silverstar
Well-Known Member
I was thinking about this the other day. I normally use an ordinary non elastic girth but they were always too slack and I was thinking of getting a double elastic girth for my new horse.
Over-tightening girths, the effect...
- Thread starter kerilli
- Start date
SnowGoose
Well-Known Member
A good friend of mine has just had a paper published on a similar topic - i have a PDF copy but not sure if i'm allowed/how i post on here.
if you want to try and find it its:
Sue Wright, Comparative Exercise Physiology 7(3) pg141-148 Girth tensions and their variability while standing and during exercise.
if you want to try and find it its:
Sue Wright, Comparative Exercise Physiology 7(3) pg141-148 Girth tensions and their variability while standing and during exercise.
Noodlebug
Well-Known Member
I would love a copy!! My horse is definately affected by the girth
KatB
Well-Known Member
There was a load of work done by the inventors of the "Sci Girth" (google it!) They are a fab design, but ££, so never got round to buying one! However, the people who backed my coloured were HUGE fans of them, and he was certainly happier in them that he was in conventional girths 
SnowGoose
Well-Known Member
Paper abstract cited above 
The tension applied to the girth is usually based on an individual’s experience rather than by scientific measurement or procedure. The equine thorax is a dynamic structure, and therefore the actual readings of girth tensions at rest and during exercise (actual tension) are likely to vary from the tension to which the girth was intended to be tightened at restwhile standing (intended tension). This study was undertaken to determine the variability of girth tensions at rest
and during exercise. A total of 19 Hanoverian horses were lunged on a 20m circle in walk, trot and canter on both reins. In a randomized design, each horse was exposed to intended tensions 6, 10, 14 and 18 kg (saddle and girth at appropriate intended tensions). Girth tension was measured and recorded continuously using an in-line load cell.
Intended girth tensions were not significantly different with mean actual girth tensions while standing. Actual girth tensions increased significantly (P , 0.001) between walk, trot and canter at all tensions except rest to trot at tension 6 kg, where the significance level was P , 0.01. Actual girth tension was significantly higher (P , 0.001) on the left rein at tension 14 kg in walk and trot, and at tensions 6, 10 and 14 kg during canter, and there was an overall trend for higher actual girth tensions on the left rein for the other tensions. As the thorax is a dynamic structure, girth tension variation could be due to multiple factors such as respiration, breath holding, muscular contraction, back flexion and extension, speed, gait and vertical acceleration of the saddle. Girth tension is a relatively new area of research, and as there are many opportunities for further research, a better understanding of the impact the girth has on the horse could help to improve performance and welfare
so basically what this is saying is that the horse changes shape as it moves due to breathing (rib cage expanding and contracting) muscular movement of forelimbs and hindlimbs etc so if you tighten your girth at halt, it will increase in tightness once the horse starts to move!
The tension applied to the girth is usually based on an individual’s experience rather than by scientific measurement or procedure. The equine thorax is a dynamic structure, and therefore the actual readings of girth tensions at rest and during exercise (actual tension) are likely to vary from the tension to which the girth was intended to be tightened at restwhile standing (intended tension). This study was undertaken to determine the variability of girth tensions at rest
and during exercise. A total of 19 Hanoverian horses were lunged on a 20m circle in walk, trot and canter on both reins. In a randomized design, each horse was exposed to intended tensions 6, 10, 14 and 18 kg (saddle and girth at appropriate intended tensions). Girth tension was measured and recorded continuously using an in-line load cell.
Intended girth tensions were not significantly different with mean actual girth tensions while standing. Actual girth tensions increased significantly (P , 0.001) between walk, trot and canter at all tensions except rest to trot at tension 6 kg, where the significance level was P , 0.01. Actual girth tension was significantly higher (P , 0.001) on the left rein at tension 14 kg in walk and trot, and at tensions 6, 10 and 14 kg during canter, and there was an overall trend for higher actual girth tensions on the left rein for the other tensions. As the thorax is a dynamic structure, girth tension variation could be due to multiple factors such as respiration, breath holding, muscular contraction, back flexion and extension, speed, gait and vertical acceleration of the saddle. Girth tension is a relatively new area of research, and as there are many opportunities for further research, a better understanding of the impact the girth has on the horse could help to improve performance and welfare
so basically what this is saying is that the horse changes shape as it moves due to breathing (rib cage expanding and contracting) muscular movement of forelimbs and hindlimbs etc so if you tighten your girth at halt, it will increase in tightness once the horse starts to move!
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Redd
Well-Known Member
I usually tighten my girth after about 5 minutes of walking, but whilst still at walk to avoid over-tightening. I have to have elastic as my horse blows out so much I can't get it on otherwise. It is elasticated both sides and I can always fit my hand flat between his side and the girth and move my hand away from his side a little to push the girth out as he would when breathing.
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
I have the girth on loose setting til just before I get on, tighten slightly before climbing on from fence/block/trough then tighten slightly after a few minutes, if necessary. I use 'elastic both ends' wider girths. I HATE girths to be overtightened and am mystified why people, even without reading these scientific papers and evidence-based reports, would imagine a horse's could be unimpaired by being almost cut in half by a fixed, non-giving band encircling its body. Some Pony Club tack check sessions made me cringe and I have actually gone in and loosened my ponies' girths after ridiculous tightening by the instructor - and no, I'm not sorry!
MegaBeast
Well-Known Member
I think one important factor to consider is where on the girth you check the tension. I was always taught to check under the sternum not as you see most people doing on the side. Logically, not all horses are perfcetly round, if they're a bit slab sided then the girth will seem to be almost slack unless you check behind the legs at which point it will probably be quite snug.
I'm a huge fan of the professional choice girths used sympathetically as you don't have to do them up as tightly as conventional girths. However I'm sure a lot of people don't realise this and honk them up as tight as they'll go - which with elastic both ends must be excruciatingly tight!
I'm a huge fan of the professional choice girths used sympathetically as you don't have to do them up as tightly as conventional girths. However I'm sure a lot of people don't realise this and honk them up as tight as they'll go - which with elastic both ends must be excruciatingly tight!
foxy1
Well-Known Member
This is a real bugbear of mine.
I once took a pony (whose rider had been having problems with napping) for schooling. The girl came for a lesson and left the pony with me afterwards tacked up and rushed off as they were running late. When I tried to untack the pony the poor things girth was so incredibly tight I nearly had to cut it off! I would like to say that with a looser girth the pony suddenly went beautifully but that wasn't the case however by the end of the week she did go forward far more freely and willingly and I've no doubt the over-tight girth was a contributing factor to the pony's problems.
I once took a pony (whose rider had been having problems with napping) for schooling. The girl came for a lesson and left the pony with me afterwards tacked up and rushed off as they were running late. When I tried to untack the pony the poor things girth was so incredibly tight I nearly had to cut it off! I would like to say that with a looser girth the pony suddenly went beautifully but that wasn't the case however by the end of the week she did go forward far more freely and willingly and I've no doubt the over-tight girth was a contributing factor to the pony's problems.
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
Hmmm interesting..... I was discussing with a friend recently how Girth tightness can affect the saddle fit in general and are people hurting their horses back with saddles, that if the girths were at the right tension, they would fit correctly???
I like a bit of give in my saddle but having been the numpty that tried to jump and had too loose a girth and ending up going under with the saddle I will admit that I have been guilty of perhaps over tightening in the past.
How do people feel about the over girths then around a normal girth??? I used one of these quite a lot XC many years ago.....
Very interesting subject
I like a bit of give in my saddle but having been the numpty that tried to jump and had too loose a girth and ending up going under with the saddle I will admit that I have been guilty of perhaps over tightening in the past.
How do people feel about the over girths then around a normal girth??? I used one of these quite a lot XC many years ago.....
Very interesting subject