All about girths

If you want to have hours of fun in the saddle, a girth is a must-have item because it attaches to your pony’s saddle to keep it secure and prevent it from slipping to the side. But there’s more to girths than you might think! Here’s what you need to know…

Sizing up

Finding a girth that fits your pony and measuring it from the end of each buckle is the best way to work out what size girth he needs. When the girth is fastened, it should be just less than halfway up the girth straps. If it’s too long, the saddle may slip and you’ll have to secure it higher up the straps, which will be uncomfy for you. If it’s too short, you’ll struggle to fasten it and it could pinch your pony.

Pick of the bunch

Choosing the right type of girth for your pony is just as important as having a correctly fitted saddle. Girths come in all shapes and sizes and research has shown that well-designed girths, that are good quality, help spread the pressure evenly over the girth area and that’s critical for your pony’s comfort and performance.

Here are some of the different types…

• anatomical girths are shaped to fit your pony’s body and allow movement without any pinching
• stud girths are designed to protect your pony’s tummy if he’s wearing front studs when jumping
• leather girths look smart and are comfy for your pony, but they must be well cared for, otherwise they can become stiff and rub
• synthetic girths are practical and really easy to look after
• girths with elastic allow more give but avoid using one with elastic on one side only because this can cause the saddle to slip to one side
• short girths are used with dressage and monoflap saddles that have longer girth straps. They help prevent bulk under the rider’s legs

Find out more about girths in August PONY – on sale now!