How do you tighten a dressage girth without falling off ?

[Spottyappy]

So, my new saddle is close contact which requires a short/dressage girth.
How the heck do you tighten these things while on board?
my sharer fell off trying, I have almost followed suit ?
Leaning down the neck, while putting our legs back, and leaning down, somehow doesn’t seem to come naturally to either of us.
Help please!

 

[milliepops]

why are you putting your legs back?! that's the first problem i reckon
i put legs slightly forward if anything (at least the one on the opposite side to what you're adjusting) then you can fold at the hips but keep your bum in the saddle while you reach down.. make sure your short girth isn't too short.

 

[DirectorFury]

I like my short girths to come quite far up the side of the horse so there's only 2-3 inches between the bottom of the saddle and the buckles . I'm short so can't do the girth while I'm onboard otherwise -- are you sure your girth is long enough?

I just lean forward until my upper body is parallel to and alongside the neck (on the side I'm tightening) and then reach down and do it.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think I put my leg forward and literally bend from the waist and have never fallen off ?

 

[SEL]

And if its too loose (Microcob loves to pretend its tight until you're on board), then when you lean over the saddle goes with you

I've found using a longer girth helps - less far to lean.

 

[humblepie]

Staff! (not really normally on my own).

 

[Dave's Mam]

Made even more awkward when the ever starving Exmoor thinks that you might have something for him & his big head gets involved too!

 

[Roxylola]

I don't ?
But then I spent winter riding and jumping with a girth that was two sizes too big - so fully 4 inches out

 

[Spottyappy]

Staff! (not really normally on my own).

Would love staff! ?Not to be, as it’s my own private yard.

 

[Spottyappy]

So, seems we need to try putting leg forward. Tried before, and felt like a contortionist! Maybe NeEd to perfect it?!

 

[Cortez]

Staff, or get off and do it .

 

[Skib]

Most of my first riding lesson was spent being taught how to adjust my stirrup leathers and my girth after mounting.
To adjust the girth I was taught to lift my leg forward on that side. Feel under and lift the saddle flap, grab the end of the strap and pull. Then insert the buckle prong into the next hole. My first riding injury was when the prong of the buckle went into my thumb. Bled everywhere.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Push your weight into the opposite side leg as you lean down. Or have staff.

 

[Stenners]

Most of my first riding lesson was spent being taught how to adjust my stirrup leathers and my girth after mounting.
To adjust the girth I was taught to lift my leg forward on that side. Feel under and lift the saddle flap, grab the end of the strap and pull. Then insert the buckle prong into the next hole. My first riding injury was when the prong of the buckle went into my thumb. Bled everywhere.

Thats absolutely right but the short girths buckle up half way down the belly!

 

[Lady Jane]

Its not that hard if your girth is the right length - and near impossible if its too short!

 

[sbloom]

Thats absolutely right but the short girths buckle up half way down the belly!

To be as kind as possible to the horse, and help them move correctly, they should be as long as possible without interfering with the saddle pad (and it's always worth considering buying shorter saddle pads!).

 

[Mrs G]

Im always impressed when my friend tightens up her close contact dressage girth - how she folds her body and gets that low without falling off I just dont know! Practice, good balance and a natural suppleness?

 

[tallyho!]

Another poster here who thinks you need a longer girth with your leg forwards

 

[Gloi]

I just sold the saddle and went back to short girth straps

 

[Spottyappy]

I just sold the saddle and went back to short girth straps

I’ve only just had the saddle made ?

 

[Spottyappy]

Im always impressed when my friend tightens up her close contact dressage girth - how she folds her body and gets that low without falling off I just dont know! Practice, good balance and a natural suppleness?

Love it!

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Push your weight into the opposite side leg as you lean down. Or have staff.

This is what I do, seems to work ok for me!

 

[Nicnac]

Instructor, daughter or contortion as CBA to get off. Usually walk in hand before mounting to get it up one more hole to correct place.

 

[teapot]

A correct length girth and not swinging your leg back

 

[Roxylola]

More seriously
Bend from the hips as if you're going to touch your toes. Leave your legs where they are, then just hitch the leg back slightly on the side you're altering keeping the weight in your seat/other leg.
Less seriously, don't attempt to loosen an already loose girth on the way home with a horse that spooks at nothing and leaves you with the giggles - that nearly did not end well ?

 

[catkin]

More seriously
Bend from the hips as if you're going to touch your toes. Leave your legs where they are, then just hitch the leg back slightly on the side you're altering keeping the weight in your seat/other leg.
Less seriously, don't attempt to loosen an already loose girth on the way home with a horse that spooks at nothing and leaves you with the giggles - that nearly did not end well ?

Or look down at something in the hedge and end up doing a slo-mo sideways slide. You can also guarantee that you will not have seen a soul all morning but the minute you are past the point of no return the neighbours who think you are nuts anyway will stroll round the corner....

 

[First Frost]

All my saddles, jump and dressage have short girths. Never really thought about how I tighten them. When i did I realised I don't move my leg at all and just lean down. Mainly done by feel rather than looking. I'm the wrong side of 50 so not especially supple! Definitely you shouldn't be swinging your leg anywhere and falling off.

 

[splashgirl45]

i used to tighten when on the ground, lead round, then tighten other side, lead round again and tighten, then get on, didnt then need to tighten any more. agree staff would be useful

 

[littleshetland]

Ive been known to ask random passers-by ....

 

[Otherwise]

The same way as you go under low branches out hacking, bending from the hips but keeping your weight central so you don't pull the saddle one way