aloe juice is going to be the next stop)
 
lynz88 said:
That's exactly what I've changed!!! ???? I have the prolite shimmable wither pad which really does make a difference. One side has nothing in it and the other side has the shimmable layers. I think I am going to give the Shires girth a go and if he's happier then yay. If he's more miserable, then I've only lost £35 and will give the prolite with a fleece lining a go.

(PS separately the Ron Fields stuff hasn't solved his grumpiness problem but I have noticed he is working amazingly well over his back and actually engaging his hind end.....so it must be having some effect but wasn't quite what I was going for. I think aloe juice is going to be the next stop)
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I noticed no difference with the ron fields stuff I guess its different for every horse but I am now on my 6th week of aloe and we are doing great, no making faces while girthing and because the shires girth doesnt put pressure on , he seems to be way happier ?
 
I think I am on a similar journey. These horses....!! But if this is a magic girth for £35 vs £200+ for the Mattes or WoW then I'm all for it! I have definitely noticed a difference overall in him and his backend since the Ron Fields stuff and feels unbelievable to ride - he even looks like he has gained weight/more over his top line in general so I think I will stick with it for the next little while anyways.
 
lynz88 said:
I think I am on a similar journey. These horses....!! But if this is a magic girth for £35 vs £200+ for the Mattes or WoW then I'm all for it! I have definitely noticed a difference overall in him and his backend since the Ron Fields stuff and feels unbelievable to ride - he even looks like he has gained weight/more over his top line in general so I think I will stick with it for the next little while anyways.
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Yeah , do some long reigning that will hurry it along and the physio gave me tail pulls to do to gain muscle on bbs back when I first got him, 20 then a rest repeat 4 times and do that daily ?
 
Barton Bounty said:
Ahhh see, I saw this was elastic and thought ok, this will be good in a 48! No! BB is a 49 ffs ??‍♀️ so today I
Had to dig out my girth extender, a 50” will be too big it will go right up both sides and still be loose
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Use the extender on one strap just to get it done up, then when he's more relaxed you can get the second strap done up...if you cant exchange it for a bigger one. Longer straps on the saddle wouldn't usually be the solution, they'll stick well below the flap and the buckles of the girth might not even make it to the sweat flap.

lynz88 said:
Thank you both for your suggestions. Am going to look more into. His current one starts off in the right spot but is very close to his elbow and usually when we finish, it has slid back and sometimes irritates him. This is the guy I'm trying to fit.... (someone the other day called him "fat" when we passed them on a hack. I was so pleased because it's taken 16 years to figure out how to put weight on him)

(And yes I am aware of his hind not standing properly under him. This is miles better than what we had started off with about 8 months prior)
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Barton Bounty said:
Firstly I would try and get your saddle level, its down a fair bit at the back. Is it an adjustable gullet? ?maybe slightly too narrow and thats why its sitting higher?
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I have to agree, this saddle is tipping back a huge amount, though it's actually up on the shoulder which is causing a good part of the issue, but possibly not all of it. It touching the wither if it's wider doesn't mean it'll fit correctly when narrower....I would be happy to anotate the photo if you'd like me to to outline why this is a real issue for the horse AND rider.
 
Some people use an old stirrup leather, cut it short, add a hole right up as high/short as possible. Using point and balance straps often means the front (point) strap just about goes on but it has to be up on the 2nd hole, occasionally even the 3rd, to be able to get the rear (balance) strap done up on the first.
 
sbloom said:
Some people use an old stirrup leather, cut it short, add a hole right up as high/short as possible. Using point and balance straps often means the front (point) strap just about goes on but it has to be up on the 2nd hole, occasionally even the 3rd, to be able to get the rear (balance) strap done up on the first.
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Oh thats even better , i have really soft stubben ones that i have used for 20 years lol and they are cracked, that might do the job better to be honest, thanks so much x
 
Thanks sbloom! You are right it is too far forward there. The problem I had was that placing it further back really blocked the shoulder even more with the dip/muscle atrophy behind his wither (for other reasons....we have been fighting NPAs and fairly major arthritis on that side). Had someone out to help sort it and an adjustable prolite has made a huge difference.
 
Ohh I’m feeling tempted! I have a muddy hairy swamp pony though so can’t decide if the fluff will a.) make her warmer and sweat more b.) act like a sheepskin numnah and whick any sweat off her c.) absorb all mud and not last long ?
 
KJ94 said:
Ohh I’m feeling tempted! I have a muddy hairy swamp pony though so can’t decide if the fluff will a.) make her warmer and sweat more b.) act like a sheepskin numnah and whick any sweat off her c.) absorb all mud and not last long ?
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Its easily wiped to be fair, i just wipe it with baby wipes after every use ?
 
lynz88 said:
Thanks sbloom! You are right it is too far forward there. The problem I had was that placing it further back really blocked the shoulder even more with the dip/muscle atrophy behind his wither (for other reasons....we have been fighting NPAs and fairly major arthritis on that side). Had someone out to help sort it and an adjustable prolite has made a huge difference.
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Absolutely, the saddle must be in balance, the right shape all the way through, both tree and panel, the right flocking, the right pad....to get shoulder freedom. In general if there are such massive dips then it's best to build the muscle from the ground, but I do understand everyone's situation is different. The horse is your guide - if they build muscle, improve balance and straightness progressively and at a reasonable pace then the saddle is probably fine. I have my concerns about it, including the placement of the girth straps and their contribution to the saddle wanting to sit where the photo shows it, but I'm sure your fitter has it under control.
 
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