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Girth Sizing

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girth size
4K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  HorseHearted 
#1 ·
I have a 15.1HH Draft cross and was sizing her for a girth to go with my saddle. If I buckle the girth in the very top billet holes on the saddle (it's a 7 billet saddle.) I would need a 36in girth. If i did it in the very bottom billets it would be 29in. So what size should I get?
 
#2 ·
I usually aim for the middle- usually the third hole from the bottom. A girth that's just long enough for the bottom hole will be hard to get on, but one that's just right for the top hole won't allow for any stretch (and both the girth and billets will stretch over time!)

Is this a dressage saddle (or AP with long billets)? If so, be sure that wherever the girth lands the buckles won't interfere with the horse's elbows.
 
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#9 ·
What I do is clip a cloth tape measure to the bottom hole of the billet on one side, run it under the horse and measure to the bottom of hole of the billet on the other side. Make sure the saddle is set up with any pads or anything you plan on using with it.

I measure to the bottom hole instead of the 3rd/middle hole (where you are aiming for the girth to buckle up) because you will have the actual girth pulled tighter than the tape measure and it also allows for a little bit of stretching out of the girth and/or billets.
 
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#10 ·
Thanks for the tip. As far as saddle/saddle blankets go does the saddle I got(see link above) look like a good one? My friend thinks that it will work great as my 'girl' has a very broad, flat back. I have a Navajo blanket that I am going to use for the time being, even though the saddle itself has a think layer of fleece on it.
 
#11 ·
It depends on what kind of riding you're planning on doing. For light riding it might be OK, though I avoid bareback pads/treeless saddles with stirrups as they can be a safety issue. Without a rigid structure, there is a strong possibility that the saddle will slip to the side if you don't maintain even pressure on both stirrups. Even if you're normally very balanced, you can be thrown off balance if the horse spooks at which point a slipping saddle could cause the horse to spook more while throwing you down under the horse's legs!

I can't tell from the photos of this saddle, but it's also very common for the stirrups to be attached in such a way that they form a pressure point over the horse's withers, leading to soreness and potentially injury.

I also think this particular saddle is overpriced for what it is. ($100 plus $52 shipping! :shock:) Churumbeque is correct in that it's essentially an overstuffed bareback pad with no brand name- not even a little known one!
 
#12 ·
I can't tell from the photos of this saddle, but it's also very common for the stirrups to be attached in such a way that they form a pressure point over the horse's withers, leading to soreness and potentially injury.
If you take the 'seat pad' off, the stirrups are attached to the 'spine' of the saddle. This is a pic of the 'horse' side of the saddle.
 
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