You know that thing about first and third girth straps...

[pennyturner]

I know some people girth up to the 'wrong' straps every day of their riding lives and get away with it, but here's what happened to my daughter at the weekend.

Due to a change-around, my older daughter, swapped tacking up with my youngest. Hence D1's pony was tacked up by an 8yo girl. It was a busy morning, and whoever checked the girth did a quick job.

Well into the ride D1 and D4 were playing silly billies, riding alongside (on two little stallions who deserve medals for their patience), prodding each other with their fingers, whilst wriggling about in the saddle in a kind of 'my arm's longer than yours' finger-fencing competition. All was well until suddenly... D1's Girth gave way completely as she was hanging off the far side of the saddle.

Pony shot forwards (can't blame him), she went out the side, with foot still in the stirrup, at clear risk of being dragged, and the saddle went clean over the pony's butt and down his back legs, causing him to buck and kick to be rid of it. Luckily he parted company with the saddle in moments, and the kicks missed her.

An examination of the wreckage showed that the rear webbing had given way, to which the girth was attached by both billets. If the front point had been used, this accident would have been prevented.

D1 had a soggy bum and a minor clonk on the head. The pony pulled up shaken but unhurt a few yards away, and was greatly relieved to be re-saddled (we got home using the remaining billet). Full post-mortem on the saddle will be required when I take it apart to re-do the webbing, as it probably got trodden/kicked - it could have been a lot worse!

 

[Happy Hunter]

What an event! I am glad no one is hurt
My Albion cannot be done by 1st and 3rd - it would affect the fit detrimentally, the 1st strap is in a totally different point on the tree.

A definite reminder for us to check all stitching regularly.

 

[SadKen]

I have had three different saddlers over the past two years - each one has attached the girth using different straps!

When I was young we always attached via the first and second straps. Nowadays it seems to be the first and third. No wonder everyone is confused!

I always use the first strap but alternate between the other two. No particular reason, sometimes I'm using my 15 year old brain and sometimes the 36 year old one!

Hope the soggy bum is dry and no lasting damage to your daughter.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

Ive always done the 1st and 3rd... which way is correct then? Hmmmmm

 

[pennyturner]

Good point HH. Only applies to traditional GP type saddles, not necessarily all, as some have non-standard points. I'm not sure checking the stitching would have done me any good on this occasion, as it was the webbing itself which gave - and although it was old, it was quite sound when I had the saddle apart about a year ago.

(It would probably have lasted years with sensible riding!)

 

[pennyturner]

Ive always done the 1st and 3rd... which way is correct then? Hmmmmm

The first point has its own webbing. #2 and #3 are on the same piece of wider webbing, so either 1+2 or 1+3 (same either side, always) mean you're attached via both pieces of webbing. Should one fail, the other should hold (hopefully).

 

[PaulnasherryRocky]

This worries me as my saddler has said best for me to always use the back two straps! (something to do with my horse' lack of muscle around the wither to give it "room to grow"...don't quote me on it, but it was something along those lines)

Maybe this is the excuse I need to sell both saddles and get a nice tan brown event saddle fitted....hmm

 

[twiggy2]

The first point has its own webbing. #2 and #3 are on the same piece of wider webbing, so either 1+2 or 1+3 (same either side, always) mean you're attached via both pieces of webbing. Should one fail, the other should hold (hopefully).

mine are all on different points on my saddle

 

[digitalangel]

depends on the saddle - i used to do 2 and 3 on my old girl so saddle was more anchored at the back.

 

[9tails]

This worries me as my saddler has said best for me to always use the back two straps! (something to do with my horse' lack of muscle around the wither to give it "room to grow"...don't quote me on it, but it was something along those lines)

Maybe this is the excuse I need to sell both saddles and get a nice tan brown event saddle fitted....hmm

Just check underneath and see if both girth straps are attached to one piece of webbing. I use 2 and 3 on my Albion and they are each on different webbing.

 

[PaulnasherryRocky]

Just check underneath and see if both girth straps are attached to one piece of webbing. I use 2 and 3 on my Albion and they are each on different webbing.

Ah I have an albion as well so maybe it's not as bad as I thought- though I am sure my other saddle is made in the usual way with the back straps being on the same webbing- I will double check though

 

[Equi]

I always do 1+3, there must always be one on 1!

 

[Challaborough Christmas Tree]

I had a fourth added to mine so it's always on 1&4, 4 has its own webbing though so I guess the same idea applies

 

[LadyRascasse]

Glad your daughter is alright, and not seriously hurt. Just to be totally awkward I use the 2nd and 4th straps. 1st strap would anchor it too much at the wither and if it was on the 3rd not 4th it would slide at the back. Every horse is different, for your average horse with a normal saddle I use 1st and 3rd.

 

[ktj1891]

Depends on saddle I have Kent and master and the first strap is attached to diff part of saddle that pulls down on wither- designed for the rounder horse that saddles slip on. I have been told to use only 2nd and 3rd strap on my saddle.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Golden rule in saddle fitting, regarding the girth straps that are on the main webbing use girth straps 1 and either 2 or 3 .
As Equi said, there must always be one on 1
If you use 1 and 2 it lowers the front of the saddle, if you use 1 and 3 it applies a more even pressure all round.
I have articles of badly made English saddles stripped down so you can see the girth webbing and why it is SO important to make them correctly as a lot aren't and accidents like this can happen. If anyone wishes to read these articles please PM me as I don't think I am allowed to put them on here.
You'd be surprised what some of the big named brands do and the short cuts they take.
Oz (Saddler)

 

[meesha]

Interesting, glad no-one was seriously hurt op. I use 2 and 3 but will check and rethink if they are on same webbing.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Interesting, glad no-one was seriously hurt op. I use 2 and 3 but will check and rethink if they are on same webbing.

Meesha they will be, there's a single web at the front with girth strap number one on it, then a wider web behind that with girth straps number 2 and 3 on it, if your rear web breaks as the OP's did then you are in serious trouble, the saddle will fall off.

 

[CLM]

This is why I really like this forum. Every now and again I pick up something really interesting that I didn't know before! I always use 1 and 3 but no idea why. Now I do, Thankyou!