long V short girth straps

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Hallo2012

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so after much searching and faffing and trying i *think* i have a saddle sorted....its a black country show saddle so currently has short girth straps.

saddler has said he can put long straps on it to take a dressage girth if i want the buckle out from under my leg for sitting trot-has anyone done this and did it work ok?

i feel like saddle would be more secure with long straps and short girth?

he seems happy in the saddle currently with short straps so part of me thinks dont mend what isnt broke?!
 
There is some evidence I think that supports short girth + long straps as being more stable, but if he’s happy in the set up and the saddle isn’t moving I’d be tempted to leave it.
 
Do you need the saddle to be more stable? Is it currently moving?

Are the girth buckles bothering where the are?

It's something that is an easy change so if you do go for long straps and it doesnt work you can have them swapped back.
 
Wheels said:
Do you need the saddle to be more stable? Is it currently moving?

Are the girth buckles bothering where the are?

It's something that is an easy change so if you do go for long straps and it doesnt work you can have them swapped back.
Click to expand...


no not currently moving but i am aware he is tiny and round and saddles have moved in the past!

its easy enough to swap :)
 
I had the straps on my saddle shortened and have since regretted it as my haffie puffs herself out and it is a real struggle when I start her back init work ass she has generally put a few kilos on! I would go for longer, even if you use a regular girth.
 
Ingrid likes long girth’s. If he’s happy with that I’d leave as is for now. If it starts causing an issue then you can change it down the line. Also thinking resale be easier as is if he changes shape again!
 
I have mid length straps on my saddle but when I replace them I'll put short on. Long girths do given greater stability not that my saddle needs to be stabilised; I often ride with daylight between the girth and the horse and the saddle never moves. I've just gone off the look of girth straps poking out under the flap, short looks neater.
 
I would leave it as it is and see how you go first. Because he's small and there isn't much room, he looks in your photos as if there is a possibility of the buckles interfering with his elbows. It's also zero cost :)

I don't understand the mechanics of the stability argument if the girth is not elasticated. Once it's buckled, it forms a solid ring around the horse and I can't understand why, provided the girth is the right shape, it would be more stable if the buckle was lower.

Great news you found a saddle that works!

.
 
ycbm said:
I would leave it as it is and see how you go first. Because he's small and there isn't much room, he looks in your photos as if there is a possibility of the buckles interfering with his elbows. It's also zero cost :)

I don't understand the mechanics of the stability argument if the girth is not elasticated. Once it's buckled, it forms a solid ring around the horse and I can't understand why, provided the girth is the right shape, it would be more stable if the buckle was lower.

Great news you found a saddle that works!

.
Click to expand...

it was explained to me as something about the shape of the horse not being perfectly round, and the short girth sort of anchors underneath the widest part rather than on the widest part. Though I guess it would be rather horse dependant.
 
I've always found a long girths to more secure and more comfortable for the horse. I've just had a saddle custom made with short girth straps for this reason. If you have the right length girth, the buckles shouldn't interfere with your leg, unless you are riding with a particularly long leg. I believe Ingrid Klimke has her saddles converted for long girths. If you like the dressage "look" though, you may prefer a short girths.
 
I'd try keeping him with long especially as iirc you weren't convinced by him being comfortable with his short girth options either and with shorts you do just start to lose space for surface area/missing elbows etc.
 
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