Help with English saddling

I am not an English rider. I do like my English saddle, however. But I have trouble with attaching the girth because of the elastic. Pulling it up tight enough while pulling down the straps is so difficult! Is there a strategy for doing this? I would appreciate any help!
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How many holes up are you on the already attached side? If you're having trouble getting your girth to even get close to the straps and you're on the last hole or two on the other side, I would suggest you need a slightly longer girth.

If that's not the case I would put the other side of the girth on the lowest hole, then do up the elastic side to the lowest hole, and then adjust from there.

Get a dressage saddle. Much easier to put on.

JUst kidding. That isn't very helpful, but I have trouble doing up an English girth if the horse is very tall, and appreciate how easy it is to do up a dressage girth.

Sounds like maybe your girth is too short. It shouldn't be that difficult to strap up, especially if you have elastic on both ends of the girth. Love my double elastic ended girths!

How is a dressage girth different, TL? (I'm clueless as you can see)
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You'd have to get the whole setup, not just the girth. Dressage saddles have very long billet straps, and they use very short girths.

And thanks Kenda and Speed. I think you r right that it is a size of girth issue. My horse is not too tall but definitely loses her patience as I struggle. Ur help is very appreciated!
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There's two things about single-ended elastic girths
(i) Only pull them up as tight as a non-elastic girth (three fingers should slide easily underneath). They're VERY easy to overtighten.
(ii) Swop the girth around regularly. It gives you good practice in adjusting a girth on both sides and more importantly helps keep the saddle panel even (the elastic allows slightly more flex one side than the other). Or, as someone else said, get a double elastic girth - but then you need to check the elastic regularly or buy an overgirth...Grrr :)

Thanks! I will try the two things you suggest. I can see where elastic on each end of the girth has multiple benefits.
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