How some saddle problems could be helped with the correct girth
We have asked Birgit Michaux about the importance of girth. With her daily work helping her customers finding a
suitable treeless saddle package she has also become very experienced with accessories. In her eyes, it is absolutely
vital getting the right accessories for both horse and rider. And this is important for treeless and for tree’d saddles
alike.
“Would you buy a very nice duvet but put your head on to an uncomfortable and cheap pillow every night? It spoils
the nice feeling.”
Saddle Accessories – Part I – Girth
Myth’s about girths !
1. Elasticated and tight girth




Elastic on one side - makes the horse one sided with more pressure on one side than on the other.
Cheap and very stretchy elastic is unsafe and will not keep the saddle in place. As the saddle moves on the
horses back it could cause rubbing or slipping.
A loose girth is not horse friendly but dangerous
If the girth is too loose, your saddle might slip and can cause rubbing as it is not fixed on the horse.
2. Position
The girth position of a horse is depending on the horses shape and how it is built. Ideally the girth would be placed
one or two hand width behind the front legs. Most people place the girth by far too far forward. Just imagine having
a tight belt right under our armpits and than try to play volleyball - it is uncomfortable and we would not reach out
very well. Feel for the breastbone under your horse’s belly so you don’t get the girth too far back. It can go as far
back as it would still be placed on the breastbone.
Horse with hanging bellies or curved rib cages have a very far forward positioned girthing point due to their conformation. Their girth would
always slide into the narrowest part of the body, which is most often right behind the front legs. This can results in the girth becoming more loose
as it slides forward and the saddle slipping and potentially rubbing.
3. “My horse blows out”
Horses can not hold their breath and keep air inside. But horses protect themselves and tighten their belly muscles to
prevent a girth causing them pain due to perhaps bad experiences.
Keeping their muscles tight is hard work for a horse they will relax those muscles sooner or later. As a contracted
muscle is more bulky than a relaxed one, this could be one other reason why the girth becomes looser as you start
your ride. Another reason for a girth to become looser after you mounted could be enormous amount of padding
under the saddle that gets compressed as you are sitting down on it. It would be better to find a saddle that fits
properly so that you don’t have to ride like the “Princes on the pea” with lots of numnahs.
4. Shape of girth
If the girth is too narrow the pressure is on a very small area and not spread. Remember how it feels wearing a tight
narrow belt or a wide one. If the girth is well padded your horse would be more comfortable as it cannot feel the
buckles through thinn material, causing pressure. It is important to girth up on both sides to avoid uneven pressure.
Make sure you have a suitable girth shape for the right tummy shape of your horse.
Check if after your ride your saddle and girth are still at the same place where you saddled up initially.
If the girth has moved towards the armpits than the horse probably has a curved or hanging belly. A curved belly
needs a curved girth to prevent the saddle from sliding forward and pressing onto withers and shoulders
It is so important to find the right saddle (tree’d or treeless) for your horse, but also the right girth suitable for your
horse.
Written by Birgit Michaux, Managing Director of the leading treeless saddle company Torsion UK, Tel. 08450 725
765
TORSION treeless saddles, EQUITEX horse back protectors, ,EDITION BOISELLE Equine Art calendars
Unit 2, Launton Business Centre, Murdock Road, Bicester, Oxon. OX26 4PL
Tel. 08450 725 765
Fax. 01869 240 536
sales@torsionsaddles.co.uk
www.torsionsaddles.co.uk
TORSION treeless saddles, EQUITEX horse back protectors, ,EDITION BOISELLE Equine Art calendars
Unit 2, Launton Business Centre, Murdock Road, Bicester, Oxon. OX26 4PL
Tel. 08450 725 765
Fax. 01869 240 536
sales@torsionsaddles.co.uk
www.torsionsaddles.co.uk