The anatomical girth – how does it differ from other girths?
We all know how important the choice of saddle is. Every sensible rider spends long hours, if not days and weeks, choosing the right model, trying on different saddles and seeking the opinions of saddle fitters. In all this the girth is usually treated as a less important accessory, which should match the saddle and fulfil its basic function, which is keeping the saddle on our horse’s back. Meanwhile, the girth is a very important piece of equestrian equipment, which can significantly affect our horse’s comfort, and even its motor function. Relatively recently anatomical girths have become popular, which by their shape adapt to certain features of the horse’s build and eliminate undesirable sliding of the saddle.
In this article we will talk precisely about this type of girth and about how using it can affect our everyday riding.
Why is the choice of girth so important?
The girth is the only element that keeps the saddle in a stable and balanced position on the horse’s back. Although it may seem that most warmblood horses have a fairly standard build, there are nevertheless significant differences between them that will significantly affect how the saddle sits on the back. So, we have horses with a more or less marked girth line, with prominent withers and with low withers, or sway-backed, or with a straight back. All these features will affect whether the saddle will have a tendency to slide on the horse’s back, often causing pressure in sensitive places and discomfort.
Usually the girth lies naturally just behind the horse’s elbows, at a distance of about a hand’s width behind them. Therefore it will strongly act on the bones and muscles of the chest. Through its placement the girth will therefore have a significant influence on our horse’s movement abilities (and willingness) and its posture. If the muscles under the girth are subjected to excessive pressure or the position of the girth blocks the free movement of the shoulders, this will very negatively affect the horse’s range of motion, both in riding on the flat and in show jumping.
Why are classic girths not suitable for every horse?
One of the greatest advantages of modern technology is the constant search for and deepening of knowledge about what is best for our equine partners. Often this may mean questioning the way we train horses and the methods and equipment known for tens, if not hundreds, of years. The girth is no exception here. This does not, of course, mean that girths of a classic, straight shape should not be used at all, but only that sometimes they are not able to cope with the problems that the less typical build of some horses may present.
If you want to check whether your horse needs an anatomical girth, you can do this on the basis of a simple observation and imagine an invisible line running from the billets (at the moment when the saddle lies on the back in the correct position) and on under the horse’s belly. If this line does not run at the narrowest point of the horse’s belly, but more to the back, it may mean that an anatomical girth will be useful to us, which will correct this.
Some riders try to compensate for this by moving the saddle forward, towards the withers (or the saddle will move there by itself), which can, however, end with it interfering with the free movement of the shoulder and exerting pressure on the horse’s withers, in the long term causing permanent problems with the musculoskeletal system.
The anatomical girth, i.e. what kind?
We have already written more extensively about the types of girths in the article:Which girth will be suitable. What, however, is the difference between them and an anatomical girth? An anatomical girth, also sometimes called an ergonomic girth, is a specially profiled girth which in its construction takes into account the horse’s anatomy and its way of moving. One of the main tasks of an anatomical girth is to eliminate pressure points and distribute it evenly within the chest. A characteristic feature of this type of girth is the curved line of the middle part, located between the front legs, at the height of the sternum. Thanks to such a construction of the girth, free movement of the shoulders is possible, without blockages or catching on the girth, which can happen with classic, straight girths.
Anatomical girths have gained so much in popularity that you will certainly have no problem finding a model matched to the discipline you practise or the aesthetics of the saddle and the rest of the equipment. Available are anatomical jumping girths (also with a flap), dressage girths and all-purpose girths. We offer them in black or various shades of brown.
For which horse is an anatomical girth?
There are no contraindications to using an anatomical girth on all horses, however, the difference resulting from this should be felt especially by owners of horses with large, long shoulders and energetic, expansive movement. If you are sure that you ride in a well-fitted saddle, and yet you feel that something is “blocking” your horse from giving its all in movement, then the reason may be precisely a poorly chosen, interfering girth.
Anatomical girths are designed so that the saddle is moved further back from the shoulders, and at the same time the height at which the billets are located coincides with the girth buckles. Thanks to this the saddle will stay in its place even on horses with very extravagant movement.
People who have horses with little-marked withers and a barrel-shaped body will also be satisfied with an anatomical girth – a profiled anatomical girth will mean that the saddle stays in its place and does not slide, thereby irritating the sensitive skin near the elbows.
To sum up…
If you feel that your horse is blocked in the shoulders or is losing the willingness to move forward, and the cause is not a poorly fitted saddle, then an anatomical girth will be a solution worth trying. Remember that it will not only increase your horse’s comfort while working under saddle, but will also affect its relaxation, impulse and the action of the front limbs.
👉 [Check out all Balotade anatomical girths and find a model for you]
