How long should a girth be

Members Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Log in Register. Search titles only. Search Advanced search…. New posts. Search forums. Log in. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. How long is your dressage girth? Thread starter Orangehorse Start date 28 November Orangehorse Well-Known Member 28 November Joined 25 November Messages 11, Having been told to make sure the buckle is above the elbow, I carefully attached some string to the girth strap where I would do it up to measure the length, which is 36 inches.

This seems very long for a dressage girth, but if it is any shorter he might catch his elbow on it. My horse isn't that big, so I am a bit puzzled.

So how long are yours? Joined 24 February Messages That does sound long! Mine is 26' for a Products links are selected by Dressage Today editors. Short girths are designed for saddles with long billets. For this reason, when using a short girth, select one with adequate padding underneath the buckle area to prevent bruising.

Long billets are designed to be used with short girths. Dusty Perin. Long girths provide the best stability even though they are considered old-fashioned by the dressage community. To avoid this problem, the buckles should not be farther up than two to three holes from the bottom of the billets on both sides when the girth is tightened. Even if you are using a short girth, always use the longest girth possible. This is because the farther the girth is from the saddle tree, the less stable the connection with the tree.

The ends of the girth should be close to the saddle pad without interference. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to fit about two fingers between the bottom of the saddle pad and the top of the girth. Although long girths provide more stability, if the girth is too long and the buckles too high on the billets, it diminishes the stability and interferes with a relaxed dressage leg.

To get an estimate of the correct size, put your saddle on the horse using your old girth. Measure the distance between the middle billet holes. The number of inches you get on the measuring tape is the size you need. Does your horse need an ergonomically shaped girth or would a straight girth be better for him? Each kind has distinct benefits. Ergonomically shaped girths are clearly dominating the market. Anatomically shaped girths work well for horses with a well-defined girth area, which gives enough room behind the elbows.

These girths have cutouts for the elbows on both long sides. Asymmetrical girths work well for horses who have a less-defined girthing area that is closer to the elbows, causing the girth to sit farther forward.

These girths have a more pronounced cutout for the elbow, but only on one of the long sides of the girth. Crescent- or moon-shaped girths are designed for horses with short backs, wide rib cages and narrow chests, where the saddle tends to slide forward.

These girths are designed to take up the rounder shape of the rib cage, preventing the girth from moving forward and colliding with the elbows. Straight girths have been around for centuries and come in a variety of materials. If your horse has a well-defined girthing and easy-to-fit saddle area, a good-quality straight girth might be all you need. Leather is a time-tested material for girths and if well-cared for, outlasts most other materials.

It is breathable and usually tolerated well by horses with more sensitive skin. Most leather girths are stuffed with padding to increase comfort. The downside of leather is that you need to regularly clean and condition it to keep it smooth and prevent it from chafing.

New on the market are leather girths that are vegetable-tanned. While conventional leather-tanning techniques use chromium salts or formaldehydes, which are considered harmful to humans and the environment, vegetable tanning is an old-world process that uses tannic acids naturally found in some plant species and is considered percent biodegradable and nontoxic.

Neoprene is a popular material as it is extremely soft and flexible. The advantage of neoprene is that it is extremely low maintenance.

It dries quickly and is easy to wash. Some girths can even be thrown in the washer. On the downside, like many synthetic materials, neoprene can retain heat, causing skin irritations or rubs.

Neoprene girths with pinholes create better airflow. Synthetic girths tend to be low-maintenance, but can also retain heat and cause skin irritation. String or cord girths have been around for decades and have become a classic. They come in natural and synthetic materials. They are easy to care for and inexpensive. Some top dressage riders still prefer to ride with these simple girths. Nonslip girths feature a grippy surface usually made of rubber or neoprene.

These girths are a great option if you have a horse who is challenging to fit with a saddle because he has a wider, rounder barrel and flat withers, such as many pony breeds.

The grippy material is designed to stabilize the panels, providing a more secure fit. Fleece-covered girths are good at wicking away moisture and supposedly keep the skin drier and cool. Fleece comes in natural cotton or synthetic materials and some girths have a combination of the two.

Cotton fleece breathes well, and synthetic lining can help wick away sweat and keep the horse dry and comfortable. Fleece girths do have the tendency to allow saddles to move around, especially if not fit properly. Sheepskin is a popular padding material. Girth covers are usually made from real or synthetic sheepskin.

Natural sheepskin regulates temperature, wicks away moisture and is well tolerated by sensitive skin. The downside is that it can only be washed in the delicate cycle read more on p.

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Be sure to enter your Military DoD into the comment box. How to Select a Girth A properly fitting girth is essential as it keeps the saddle securely in place. It is also important for the comfort of your horse. Girths are made out of a variety of materials and are available in many types of sizes, shapes, colors and styles, each offering unique benefits to the horse.

The right types of girths for your horse will depend on how your horse moves, skin sensitivity in the girthing area, allergies to textiles and how much he sweats during work.

To browse our selection of English girths online, click here. Ideally, for a long girth, the buckles will not be located high under your thigh where they can feel bulky.

When this happens, it means the girth is too long for the horse. Always be sure that you have at least two billet holes available above and at least one hole available below the buckles. Some riders will use longer dressage girths to stretch up so that the top of the girth rests on the saddle pad to avoid pinching, but this method may defeat the purpose of using a short girth to reduce bulk under the leg.

The inch measurement you obtain translates to the girth size you require. Remember that different saddles will have different billet strap lengths, so you may have to change your girth size if you change your saddle. Also, if you measure a used girth to obtain the desired length for a new girth, remember that the old girth has probably stretched. For example, if you use a inch girth with your jumping saddle, you should try a inch girth with your dressage saddle.

Styles and Types of Girths The various materials used to make girths offer unique benefits to the horse and rider, affect price, and even solve problems. It needs to work with the horse, moving ever so slightly with the hair horizontally and not against it vertically in such a way as to cause rubbing or chafing.

If a girth is too narrow for a horse, it concentrates pressure on a narrow band of his barrel and that pressure can be uncomfortable. Some long girths have built-in belly guards appropriate for jumpers. The belly guards protect the horse from being injured from shoe studs while its hooves are tucked up tightly over jumps. Others have built-in rings for training aids. Elastic ends are another feature designed for comfort and for ease of use.

Some older, traditional types of girths do not incorporate elastic into their design, but most girths have elastic on at least one end.

Elastic ends make the girth fastening process easier, and provide some flexibility and comfort for the horse as his ribcage moves during exercise.