help with event saddle and short girth please...

[Jericho]

Also in SY but more people come in here

My loan horse has come with an Albion 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.

The combination was what she wore when I tried her but 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?

This is what it looks like (you need to imagine it was on the horse!)

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....

 

[Bossanova]

Buy a longer girth?
My girth comes up close to the saddle flaps

 

[_April_]

Off the top of my head...

I am sure the buckles on my girth sit on top of the padded girth itself so aren't next to the skin.

I also think, like Boss, the girth comes quite close to the saddle itself.

I am sure a better girth would help you.

 

[Baileyhoss]

I have use a slight longer dressage girth than I would on my dressage saddle - you'll see it quite clearly here.

Never had any probs with rubbing

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pa...mp;search_mode=

 

[teddyt]

Change the girth for one that fits

 

[Jericho]

hmmm obviously! I am trying to establish what I actually need and what is wrong with the current set up....

 

[teddyt]

You asked for suggestions as to what you could do. I made a suggestion. So sorry it wasnt good enough

 

[_April_]

This is the saddle I have -

Looking at it the girth straps are very long - the girth I use came from Stirlingshire saddlery along with the saddle and is very padded around the buckles. Will look at it later and try and find out what make it is or even get a pic for you.

 

[Jericho]

Have now added a photo...

Baileyhoss - thansk for the pic. So the straps are in contact with the horse .... The buckle holes on the straps themselves are quite low and even if done up on shortest I think there would still be a gap.

The event girth is quite bulky so maybe I need to look at a dressage girth

 

[Jericho]

thanks _April_

 

[_April_]

[ QUOTE ]
I have use a slight longer dressage girth than I would on my dressage saddle - you'll see it quite clearly here.

Never had any probs with rubbing

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pa...mp;search_mode=

[/ QUOTE ]



Mine looks very similar to this - cracking pic btw!



Infact very good idea there -

here's mine -

http://www.scott-equestrian.co.uk/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=67472

 

[KatB]

I have found the wintec girths to be the best ones, the ones with the "folded" edges. They are cheap, cant rub in any way and work really well with my single flap saddle

 

[Silverspring]

Without reading the other posts it sounds to me like you are girthing it up too tightly. Dressage/eveniting girths should not be tightened to the same extent as a GP, I can easily slide my 4 fingers behing the strap and pull it away from the horse by at least an inch without trying to hard. Overly tightened straps will rub, pinch and cause balding.

 

[Jericho]

I wondered that - I kept checking and it wasnt tight. I actually loosened it because I wasnt happy with the way it made the skin bulge either side. However I feel a bit happier having seen some photos of how they are meant to be. The straps themselves werent rubbing, it was just under her elbows.

I think the best way forward is as KatB suggested - have been looking online and this seems a good option. I think the problem was the bulk of girth and sleeve so will try this route.

Many many thanks for all your replies...

 

[Silverspring]

I'm not saying anyone girth does not fit properly but the point of long straps is to keep the girth low to avoid it getting in the way of the elbow/upper leg action.

If you look at this photo WFP does not wear his girth up round his saddle flaps and he also doesn't have rubbing problems.

http://www.trotontv.org/photos/groupphotos/williamfoxpitt.jpg

Maybe the person who owns the horse out to have a look? Either that or a saddle fitter should be able to point out what is causing it. It is not the straps themselves, something else is casuing them to rub.

 

[Baileyhoss]

posted again to say that I use a thorowgood (sp?) synthetic girth. It lies quite flat and has nice rolled edges. I tried a lovely soft, comfort shaped, padded (expensive) leather girth and it gave him girth galls,

so i went back to my cheapy one and never had any problems.


The skin has never buldged through the leather straps, but then I don't girth very tight.

 

[KatB]

it depends on the horse princess sparkle

I couldnt have a girth that low on my mare as her girth groove is quite far forward and it would rip her elbows to pieces

My gelding had it further down and never had a problem, as his girth groove was alot further back. The point of single flap saddles is for the close contact for the rider, not the freedom of the horse necessarily

 

[Jericho]

After reading all the advice I went and caught poor pony and tried saddle and girth on again and I think it is to do with where her girth groove is and the bulk of the girth and sleeve.

I also rang her owner and she said she has only just changed to this saddle (which I rode in when I went to see her) and the saddler checked it that day (I saw him arrive) so maybe the girth combination just isnt right for her. Owner seemed happy with discussion and have just ordered the wintec girth.

Glad I posted because it resassured me that the girth straps are ok like that (and point taken that they shouldnt be too tight) and that I didnt look like a right numpty when I spoke to her owner.

thanks again

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
The point of single flap saddles is for the close contact for the rider, not the freedom of the horse necessarily

[/ QUOTE ]

True but surely if a horse's girth grove is place quite far forward a saddler would have fitted a pointing strap to stop the girth slipping forward and casuign damage?

I've never seen a point strap on event saddles with long straps (then again I've only even used a Falcon event without the fancy straps

) but I have seen this on a dressage saddle, it also had a balancing strap though I think that was over kill

 

[KatB]

You can't fit point straps to single flapped saddles, (except Sue Carsons which seem to end up with hundreds of straps

) and in a majority of cases they are not necessary, as the girth wont cause problems unless the incorrect length. Long girths dont cause as much of a problem on horses with a forward girth groove because there is no buckle to rub!? Agree a balancing strap and a point strap needed to me would = a different saddle!!

 

[Baileyhoss]

KatB is right. B has a very deep girth & quite forward groove. The padded leather girth, which was technically the correct length gave him girthgalls and rubbed elbows.

The flatter longer girth doesn't interfere with him at all. If you look at his photo, a shorter girth would sit the buckles right at his elbows.

The purpose of the long girth straps is to remove bulk from underneath the riders leg i.e., 'close contact' .