Dressage girth length and placement - help needed!

[Scarlett 001]

Skeeter generally takes about a 32" dressage girth. I find if I go down to 30" then he is a little tough to girth up initially when saddling up - he relaxes his girth a lot once we get riding.

Below is a picture of Skeeter in his *old* 32 inch dressage girth (not the new County girth). The yellow arrow points to the top of the girth. Skeeter has a forward girth groove and the top of the girth started rubbing him as it was pulled forward. So I bought a 32" Country girth that is shaped to help with this issue. While the buckles on his 32" County girth remain at the same place as his old girth, they put more leather above the buckles (maybe 2-3 inches on each side, so the girth is longer, although buckles remain the same as other girths). So the girth kind of touches and just goes over the edge of the saddle pad. This might make it tough to use the guide straps on the saddle pad to put the girth/girth straps through (but not sure that matters too much). But does it sound like I need a smaller size? The thing is the buckles would then be closer, and it will be pretty difficult to do the girth up without really forcing it when I first put it on - I prefer to do it up gently at first, and tighten it later.

I have not used the County girth yet, so could return it for a 30".

So here is the picture of the *old* girth. The new one has about 2+ inches of additional leather such that it extends up to the saddle pad.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/dressagegirth.jpg

[coss]

interesting question, i would suggest trying another make so that you aren't battling with it rubbing and so its not right up on the saddle cloth as i can imagine this rubbing also. you say its difficult to do up if you use a 30" dressage girth. if the 32" fits well then i thought a 30" should be fine. which hole does the 32" go onto when you first put the girth on?

[Scarlett 001]

interesting question, i would suggest trying another make so that you aren't battling with it rubbing and so its not right up on the saddle cloth as i can imagine this rubbing also. you say its difficult to do up if you use a 30" dressage girth. if the 32" fits well then i thought a 30" should be fine. which hole does the 32" go onto when you first put the girth on?

This shaped, anatomical girth is not made by many companies. There are some knock-offs made with cheaper leather etc., but the County is the best one having the particular shape I need. So the shape itself of this new girth should take care of the rubbing. The buckles are just about the right place compared to other pics I've seen of horses saddled up for dressage. The issue is whether it matters if the top of the girth goes up rather high relative to saddle pad.

When the buckles are spaced at 30", it is tough to even do up the lowermost hole on the saddle girth straps when I first put it on - I can't just do it up loosely at first. And I don't want Skeeter to get more girthy in the saddling process. At 32" I can do up to about the bottom or 2nd to bottom hole when initially saddling - I end up on about the 4th hole (or possibly 3rd hole) from bottom once we've warmed up.

The County girth is here, you can see it has quite a bit of leather above the buckles, more than my other 2 girths. Just not sure if it matters if the part above the buckle reaches up to the saddle pad. Maybe the extra leather is very intentional in the design (after all, it was the top front edge of his old girth was the part that dug into him - this would avoid that).

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/CO-LOGICdr.jpg

[coss]

my dressage girth straps are much longer (in comparison to my horse probably ;)) and the top edge of my girth sits lower down and my mare seems very comfortable and happy with this.
see pic:
http://file020a.bebo.com/9/large/2007/03/11/22/1359860817a3823460279b771094516l.jpg
Providing the girth didn't make the saddle cloth ruck up in anyway then i don't see a problem with the excess of leather but it may make the close contact of your leg not quite as close.

[Scarlett 001]

The following picture is from a custom saddle pad web site(http://www.seamsright.com/trim_options.htm). I was looking for pics of girth to compare mine with, and when I looked here it coincidentally looks like a County girth on this horse (!). This is kind of how it will fit on Skeeter - but maybe even just a tad higher on Skeeter, but kind of similar. You need that that curve in the girth near the elbow to match up with the elbow of the horse.

I just wonder if it will be annoying if it hits that guide strap on the saddle pad - still I can widen that guide strap if need be easily enough so it all bits in better. Or do you even need to use the guide strap if all is fitting well.

Gosh, now I really want a saddle pad in these colours - very classy! :D

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/scarlett001/quilt.jpg

[Scarlett 001]

The County rep contacted me (I had emailed her and sent pics) and she said that she thinks the extra length at the top would be no problem, and it might make the girth more stable too. She did not think I needed to go down a size. I got the impression that she likes the girth to go up the horse some distance (maybe more stability?).

[Tootsie4U]

Hi Scarlett!

Just letting you know I've asked the same question a day or so ago and it seems no one knows where the girth should really be. Only except that it (I guess they mean the buckles) shouldnt interfere with the elbow...

In my post, my new dressage saddle is being pulled forward onto and up the withers. I know the saddle needs flocking to balance it out but it was also suggested that the girth groove might have something to do with it. Is your new girth made specifically for this problem?

For what its worth, I always thought I remembered seeing most dressage tack done up that the girth doesnt use up that much of the billet straps. My new girth must be done up (so that its tight enough) almost as high as the bottom of the saddle flap. Thats too long, IMO. But I dont know for sure.

[Scarlett 001]

Yes Tootsie, this girth is supposed to help forward girth grooves. They are featured on the County Saddlery web site. I am looking at my dressage books, and at least some of them seem to have the dressage girth quite high, sort of like the picture of the white saddle pad above. So maybe this is okay. :confused: But I must admit, you see a real range of girth placements, and I've never really heard about where is ideal and why. Anyone care to elaborate?!

[julia gulia]

As far as I know a dressage girth should be about 20 inches shorter than a regular English general purpose girth.
The girth should be done up equally on both sides. If the girth is too short, the horse’s elbows will hit the buckles as his shoulder swings back and forth. The girth should be long enough to come to about two inches below the saddle flap. I have been told that some riders beleive that if the girth is short then the rider will be more comfortable and achieve closer contact with the horse, because if there is no part of the girth under the saddle flaps, there won't be any "lump" of buckle and strap underneath . I've found that if the girth is too short...it interferes with my calves plus it isn't as comfortable for the horse. If you have a slight bend in your knee..then there is no way that the buckle can interfere with your leg. My thoughts and opinion for what it's worth:D

[Tootsie4U]

Thanks for that julia!

The girth should be long enough to come to about two inches below the saddle flap.

Hope you're spot on, because then Im golden! :D

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Tootsie4U/March2007Duettsaddle_20070309_0020.jpg








Scarlett, I checked out those girths.... YIKES! They're not cheap, are they!?

[julia gulia]

me too:D

[julia gulia]

Thanks for that julia!



Hope you're spot on, because then Im golden! :D

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i25/Tootsie4U/March2007Duettsaddle_20070309_0020.jpg








Scarlett, I checked out those girths.... YIKES! They're not cheap, are they!?

That's exactly how mine fits too:)

[Scarlett 001]

Tootsie, I think the "buckles" of my new girth would be about where your buckles are (more of less where the buckle is in that picture I posted of my other girth) - it is just that there is about 2 inches of extra leather above the buckles (see picture of the County girth). Many dressage girths end pretty much at the buckles like my other girth and your girth. I just wondered if that extra girth leather beyond the buckles would get in the way or anything?

Girth size is measured by the buckle distance I assume, as all girths could be slightly different in how much leather extends beyond the end of the girth. As seen in the medley of girths on this page:
http://www.trumbullmtn.com/Other_Pages/Fittings_pages/girth_pages/drsg_grth.htm

Yep, I paid a fortune for that County girth!!! :eek:

[Scarlett 001]

p.s. Meant to also say looking at most dressage books of professional riders on my shelf, their girth buckle is about 2-3 inches below the bottom of the saddle panels, or occasionally a bit closer to the panels.

p.p.s. The County Saddle rep did say she thought the buckles in the picture of my old girth (see above) are just slightly too low if anything, but in the overall range.

[Tootsie4U]

Now that we moved to PA, Im lucky to have one of Dover Saddlery's retail shops within driving distance. I was there on Thursday looking at their girths and they had one similiar to the County with the extra bit of leather above the buckles. It was near $200 too.

Let me know how the new girth rides and if the extra bit of leather bothers you or Skeet. I love my new saddle and I may end up having to get a girth like yours to keep it in place. Hopefully just a simple reflocking will do the trick (yeah right, not with my luck!)