Over girths

[mrsh2010]

Does anyone use these anymore?

I did my first ODE two weeks ago, when I set off my girth was a tight as normal.

But by the time we'd finished I was shocked at how loose it had become. He's a TB so holds himself in especially when excited.

Just wondering what I can do. I'm petrified of falling off following our accident.

Thanks in advance

 

[crabbymare]

I used to use them when girths were not as safe as they are now. but in your case it would probably be better to take the girth up a hole at a time while you are warming up so you know its properly tightened before the real excitement starts since an overgirth would mean longer to check and adjust it before the start as it would hold the saddle flaps down. and the overgirth would only be as tight as the normal girth so if the normal one feels tight so will the overgirth.

 

[mrsh2010]

Thank you

 

[be positive]

I agree with crabbymare, they are not used as much as they used to be, the main issue is that you cannot really do them up from on top so you are no better off than not using one, ensure you check the girth after warming up just before you set off, if in doubt go up another hole and make sure the girth you use is short enough to do so without being too far up the straps, I like to be at around 3 each side any longer then it starts to become harder to get tight enough.

Get a decent breastgirth and that should help keep everything in place more than an overgirth would.

 

[mrsh2010]

Get a decent breastgirth and that should help keep everything in place more than an overgirth would.

Thank you!

I tried a breastplate on him for the first time, had someone double check it and he didn't like it at all. He wouldn't pick up in the warm up and was knocking straight through the poles, so I took it off and he was fine.

I will try him in the 5 point martingale that my mum has "borrowed" for her lad and see what he thinks to that. And I will get a shorter girth - as I've been meaning too now he's toning up

 

[be positive]

The fit of the breastplate is important as they can interfere with movement, we tried numerous different ones on one horse before getting it right, others just seem to be fine, girth being the correct length is so important one of my pet hates is seeing them done up to the top with no room to go further, they are cheap enough to have a few so there is always a spare just in case, I always take an extra one in my box which has come in handy at times.