How do you tighten a dressage girth without falling off ?

[paddy555]

very easily. I don't have staff and I don't want to end up falling off so after I have walked around to loosen him up I ride up to a bank and let him have a nibble whilst I do the contortionist act down his side. I feel perfectly safe and if he gets a mouthful of grass versus me having to get off so be it.

 

[Renvers]

Practice and keeping weight into the stirrup on the other side. But if you are reaching too far down is the girth too short? It should not be as low down as the elbow.

 

[Spottyappy]

Practice and keeping weight into the stirrup on the other side. But if you are reaching too far down is the girth too short? It should not be as low down as the elbow.

The saddle maker told me the girth size, I’m pretty sure it’s not too short, but I will check. Thanks.

 

[LouisCat]

Practice and keeping weight into the stirrup on the other side. But if you are reaching too far down is the girth too short? It should not be as low down as the elbow.

This. The buckles should be way up past the elbows so you shouldn't need to reach that low down really ?

 

[Antw23uk]

Change ya billets and get a standard girth

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

It was easier when my tummy didn’t get in the way ?

 

[sbloom]

The saddle maker told me the girth size, I’m pretty sure it’s not too short, but I will check. Thanks.

Did he or she see you put it on the horse and look at exactly where different length girths would end up? Did he or she explain about which muscles to miss, and how long it needed to be to keep the buckles away from the elbow area? And also explain that it's the overall length of the girth that matters (as I said above, as long as possible but not to interfere with the pad/numnah) so that the stated buckle end to buckle end measurement isn't actually that helpful? I am suspecting not....is the girth as long as you can possibly use without interfering with the pad? That is always the best length.

 

[rara007]

My girth is the correct length (within 2 holes from the top each side) but it’s still almost impossible- I need my sternum on the pommel to reach…! If I can’t get anyone to help me to have to get off to sort. My saddle has pretty long flaps, my horse is lightweight and I’m not very tall…!

 

[Sossigpoker]

If the buckles are below the horse's elbow, the girth is too short.

 

[sbloom]

If the buckles are below the horse's elbow, the girth is too short.

I would argue that, except in unusual cases, if they're not significantly above the elbow then the girth is too short. Mattes even show their "correct length" girth up over the numnah, but it is sheepskin lined which means less chance of it wrinkling the pad.

https://www.e-a-mattes.com/wp-content/uploads/mattes_manual_EN_saddlegirth_ea.pdf

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I don’t fall off but I do suffer from low blood pressure and so it does make me feel quite dizzy, even on a Fell pony lol.

 

[Spottyappy]

So, this is the girth before I mount, The undone side will go up one hole when on.

 

[sbloom]

It looks like you have long flaps and girth straps on a smaller ribcage, I would ideally want a longer girth on, those buckles are very near the elbow, though it's hard to tell from the angle of the photo. You are likely to run into an issue with the pad but if you could get a sheepskin lined girth or something else that didn't cause wrinkling of the pad then I'd consider it.

 

[BronsonNutter]

You practice on 2yr old racehorses with a single flap racing saddle - then you WILL stay on when faced with normal horse + dressage girth