Long girth straps on jump saddles - pros/cons please

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Super_starz

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So, i am having to buy a new jumping saddle, as i cant get a second hand one to fit him. My saddler is ordering one to measure and i am wondering whether to get long girth straps as i hate it when they are under my leg. Is they any reason why you wouldnt do this or is it just persoanl pref? Thanks for your help.
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I have long girth straps on my new Ideal jumping saddle and it hasn't really made a difference to me either way!

(it is a tiny bit more difficult to do up when mounted but only because I am really ham fisted lol
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You know the most obvious "pros" but I can think of two "cons" from my own experience which would make me go with long girth/short billets.

One, if you ride relatively unreliable horses and don't always have help at hand, it can be a dangerous trick to get a short girth done up properly. I don't mind hanging over the edge of an older, relatively quiet horse but I don't want to be in the position on a young one.

Two, I've had a few horses react VERY negatively to short girths. Granted, most don't seem to have a problem at all but enough do that I'd want to try riding in a short girth before I invested all the money in a new saddle with one. Yes, you can play around with different girths, rigging systems etc, but some horses just seem to not like the feel of them, particularly if they're used to the standard girths. For whatever reason it seems more likely with jumping than dressage saddles but I've had two that went better in long girth dressage saddles, too.

I do find it interesting that despite their popularity with eventers short girths don't seem to have caught on to the same level in pure show jumping. This might just be fashion - there have been short girth xc specialist saddles since the middle of the last century - but I would be interested to know how many top showjumpers have tried them.

Little things, sometimes. I have one horse now that works considerably better in back polo bandages (the thick work wraps - not so common here but standard in North America), slightly better in boots, and worst of all with bare hind legs. It *shouldn't* make a difference but to him, it does.
 
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I do find it interesting that despite their popularity with eventers short girths don't seem to have caught on to the same level in pure show jumping. This might just be fashion - there have been short girth xc specialist saddles since the middle of the last century - but I would be interested to know how many top showjumpers have tried them.


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Yes i have noticed this and i would be interest to know why?

Luckly i have a short girth dressage saddle, so i know he is fine with it. Also he is fairly good with me dangling down his side to do his girth up
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Long girth straps are suppose to give you a better feel to the horses sides as the buckles aren't in the way of your legs. They feel you clearly and you can feel their reactions more clearly ( main reason for dressage) but as TS has said if this was majorly important why don't you see loads of SJ's riding in them?
My best pro is only one saddle flap to clean as I'm lazy
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