Which girth

Size is probably the most critical factor when choosing a girth to suit your horse. Like humans, horses and ponies come in MANY different shapes and sizes. However, there are a few things that can help you guesstimate the size you will need.

The first is whether your saddle has long points or short points. General purpose and jump saddles can vary depending on the make, although you tend to see most jump saddles with short points which would then require a long girth. So logically, if you have horse that is larger than average, you would want to go bigger than this, and vice versa.

Remember that ideally, you want the girth to do up in the middle hole of the girth strap. However, probably the most accurate way to work out the correct size would be to place your saddle and saddle pad on the horse, then use a measuring tape stretched from one girth strap from the middle hole to the corresponding one on the other side, in the place that the girth would sit.

You may need a helper to do this! If the brand of girth you end up choosing is measured buckle to buckle as our KenTaur girths are , then this should be a fairly accurate way of discovering the right girth length for your horse. But remember that different saddles will have different girth strap lengths, so this may vary!

Behaviour such as pinning ears back and shuffling uncomfortably when doing up a girth may indicate that your horse is girthy. Besides the obvious step of getting a saddle fitter in to check your saddle, we would recommend using a shaped anatomical girth to provide maximum room for the elbow and shoulder. Often, straight girths can dig into the shoulders of a horse, leading to soreness and yes, girthiness.

Anatomical girths are also useful for extravagant movers or horses with large shoulders. We have a range of KenTaur dressage and jumping girths available in anatomical shapes. Leather Black or brown leather with EVA foam padding Western The Shoulder Relief Cinch Buy Here is available with 3 liner materials all of which are removable and interchangeable : Regardless of the liner, the cinch is equally as effective at keeping the saddle tree off the shoulder and giving extra elbow clearance.

The reasons to select each material type are as follows: Neoprene — Great for damp or muddy environments, as it is very easy to keep clean and repels moisture. Wool Fleece — Great for sensitive skin horses. Wool Felt — Great all around liner. It has the moisture wicking and heat dispersion qualities of wool while being easier to keep clean than a fleece liner.

Lets Keep In Touch Signup for our newsletter to stay up to date. Join our mailing list Signup for updates! View now at equus. Made from fine quality leather, this anatomical and softly padded girth from Mark Todd features three training rings and double elastic at both ends.

This Premier Equine girth is anatomically shaped for improved comfort and performance. It has one central D-ring and two at the side for tack and training aid attachments. The leather panel work combined with high quality stitch lines offer a professional look. Made under licence from Fairfax Saddles, this girth has the same design as their Performance girth, which was the first girth to be designed under scientific testing.

It distributes pressure, absorbs impact and prevents rubbing. Also available in narrow gauge. View now at elandlodge. This anatomically shaped girth from Rhinegold is fully padded, made of extra-soft leather and has elasticated ends.

It features D-rings for training aids. This Whitaker girth is made from thick padded leather that is chosen to help evenly distribute pressure. It has thick, durable elastic at each end as well as three D-ring attachments. This Wintec girth is made of a soft and supple outer material that has no seams or stitch lines, which prevents irritation on sensitive skin.

It has a fully elastic centre — rather than just the ends — that moves with your horse and eliminates the ability to over-tighten on one side. Wearing studs while jumping lessens the chance of your horse slipping and stud girths are designed to offer important protection. Allow your horse the greatest freedom of movement possible with this selection of short dressage girths. Check out this selection of the best saddle soaps and leather conditioners. The best girth will be different for every horse.