help with event saddle and short girth please...

[Jericho]

My loan horse has come with a close contact (i.e. one flap) event saddle with the long girth straps so the buckles are near the horses elbow iyswim and short girth and then a big stephens fleece sleeve which is really bulky. After riding her today for the first time, I noticed on both sides it had been rubbing enough to take the hair off.

this was she wore when I tried her so I didnt worry too much. I wasnt unduly surprised to see it had rubbed as it just didnt look great when I tacked up. Any suggestions as to what I can do ? I am stuck with the saddle - it fits her and me well - its just the girth isnt right.

Also is it normal to have quite a gap between the buckles of the girth and the saddle flap for these type of saddles (excuse me being numpty - never had one of these before? I know dressage saddles have long straps and short girths but it just seems odd that you have lovely comfy pads and saddles and wide fleecy girths making nice wide pressure then two thin girth straps tight across the skin - just doesnt seem right to me?

I was going to take a photo but camera died on me. If anyone has any pics of event saddles with short girths / long straps so I can see what they should look like I would be most appreciate....

 

[millitiger]

You can always put a longer girth on if you want and tuck the straps in?

did she have bald patches from previous use or does it look like this is the first time it has rubbed?

 

[Ashgrove]

Are the buckles in the wrong place? is she knocking them with her elbows?
Then, as above, I'd get a longer girth, much easier to tighten when you're on board too

 

[LEC]

Look on ebay and get a dressage girth or similar pretty cheap which is 2 or 4 inches longer. It will make all the difference.