Tightening the girth on a long strap saddle

Reashi

Reashi

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I am aware that to tighten the girth on a short girth strap saddle you move your leg forward, but on a long strap saddle I move my leg slightly back and then I can reach easier. However, I was given a leg up at the start of a fun ride today, and then I tightened my girth and he said 'put your leg forward' and I said 'but my girth buckles are really far down' and he said 'doesnt matter, leg should go forward and you should know better' - bearing in mind I don't know who this man was?! I find it easier to move my leg back for these long girth straps but am I committing a cardinal sin here?!
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I would fall off if i put my leg forward to do mine, on 1 horse i have it on bottom hole to start with, there is no way i could balance leg forward and lean down that far!! I try to keep my leg fairly still but no way could it go forward!!
 
you mean like a dressage girth? i put my leg back slightly on my close contact xc saddle which has a short girth and long straps- i wouldn't be able to reach if i put leg forward as i'm inflexible and have short arms! what a strange man!
 
Yep, its a short girth with long straps on my jumping saddle. I was so flummoxed by his comment I didn't really say anything back because I was trying to think whether it was possible to do up your girth with your leg forward on a long strap saddle. Never mind, if someone ever says it again I'll them to get on and try!!!
 
i put my leg back too, as long as you don't rub the horse with your leg, or inadvertently prick it with the spur, i can't see what the problem is?!
if someone on the ground is tightening the girth for me, i put my leg forward to keep it out of their way, maybe that's what he meant? how are you supposed to lean down that far with your leg stuck forward?!
btw, always do 1 buckle and then the other, never pull both at once... sounds like a no-brainer but i have seen people do both at once. last year my helper went to tighten my short dr girth and horse bolted, no idea why... thank god she'd only undone 1 strap...
 
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if someone on the ground is tightening the girth for me, i put my leg forward to keep it out of their way, maybe that's what he meant? how are you supposed to lean down that far with your leg stuck forward?!

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He only gave me a leg up, and then left me to it, so I was tightening the girth myself. My mum said Pony Club teach you to put your leg forward and maybe that's what he meant, but I don't see how tha'ts possible on a long strap?!
 
I put my leg back, I would fall off the side of the horse if I put it forward as I have to lean so far down.
 
Leg forward for short strap, leg back for long strap. The man has obviously never ridden in a long strap saddle!
 
Hm.
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. Am really pleased mine are tight enough before I get on (thank wotsit she hasn't learnt the breathing trick lol) - I couldn't reach if my leg was forwards, backwards or slung round m'neck rofl
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