Overgirths? Essential or unnecessary?

Gamebird

Gamebird

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
8,773
Visit site
I've been pondering this one for a while. I NEVER EVER go XC without an overgirth but have noticed that the majority of people (including quite a few 4* riders) don't use one. Is this because saddlery has improved and things rarely break or is there another reason?

I would think they would be quite important with single flap saddles as quite a lot of designs rely on one girth attachment point rather than the 2 on more traditional saddles.

If they aren't really necessary anymore it would be fab as it's a pain when you're alone as you can't easily tighten your girth just before XC once you're in the saddle.

Opinions please
confused.gif
 
I've worked for a lot of top riders and have to say none of them (this is grooming at all levels from intro to Badminton/Burghley) have used an over girth. Well, i say that the only time we did use one was when a devoucoux's straps were going (it was ancient!) and then it was just used at home until it got mended. All bar one of them had single flap saddles.

1 amateur rider i've worked for at CCI*** level used to use them at all the 3DE's i did for her but last time out (bramham) we didnt use one! She had an albion normal flap.
 
I dont use one, but feel I should and will do if we ever get beyond PN!! My old boss was a stickler for using one on everything, and I think it is a safe than sorry thing
smile.gif
 
I think people have stopped using them because there is no longer phase A,B and C.
If a saddle/girth breaks like what happened to WFP its tough luck but very rare. I also think the care and processes of leather is better now so less problems especially with nylon centres being used so it cannot stretch.
 
I used to use one fairly often at intermediate/3 days
However, I generally go to events on my own now and I also have a horse who isnt good at standing aboiut for alterations before we start. Over-girths are very fiddly to do up in my experience and theyre the last thing I want to be stressing about before going into the start box!!
 
That's the main issue for me Boss. Once I'm mounted for XC that's that. If I get off I can't get back on again. I have a big horse and ride short so I can't reach the stirrups easily. At Blair I had to get off after I'd warmed up to do my number/grease/check studs etc. and it took someone to leg me up and someone else to hold the horse before I could get back on. Not a hope at a one-day when I'm generally on my own.
 
if you use alot of elasticated tack (girths, breast plates) or are riding somewhere with severe inclines (e.g. burgie/ blair) i would probably use one or advise my riders to do particularly if they use lots of pads/saddle cloths because the former can break completely without warning (it is much harder to see when the elastic is worn than to check leather and its stitching) and in the latter two cases because the incidence of slipping tack is much greater.
and frankly the money it costs these days to event then it seems to me that the risk of a non completion for the sake of one extra strap seems an unnessessary risk.
 
^^^^^^^^^^^^

What Bossanova said. I always used to use one & still do when my Mum is there
blush.gif
but I find them a pain and both of our horses are pretty crap at keeping still when they know XC is coming.

I think I would make the effort to put it on at a 3DE, mainly on the basis of how many ££££££££££££ its cost to get there but at ODE I think they are probably more trouble than they are worth.

I do like to buy a new girth every couple of years and keep my girth straps in tip top condition cos its easy enough to fall off even when the saddle is securely in place
grin.gif
laugh.gif
 
I dont use one... Always used to with my ponys but people dont seem to use them much anymore/havent seen them in the shops. However I have often thought maybe i should use one?!
confused.gif
confused.gif
 
I always used one but my daughter never does....or did one of her girth buckles gave way at Draycott this summer and she went round half the course on one strap and was righting the saddle after each jump. After the following jump she had slipped quite a bit and had to right it in one stride before the jump out . I am hoping she has learnt her lesson. The saddle was going to the right

draycott2.jpg
 
I used one although I was only jumping a pre novice level unaffiliated one day and three day (milton keynes) events. Better to be safe than sure.
 
Can i ask a really stupid question of how an overgirth actually works/ what it is? Your discussion is really interesting and has and me intriged (sp)!
blush.gif
 
i used to use one but don't any more. it makes tightening the girth a nightmare on your own, plus it makes the seat of the saddle more slippery.
the one big bonus to having one on is that if the rider comes off and the horse gallops off, the flaps of the saddle are anchored down and won't flap around, scaring the horse. i use one over my saddles for lungeing the youngsters for this reason.
i've also thought that if the girth itself breaks, would the overgirth really keep the saddle in position? i don't think i've ever been able to do it tight enough that it would.
iirc the first top rider not to bother with an overgirth was Polly Phillips.
 
I think Overgirths would keep the saddle in place if the girth did break for long enough to be in a safer situation....but certainly not to carry on round a whole course! It may also help in the_carthorses daughters situation of one strap breaking....
 
I have to say I use an overgirth
blush.gif

I had to use it pony racing [tis compulsory to wear one, whatever tack / saddle you use], and since then I've carried on using it eventing. TBF I normally have my mum on the ground so she can tighten my girth. That said, I am 'young and flexible' and can generally tighten the girth on my own even if my boys fidget. I use it on C's saddle when we do ride and lead otherwise when we do trot / canter work the saddle flaps...flap lol.

But yes, I'm at Intro / PN & N, and use it all across the board - even at PC events and hunter trials. As someone else said [I think KatB] it won't keep you in place all the way round, but long enough for you to pull up before you and your [possibly expensive] saddle hit the dirt. Someone else not on here told me that too. IDK. It's a bit like a stick, I'd rather know it's there but not need it, than get half way round and think 'oh sh*t, I wish I'd got it.'

Just MHO!
 
I used to have one when I was a kid as it looked so cool
blush.gif
. I also used one on my race saddle when I did MGA. You do know that if you do decide to take it off that is when you'll need it, if you leave it on you never will
tongue.gif
 
I had been pondering this as well. Have returned to eventing after a break (a fairly long one!) and noticed that everyone had done away with their over girths. I wondered if it one reason was possibly that single flap saddles with long girth straps may pinch with an overgirth? Or that there was some doubt about how much use they would really be if your girth did fail you?
 
Nope I dont really use on, did used to but I think tack has improved so much over the years and things rarely break. Agree they were used more for three day events when there were 4 phases in the Cross Country! Plus agree that when you are on your own they are a TOTAL pain to do up etc.
 
well i have been pondering whether to get an overgirth as well, but really only because i use a stud girth for eventing, and somehow i dont find these as safe/secure as a normal atherstone girth.

however, it is very hard to find one in black and red!
tongue.gif


but still not sure, although if i ever get to necarne i think its an unwritten rule that you need one
blush.gif
8 minute xc and all hills
tongue.gif
 
Very interesting thread, personally I dont use one but have wondered if I should be. I just find it very difficult to do before I go XC so after trying one once I decided it wasnt worth doing again!
 
I always use one, ever since my first xc when i was about 9!
I wouldn't feel safe without one, there is always the chance of a tack malfunction. If you are highly placed in a competition the last thing you want is for your girth to give way.
 
I always used to use one. However I noticed a massive change in what everyone was using when I came back to horses after a few years break. One of the buzz-issues was about even-ness of the girth, not over-tightening etc, to allow their rib-cage to expand and them to breathe properly.

So if we are buying in to that, putting on an over-girth and yanking it tight would slightly counter that, wouldn't it? Now I reckon that I'll just keep checking my tack and not use one, especially as I anticipate that, if I ever get brave enough to start eventing my baby this year, I'll be far too busy being sick to bother with it
crazy.gif
 
When I have been to demos at your horse live I remember many of the pros saying they think today they are unnecessary, one was William Fox - Pitt but can't remember any of the others, I don't personally use one myself for BE Intro and PN.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the one big bonus to having one on is that if the rider comes off and the horse gallops off, the flaps of the saddle are anchored down and won't flap around, scaring the horse. i use one over my saddles for lungeing the youngsters for this reason.


[/ QUOTE ]

Kerilli - you are always full of useful advice.

thank you!
 
I was told that they do bugger all if girth breaks etc but are only there to keep saddle flap down, so for example if horse does dodgy jump and you get unbalanced and lose stirrup the saddle flap is nice and down and easier to get stirrup back. But as most now have single flap saddles where the saddle flaps can't flap you don't need one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top