Elasticated girths - how tight?

[kyanya]

My share pony now has a girth with an elasticated portion in, and I'm not quite sure how tight it should be. I remember reading in a magazine about how someone unknowingly over-tightened their elasticated girth, because of course it kept giving more every time she went to tighten it, as the elastic was stretching. However, it ended up being the cause of the horse's behavioural problems, as it was gripping and constricting the horse like a vice.

This has made me a bit wary. I'm afraid of getting the girth too tight because, obviously, I don't want to make it uncomfortable for Gypsy.

Her other girth didn't have elastic in, and it went on the fourth hole on each side of the saddle. As far as I'm aware, the two girths are the same lengths, although I haven't compared them.

I had a lesson today, in which I had it on the third hole on one side and the fourth hole on the other side. We were fine until we cantered around a corner of the school pretty quickly. We were coming back to the trot though. Once I'd got to the trot, I thought something felt a bit funny, like I was leaning out of the school into the field, and realised the saddle had slipped right round to the right of Gypsy. So then we went up to the fourth hole on each side!

Is there any way to tell how tight an elastic girth should be?

[eventerbabe]

i never use elastic girths coz they are far too easily over tightened. but i seem to remember an old YO and instructor of mine telling me that you should fasten the mounting side first (side with elastic portion) and then adjust on the off-side, hence reducing risk of overtightening. she showed me this when i got a go on one of her grade A showjumpers :D

[helenc]

If you're worried then tighten the end with no elastic.

You can tell how tight it is if you put your hand under the girth and check, don't just keep tightening it because you can.

[virtuallyhorses]

It is important not to over tighten elasticated girths (or any girths for that matter). If your saddle is slipping sideways its because the rider is not in balance - work on that and you can ride with a loose girth without worrying about the saddle slipping.

For elasticated girths you should use the same holes as on your non-elasticated one - at most have it one hole tighter but no more otherwise you are not only overtightening but also will be stretching the elastic until it has no more give and this can cause it to be damaged until it evetually gives out.

[kyanya]

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure, but at least now I know it's fine to put it on the same holes. As for the balance issue, it always will be my biggest problem. There's no real way to improve it. I can concnetrate more on it and think about sitting in the middle and everything, but when it comes down to it, I can bearly stand on one leg for more than 10 seconds without violently wobbling! (on the ground, of course, not on horseback!:D)

What are the advantages of an elasticated girth? Obviously someone invented then because they could do something a non-elastic one couldn't, but I fail to see the benefits.

[Volvic]

If the elasticated girth is a synthetic one, there will be a bit of "give" in the material anyway so you dont need to worry about overtightening as much as you would with a leather girth.

Sky has a synthetic girth with an elastic insert & I think it is nicer for her when it is done up as the girth will go up more gently than if there is no elastic. Also, with leather girths, it is sometimes very difficult to do them up, so having an elastic bit will make it easier for the rider & nicer for the horse as there wont be as much "hoiking" involved!!!

I hope this makes some vague sense - its just my opinion so it may well not! :o

[KarinUS]

Opinions will vary widely on this but here is mine:
I prefer girths with elastic on both sides. Why because it gives even pressure. I don't like the ones with elastic on only one side.
Why elastic in the first place? To me the horse is in motion- stretch-contract-stretch-contract.
For riding I like to wear breeches with a little bit of lycra- because it has some give. Imagine riding in dress pants. No give. Not very comfy. Could it be done? Sure thing.
So I prefer for my horse to have the same comfort that I afford myself. Just a little bit of give...
As you just read there's a risk for people to overtighten an elastic girth simple because they can (kind of like people wearing spandex pants a few sizes too small because it's not easy to tell when you are 'abusing' the stretchability... ;))
That being said I am notorious for having my girth looser than my riding instructor liked. I never had a problem with my saddle slipping. I guess my horse has just a very ideal shape for wearing a saddle. It just stays in place even with a looser girth.

[Stella2]

I really like Wintec synthetic girths as they are slightly elasticated throughout to allow them to move with the horse. I wouldn't use one elasticated at only one side for the reasons already outlined. I still find I worry about overtighting before I mount though as I have to get it really snug for it to be alright when I'm up there and I can't (yet, maybe never!) adjust a dressage girth from onboard (only just started riding in a dressage saddle)!

[PromiseMe]

I usually dont worry about over-tightening...I am not that strong lol!

I have always used the elastic (on one side) girths and i just check with my hand that its not too tight. I generally make sure that she can breathe, and that I can fit my fingers in there (like all of them)

And if your using an ALL elastic girth (all the way around) check at the bottom of their belly. Those never seem tight enough at the top, but when you get to the bottom of their belly (like under) its pretty tight already!

[galadriel]

The benefit of the elastic girth is that the girth goes around the horse's ribcage. The elastic makes it just a bit easier for the horse to expand his ribcage, to breathe in. Since the circumference of the barrel changes with every breath the horse takes, an elasticated girth can allow the girth to expand and then contract again slightly.

With any girth, you should be able to slide your hand flat under the girth, and turn your hand slightly. If you can turn your hand all the way, so that it's perpendicular to the horse's body, then it's too loose.

[Stella2]

Gal, thats looser than I've ever heard recommended in the UK! Its usually said that you should be able to put a couple of fingers under the girth and pull it away from the body slightly. Where did you get your recommendations from?

[Sooty]

I was taught that you should be able to slide your flattened hand comfortably under the girth (but not turn your hand)

I'm always being tsk'd for having mine too loose :o

[Stella2]

but two fingers off the horse is the equivalent of the flat of a hand in and pulled away a little when on board!

[galadriel]

Stella2, I believe that your description and my description will both lead to the same amount of tight/looseness. You should be able to easily get your hand under, and be able to pull it just a little away from the horse. If you can turn your hand all the way, it's too loose.

So sliding a hand under and turning it a little would probably be equivalent to putting a couple of fingers under and pulling it out slightly.

[Stella2]

Yes :) I'm too often told that I worry to much about anything to do with my horse and riding, still better than not worry enough ;)

[galadriel]

I'm too often told that I worry to much [...] still better than not worry enough ;)

I do agree. Today the trimmer was out, and as usual I barraged him with questions the whole time he was here (the barrage was at a somewhat slower pace today, though, considering I've been sick...) Also as usual, he told me that half of my questions were related to things that were just fine and that I shouldn't worry ;) Still, he also tells me that he's happy to answer any of my questions, even when it happens that the answer to the question is "that's normal, it'll be fine."