How To Choose The Perfect Girth

Contents

Benefits of a good fit

Measuring the girth

Measuring the horse

Styles

Materials

Accessories

Care tips

If problems occur

As every rider knows, a girth is an absolutely vital piece of equipment when it comes to saddling up and riding a horse. No matter what the discipline, everything from hacking out to hunting, and flatwork schooling to top-level eventing, a girth is always required to keep the saddle in place and the rider on board. One size girth does not fit all however, and as such there are numerous varieties, each made for different purposes, providing different performance and comfort levels.

With so many different variations of girth to choose from, it can sometimes be tricky to decide which will suit your horse, saddle and desired discipline best. So, from a “how to” measurement guide to girth care tips (with styles, materials and accessories in-between), you will find all you need to know here.

A good fitting girth is more important than you might originally think, and although it can be very easy to rush selecting one, taking plenty of time to ensure you find the perfect match is the best way to go about the process, and often, lots of trial and error is involved.

However, it’s essential to remember that by spending time to find the correct girth, you are helping your horse out majorly, as a poorly fitting girth can cause lots of problems, and by finding that perfect fit, you will find that the following benefits to your horse could occur:

• Less discomfort to your horse, causing him to be happier whilst being ridden.
• A secure and safe saddle fit, with no dangerous slipping or falling off.
• Improved schooling of your horse.
• Better movement from your horse.
• A reduction in painful injuries such as girth sores, inflicted onto the sensitive undercarriage of your horse.

How to measure the girth itself is often debated amongst many horsemen and women, however the true way to do it is to use one simple rule - end of buckle to end of buckle. To follow this rule and get an accurate measurement, you should lay the girth out flat on the floor, take a tape measure, and use it to get the length from the top of one buckle to the top of the other. This applies to every girth, even dressage girths, which often have added leather protective panelling underneath and extending up past the buckles, which should not be taken into account.

Some girths also have elastic panels or inserts in them, and while is some cases this may affect the length, in the majority of girths we stock, the elastic is very strong, meaning that it does not give enough flexibility to affect the overall length of the girth in any dramatic way.

Measuring the girth is useful when you have found the perfect fit (you may be using a borrowed girth) and need to know which length it is, or you are replacing your existing girth and want to ensure you carry on with the correct length. 

In terms of measurements, girths either go up in even two inch increments, or metric five centimetre gaps.

There are many factors which influence the length of girth you are likely to require, and these include the type of saddle you own, the length of its straps and flaps, and the weight/size of your horse and his belly.

While measuring for your horse’s girth is important, we’ve found that often, simple trial and error is the best way of getting the perfect one, and the saying ‘try before you buy’ really does come into play. While it can often be a case of begging and borrowing from fellow horse riders, good saddlers and equestrian shops should always let you try a girth on and return it if you find it to be the wrong size (Don’t use it of course!) meaning you don’t have to worry about committing to the girth straight away.   

A good initial starting point is to look at the type of saddle you own, for example, while there are exceptions, for the most part dressage saddles have longer straps and require much shorter girths, whereas jumping saddles need longer lengths to reach the higher straps.

The best way to measure is by putting your saddle on your horse along with any additional saddle pads you wish to use, and simply measure from one billet strap to the other, going underneath the horses belly. The length of girth you will need will be slightly longer than this measurement, which ensures you will be able to get the girth on without too much of a tugging war!

We would recommend that you aim to fasten the girth on the third billet hole up on either side, allowing the buckles to fall into the optimum position, and not to interfere with the rider’s leg.

However, if you don’t yet have a saddle to use, then there are other ways of getting the correct measurements. You are looking for the “heart girth”, which is the measurement running underneath the horse just behind the elbows, and to get this, just take the following steps:

1. Run the soft tape measure or string a couple of inches behind the elbows of the horse, and then all the way around (so the tape overlaps). It is best to run the tape behind the withers of your horse rather that straight up and down (you want your measurement to be at an angle). See the below image for guidance.
2. Once you have taken the above measurement (in inches), it only takes some simple maths to get the girth measurement. So, simply take the measurement from step one, divide it by two, and them minus a further three inches. The figure you are left with is the girth measurement you need.

The only thing to remember with this method is that it doesn’t take into account whether your girth needs to be longer or shorter to suit the saddle and its straps, so make sure you keep that in mind!

As we mentioned previously, there are various styles of girth available, and choosing the desired one depends entirely on which saddle you own, and the discipline the girth is for. Each different girth brings different performance benefits, from a rider at a dressage show to an endurance rider, and a top-level show jumper to an everyday recreational rider.

• The Dressage girth - Due to the elongated billet straps associated with a dressage saddle, a shorter girth is needed. The Dressage girth often has elastic inserts to make it more flexible, and the shorter length is cleverly designed to keep the buckles out from under the riders’ legs.
• The Stud girth (or guard) - These girths have the inclusion of an additional round section in the middle, which is designed to protect and guard the horses belly from the studs in its hooves when jumping. It can also be very useful if your horse likes to really tuck his front feet up when jumping, as it offers general protection to the underbelly.
• The Long girth - A long girth is fairly self-explanatory, and is mostly used for general purposes. Working with a variety of different saddles, it is the most popular kind of girth because of its versatility and practicality. Not only is it ideal for everyday use and training, it is also great for lots of competitive disciplines.
• The Short girth - Much like a long girth, short girths are self-explanatory in their style. They are often more useful when you have a smaller horse, or just any horse with a really narrow undercarriage, then a more ideal, comfortable fit can be found with a shorter length.

Girths can come in a range of materials, and nowadays, the traditional leather style may be ditched in favour of a more modern material that has more performance features. In general, the two main types of girth materials to choose from are:

• Leather - Built to last, leather girths such as the Fairfax dressage girth usually command the highest price-points and the highest quality. While many see the leather girth is being more traditional and less high-tech, most leather girths now boast the latest advancements in comfort and performance, plus they have a more prestigious look for shows. A leather girth can provide the best performance, but one of its downsides is that on a sensitive horse, it can also rub and cause a horse to sweat during warmer months. Therefore, we would usually recommend a leather girth for use at competitions, rather than for everyday riding and schooling.
• Synthetic - These girths are a newer addition to the market, but they have taken many tack rooms by storm! Popular for everyday use, we think they are the ideal busy persons girth as they are so easy to maintain and care for. More affordable than leather, they are usually still stylish enough for competition use, as well as durable enough for everyday use, making them much more versatile and worth the money!
• String - String girths are soft girths that can be an amazing benefit to a horse that is sensitive in the girth area. Not only does it greatly reduce the risk of painful rubbing, but it is also breathable, causing the horse to sweat less. You can get string girths in materials such as mohair, cotton or the ever-popular Nylon. We find the string variation to be a much more practical everyday choice, and while it may not last as long as a leather girth, the lower price bracket means you won’t have to break the bank when it comes to replacing one!

If you are unsure, just weigh up what means more to you:

• Quality (Leather)
• Cost (String)
• Performance (Leather)
• Ease of maintenance (Synthetic)

Finding the right girth is one thing, but sometimes circumstances change, and buying a brand new girth doesn’t have to be the only option. Instead, you can buy additions and accessories, which will adapt your girth to handle the new circumstances, making it much more practical and versatile for the future.

• Girth Covers - Sometimes called “girth sleeves”, these are ideal for horses that are sensitive to their girths, and may suffer from rubbing or pinching. While they mainly come in fleece materials (both genuine and synthetic), the higher quality lambskin covers like the LeMieux ones are usually the most comfortable for the horse, and the ones which will last you the longest.
• Girth Extenders - An extender is a really handy piece of tack to keep in your tack room just in case! While they should only really be used in the short term, they are ideal as either a temporary measure between girths, or as a solution to any impermanent weight gain your horse has. They simply attach to the existing girth, extending their length and allowing them to fit a greater span.

There are two main areas of girth care which are the most important; firstly, maintaining your equipment, and secondly, maintaining your horses comfort.  A girth, if looked after properly, can last you for a long time, and with some, keeping them in tiptop condition is the difference between making them safe or unsafe to use. Also, a girth in poor condition can cause lots of problems for the horse, so keeping it clean is really essential when it comes to your horses, and in turn your own happiness.

To ensure that you get longevity from your girth, it is necessary to make sure you take good care of it. There are various ways to do this, depending on the material you chose.

• Leather - We always advise that you should clean your leather girth after every use. This may seem like an arduous task, but it doesn’t have to be, as a simple rub-over with a leather-wipe is enough to get rid of any build up on the surface. However, every few weeks, it’s a good idea to give your leather a deeper clean with a saddle soap or cleanser, and then a conditioner or leather food. This is what really keeps the quality of the girth and protects it from water damage and washing out. All this cleaning is most definitely worth it, as if looked after properly, a high quality leather girth will last you a lifetime.
• Synthetic - The easiest to maintain, a synthetic girth doesn’t need too much attention. It is usually very easy to clean, all you need is some lukewarm water and a stiff brush – then it’s just a bit of elbow grease!
• String - The best method of cleaning for a string girth depends on the type of fabric you have selected– although all fabric girths can be easily hand washed in cold water then hung to dry. However, if you are looking for a more fabric specific method, you could also:
• • Use the washing machine on normal temperatures for Nylon girths.
  • Simply placing the girth in a bucket of tepid water for 30-40 minutes once a week should be enough to clean your mohair girth.
  • Machine wash as delicate, or better still hand washing whilst removing obvious dirt with a cloth beforehand works best for a cotton girth.

String girths can sometimes lose their shape and shrink after washing, so we have a top tip to prevent this happening. When hanging your girth to dry- place some kind of weight onto the end of it, and the girth will be stretched out to its original length!

A common problem resulting from a poorly fitting or maintained girth is girth sores, or ‘galls’. These can be most likely to appear on horses that are frequently ridden, and although they may sound serious, luckily, with the right attention they are reversible. They are also easy to spot, and will usually present in the following ways:

1. Sections around the girth where the hair of the horse is rubbed away.
2. Inflamed blisters where the girth is positioned on the horse.
3. A swollen lump underneath the skin of your horse, the size of which can vary.
4. Other signs of discomfort around the area of your girth.

If your horse is displaying any of the above, then it is highly likely that it has girth sores. Whilst uncomfortable for the horse, they can be cleared by a break from riding (any added rubbing on the affected area before it has healed will only aggravate the problem), and a simple clean with warm water and a sponge. The application of antiseptic creams on the wounds is also vital in helping the healing process. Leovet Propolis Gel is a great product for healing this type of injury.

Following the above steps should clear up the girth sores, but it will not prevent them from happening again, and if you know your horse is prone to this kind of problem, helping to keep it at bay is vital in maintaining his happiness. The first thing to do is to assess your tack, and try to work out the reasons why the girth sores have occurred.

1. Ill-fitting equipment can cause unnecessary amounts of friction between the girth and horse. Checking your girth fits well, but is not too tight is the first step to take. If you are unsure yourself as to whether your girth fits properly, getting a second opinion from an experienced horse person or saddler is the best way to determine this!
2. If your girth fits, but the type of material is still leading to rubs on the skin, it may be time to think about another choice of material. Another option is to use a girth cover, which will help take the edge off a leather girth and make it more comfortable for the horse by minimising pinching and rubbing.
3. Unclean equipment, especially when coupled with warm sweaty conditions is a perfect recipe to cause gall sores. Cleaning your equipment thoroughly and regularly is vital, and an easy way to help prevent sores from appearing.
4. Dirt can attract flies, which in turn may cause infection in rubbed areas. Be sure to keep the area of skin where the girth resides clean, both before and after riding. If the area gets particularly sweaty, a quick wipe down with a sponge and water will help clean it up!

If you have any questions about any of the above advice, please don’t hesitate to contact our team, we will be more than happy to help!