Which Girth Will Be Suitable?

Guide to choosing the right girth.

Choosing the right girth is of enormous importance for your horse’s comfort and your safety while riding. Girths are available in various shapes and lengths, and the materials they are made of can be very different. However, their basic function is always the same. They are to ensure that the saddle holds firmly on the horse’s back.

The latest research proves that an appropriately chosen girth also has a great influence on the horse’s comfort. As well as on the quality of its movement and relaxation during the exercises performed.

When choosing the right girth, we have to take into account such things as:

• The horse’s build.
• The saddle and additional tack we use and with which the girth must be compatible.
• In what situations we will use it (type and length of training).

By reading this guide, you will learn what the most important differences are between the individual models and how to choose a girth that will provide maximum comfort and safety to you and your horse.

When does a girth need to be replaced?

Sometimes it is hard to state unequivocally which element of the equipment negatively affects your horse’s behaviour. If it reacts nervously while the girth is being fastened, this is an important indication. The reason, however, may be either an unsuitable girth, or a poorly chosen saddle or yet another cause. In case of any doubts, before choosing new equipment it is therefore better to consult a professional saddle fitter or your vet.

These signals, however, may indicate that you should consider replacing the girth:

• Your horse pins its ears when the girth is being fastened.
• Your horse stiffens and nervously swishes its tail when the girth is being fastened.
• On both sides the girth has to be fastened on the first or the last holes.
• During training you feel stiffness in your horse and an unnatural restriction of movement around the front legs.
• You have noticed abrasions or soreness in your horse in the area where the girth lies.
• Your girth has tears, rips or damage in the places where it contacts the horse’s skin.

Choose the right girth for the saddle and riding style.

The dressage girth

The vast majority of dressage saddles have long billets, which protrude well beyond the saddle flaps. This is so that the girth fastening is as low as possible and therefore is not located between the rider’s leg and the horse and does not interfere with the precise use of the aids. Dressage girths are therefore relatively short.

The jumping girth (girth with a flap)

It has a characteristic, oval panel placed in the middle of the girth. When talking about jumping girths, we also use the name ‘girth with a flap‘. The task of the flap is to protect the horse’s belly from being struck by the front legs during a jump, which in the case of shod horses is particularly dangerous. Some are also of the opinion that thanks to its width, and consequently a larger surface, such a girth distributes pressure better.

Girths with a flap are usually made of very good quality leather, which explains their relatively high price. Balotade jumping girths with a flap are available in various shades of leather, so that it is easier to match them to the rest of your equipment. An important element are also the snap hooks (D-rings), which enable the use of an appropriate attachment, as in the Balotade Classic model.

The Western girth

As the name suggests, this is a girth used for Western saddles. Its construction is completely different from the construction of classic girths. This makes it impossible to use it in saddles other than Western ones. Western girths are also relatively short and ended with only one buckle on each side.

Which material to choose?

The material the girth is made of should also provide maximum comfort to your horse and counteract possible abrasions and irritations. Depending on the material used, girths will differ from one another in price, durability and application. And here are the most popular types of girths:

The synthetic girth (PVC)

Synthetic girths are easy to keep clean and do not require the use of any special care products. Their undoubted advantage is an affordable price. With frequent use the edges of the girths may crack; this should be watched, because frayed edges can irritate the horse’s skin.

The neoprene girth

The neoprene girth is also made of an artificial material. It has similar advantages to the PVC girth, but is softer and fits the horse better. It is easy to keep clean and remove dirt and hair after daily training. Although it is not a frequent phenomenon, in some horses an allergic reaction to neoprene may, however, occur. This should be watched in the first days of use.

The leather girth

Leather girths stand out with their elegance and durability. Thanks to its properties, leather also provides appropriate ventilation. Leather girths require appropriate maintenance so that the leather is sufficiently elastic and does not crack. Although the price is relatively high, such a girth will serve us for many years.

The string girth

Although string girths have been losing popularity in recent years, for some horses they may turn out to be a bullseye. Thanks to the fact that the strings move independently of one another, the girth distributes pressure well and at the same time prevents the saddle from sliding, often even better than uniform, synthetic girths.

A string girth made of wool, cotton or another natural material absorbs sweat very well. It should, however, be remembered that it has to be washed after each use, otherwise it becomes stiff and can cause abrasions.

If our horse is particularly sensitive around the girth, a special girth sleeve, also called a tunnel or protector, may turn out to be a good solution. By using it we can further reduce the pressure of the girth and make its touch more pleasant for the horse. Sleeves can be made of neoprene, acrylic or natural sheep’s wool.

Anatomical girths

In recent years anatomical girths have been enjoying increasing popularity. Thanks to appropriate profiling they provide the horse with greater freedom of movement, especially in the area of the elbows and the shoulder girdle.

Especially in horses with spectacular movement, a profiled girth prevents the saddle from sliding forward and the girth from digging into the elbows, allowing as much as possible to be drawn from the horse’s natural movement.

Elastic inserts in the girth

Most girths today are equipped with elastic elements, which may be located at one or both ends of the girth. This type of insert provides better comfort to our horses, because they make the girth “breathe” along with the horse and adapt to the movement of its chest related to breathing.

Although elastic inserts on both sides of the girth distribute pressure better, it is easier to tighten such a girth too much, so this should be watched very carefully. Rubber inserts also have a tendency to stretch slightly over time. When choosing the size of the girth, this should therefore be taken into account.

Some girths have elastic inserts in the middle part, which provides even more effective fitting.

How to choose the right girth size?

In an easy way you can estimate the girth length that will be most suitable for your horse and saddle. It is enough that you stick to these few tips:

1. Place the saddle on the horse’s back (do not forget the saddle pad, gel, fleece or any other pad you use on a daily basis).
2. Put one end of a soft measuring tape to the middle hole in the billet on one side of the saddle.
3. Lead the tape under the horse’s belly at a hand’s distance from your horse’s elbow (it is best to ask a second person for help) to the same hole (the middle one) on the billet on the other side of the saddle.
4. The length you get is the estimated length of the girth needed. Remember that, as standard, girth sizes change every 5 cm (e.g. 115 cm, 120 cm, 125 cm…) so choose the length closest to the length from the tape.

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