Applications & Types of Horse Riding Girths - By: Felicity Lightbody

Used to make sure the saddle is correctly attached to the horses back, the girth sits around 10 cm behind the horses' front legs. There are a number of types of girth and styles online in the Anything Equine store. They are used for many different disciplines, as described below.

Balding Girths
Made from leather and cut into 3 strips.

Atherstone Girths
Shaped leather with a stronger strip of leather along the centre.

Dressage Girths
Also called a ‘Lonsdale’ girth. Not as long as other girths and used primarily with dressage saddles. The long billets on dressage saddles allow this girth to be fitted without the buckles interfering with the rider’s leg aids. They can be made from leather, strong cotton or padded cotton and in Balding or Atherstone styles.

Unshaped Girths
Can be made from padded cotton or flat heavy cotton, both with webbing reinforcements, or they can also be made from leather.

Over girths
Mostly used when racing. Overgirths are used in addition to a regular girth to provide additional saddle security and are worn around the belly of the horse and across the seat of the saddle.

Stud Guards / Jumping Girths
These are commonly used when show jumping or eventing, they have a large protective pad that sits under the horse’s belly, preventing studs or horse shoes from striking the horse’s underside as they tuck their front legs up and under when jumping.

Tips
When choosing a girth it is essential that the correct size is chosen, for the horses comfort and for the rider’s safety. The girth should spread even pressure across the belly of the horse. The measurement should be taken using a flexible measuring tape from the middle hole of one of the billets on your saddle, under the horse’s belly in the position where the girth will sit, then to the middle hole of a billet on the opposite side.

About the Author

Felicity is a freelance scribe, writing occassional columns in the UK on behalf of anythingequine.co.uk who sell horse tack and saddlery products. Anything Equine specialise in breeches and bridles in the UK.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Felicity-Lightbody/39388

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