Checking the Girth

It is crucial that the saddle is securely fitted to the horse - if it comes loose, so do you!

In your early lessons your girth will be checked by the instructor before and after you mount and then again after a few minutes of riding. It is so important that being taught how to check its security from the ground and from the horse's back will be one of the first lessons you'll get.

Girth

Let's look at the basic fixing of the girth to the saddle.

You can see that this saddle has 3 girth straps to choose from. Depending on the size of the girth you should use the first and second strap or the first and third. Whichever you choose make sure it's the same both sides.

Have a look at the girth and straps to make sure there is no damage, cuts in the leather or faulty buckles that might come undone. If in any doubt, ask.

Whilst resting between lessons the girth will have been slackened off. It will need to be tightened before mounting. This can be done in the loose box just before leading out to mount or just before you actually mount or both.

Tightening the Girth

Many horses develop the trick of puffing their chests out when they feel you try to tighten the girth. In this case in the short distance from the loose box to the mounting block you might find you can take up what you thought was a tight girth by another hole or two.

You might need both hands to pull tight the girth and pop the buckle in - so how do you hold the horse and stop him wandering off? With the reins placed over his head slip your arm nearest his head through the reins so that it catches in your elbow. You then have the use of both hands and a hold on the horse.

The girth is tight when you can just slide a hand between it and the lower belly of the horse. Make sure that the buckles are level i.e. they use the same holes on each girth strap (count them to check) else they might pinch the horse's skin. Also check that the girth is evenly fixed on each side and not using the bottom holes on the left-hand side and holes near the top on the right-hand side.

Saddles often have a buckle guard fitted which is a semicircular flap of leather which is fitted to the girth straps and is pulled down over the girth buckles to prevent rubbing and wear to the saddle flap.

As a cautionary note; watch out for the horse that either tries to head butt or nip you as you tighten the girth. You may not think they can bend their heads around that far to reach you especially as you have such difficulty trying to get them to bend even a little when riding - but they can! A sharp spoken rebuke usually works.

Next - getting on from the ground.

Comments

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sylvie 25th Jun 01

You may not realise just how crucial the girth is. I had a horrific accident because the instructor had not tightened the girth sufficiently, and now I always make sure it is tight enough because I will never fully recover from that accident.

Abi 29th Jun 01

Sometimes it's crucial to retighten the girth after warming up. Some horses "bloat" when you are tightening the girth before you ride so that when you ride it is actually much looser than you thought. I once had an awful experience---I was galloping my horse when the saddle started slipping! It was a very dangerous situation. I had to do an emergency dismount. I could have been seriously injured.

it's crucial to have the girth tightened enough! At my barn we have it that you should be able to fit only two fingers between the girth and the horses belly.

maryn 10th Jul 01

Once I had an aweful accident concerning the girth not being tight enough. I was trotting, then suddely a horse behind me bit my horse on the rump and my horse spooked and started galloping. I was just thinking to myself, "stay calm. Don't panic", and then the saddle started to slide off. I was notprepared for this and I actually went down with it. Luckily, I was not dragged--my foot came loose. Had I known that the horse I was riding had the habbit of puffing her chest out when tightening the girth this would not have happened. Please, no matter how safe your horse is--and has never spooked before--take my advice and ask your riding instructor about the horse's habbits, and find out if the girth is tightened enough to suit his or her needs.

Jamie 26th Sep 01

Don't forget...you can get the girth too tight and cause a range of problems for your horse. If they breathe funny at first, that's o.k. If they still breathe funny after about 15 minutes of riding, check the straps and adjust them as needed. Know your horses breathing paterns at every aspect of exercise. I have had cinches rub bald spots after only 20 minutes of riding. That hurts!!! To a human, that's like a rug burn on your knees!!! OUCH!

Beth 26th Mar 02

Hi!
I am only ten years old and one time I did not tighten the girth enough so the saddle sliped sideways on a little pony! I went down with him but luckely I slip out of the sturupps. Remind you and yourself next time you ride to safely fasten your girths!!!! Also does anyone have ANY tips on how to make Nesha (my horse) TO STOP BLOATING OUT HIS STOMACH!? I just cant seem to make my girth fit! Any tips? E-mail me at navah_star@hotmail.com!!

Sarah 31st Mar 02

My pony does the same thing. What I do is do it up quite loosely when I have just put the saddle on (tight enough to keep it on but not tight enough for riding). Then I lead her in a circle so the saddle settles and the girth doesn't pinch. After that I do it up again gently but firmly without giving her much notice. It then does up easily.

Rhona 5th Jan 03

Ive got a young TBxWB who is being difficult to do up her girth and mount we are getting her saddle checked again but she acts like shes scared yet once im one she is quite happy i use a mountig block to get on her so that i dont put any extra pressure on her back help

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