Probably a really stupid question but....

[SmartieBean09]

Girth help!!!

Ok so horse is 14.3 Connie x (what I expect to be) ID. She is very broad, a 6ft 3 in rugs and a full in tack. Last saddle was a K&M and she had a 44' girth (prob should have been a 46"). Anyway, I now have a new saddle and the girth straps are much shorter and so my usual girth just about goes on! Today I saw a gorgeous girth but the shop only had it in a 140cm which I think is a 55". I bought it to try and with all tack it goes up nicely with 2 holes either side still to go. I haven't ridden in it yet and I know you're all probably thinking, well bloody ride in it! but ive come home and feel all unsettled ( I hate taking anything back). Is 2 holes either side enough to go up? Would you ideally like more?

Should I just shut up, have a glass of wine and wait til I can ride in the morning? I will try and upload a photo!

 

[Dexter]

I'd want more. I think mine goes up a hole sometimes 2 when I get on, and Id find it hard to adjust if it was really high

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Is it elastic at both ends?
How hard was it to get to 2&2?

My lad just moved down a size after being on 4&4 on his old girth. We went down two inches but I swear it was 6 inches short on first attempt. After quite a lot of puffing I got it done up and rode on 1&1. I'm now comfortably on 2&2 after 6 weeks and I can easily put it to 1&1 to tack up. It is leather and elastic at both ends (which has now relaxed a bit)

 

[SmartieBean09]

It went on lovely with 4 and 4 either side and after waiting a bit, I then got it up another 2, so it was fairly tight. I think ideally id feel more comfortable if id bought the 130 but as much as I hate taking things back, i'm impatient too and now that we have a saddle that fits, I just want to get going! Argh!!! It was elastic both ends. If it makes any difference, the girth that was too small was a Professional Choice Ventech and the new one is a Micklem Girth.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

In that case, I agree with Dexter, I suspect a size down is a good idea because you'll get both ends of elastic giving a bit after a few weeks.

 

[Lois Lame]

Girth help!!!

Ok so horse is 14.3 Connie x (what I expect to be) ID. She is very broad, a 6ft 3 in rugs and a full in tack. Last saddle was a K&M and she had a 44' girth (prob should have been a 46"). Anyway, I now have a new saddle and the girth straps are much shorter and so my usual girth just about goes on! Today I saw a gorgeous girth but the shop only had it in a 140cm which I think is a 55". I bought it to try and with all tack it goes up nicely with 2 holes either side still to go. I haven't ridden in it yet and I know you're all probably thinking, well bloody ride in it! but ive come home and feel all unsettled ( I hate taking anything back). Is 2 holes either side enough to go up? Would you ideally like more?

Should I just shut up, have a glass of wine and wait til I can ride in the morning? I will try and upload a photo!

I'd want more too. Not much wiggle room.

 

[ycbm]

FWIW no such thing as a stupid question from a caring owner. We were all novices once and are all still novices at something!
.

 

[poiuytrewq]

FWIW no such thing as a stupid question from a caring owner. We were all novices once and are all still novices at something!
.

Totally this!

 

[SmartieBean09]

FWIW no such thing as a stupid question from a caring owner. We were all novices once and are all still novices at something!
.

Thank you YCBM

I returned it. That will teach me for being impatient and impulse buying!

 

[holeymoley]

Funnily enough I was wondering the same thing yesterday. Mine is done up 4 and 4 each side but saddler says he needs to go down from a 48” to a 42” or 40” with elastic. But. I’m even more confused as I tried a 46”. Prolite and could hardly get it attached!

 

[Red-1]

Funnily enough I was wondering the same thing yesterday. Mine is done up 4 and 4 each side but saddler says he needs to go down from a 48” to a 42” or 40” with elastic. But. I’m even more confused as I tried a 46”. Prolite and could hardly get it attached!

I haven't had a Prolite, but did have a Fairfax, and they may measure a certain length, but the padding is so thick that they fit like a size smaller as the outer has to go round the padding as well as the horse.

It is also annoying when some manufacturers measure, as they should, pin to pin, whereas others measure end to end. So, it is tricky!

 

[holeymoley]

I haven't had a Prolite, but did have a Fairfax, and they may measure a certain length, but the padding is so thick that they fit like a size smaller as the outer has to go round the padding as well as the horse.

It is also annoying when some manufacturers measure, as they should, pin to pin, whereas others measure end to end. So, it is tricky!

Thank you thats really interesting to hear about the padding affecting sizing. I might give them another try.