Girthing options

Comfort, fluidity and ease of movement are some of the most important considerations when selecting the best tack for your competition horse to help maximise performance and results.  With continual development in innovation, materials and product design we are not short on new tack to try, with our focus usually starting with the saddle, bit or bridle.  So why should the girth be any less important in consideration?

Often the girth is completely overlooked, or at most it’s selected for its colour, appearance or the best aesthetic match to the saddle.  But if we consider the positive affect that a well fitted, suitable girth has on both the position of the saddle and the pressure it exerts on the horse, we would make this choice more about performance over appearance.

The choice on the market is now immense with wide variations in colour, shape, material and padding available from a host of manufacturers. This post will look specifically at one type of girth, the short length girth, almost solely used for dressage saddles and now widely used on jump or event saddles.

Perhaps the most important feature for a short girth is the total surface area that comes in to contact with the horse. The greater the surface area the better. A wider bearing surface increases the comfort for the horse due to the fact that the pressure is distributed evenly over a larger contact area.

At Sue Carson Saddles, the time and precision that is spent to ensure maximum performance from each saddle is supported by a number of girthing options that compliment not only the saddle but the specific conformation of each horse that the fitters work with.  Hundreds of girths have been tried and tested over the years both on Sue's dressage horses and in the field by the trained team of Sue Carson saddle fitters.  

Although each horse and rider combination is completely unique and girthing options could be wide and varied, we’ve selected a couple of our most trusted products to talk about in more detail.

The Tixerant Girth, designed by Eric Le Tixerant, has an elasticised panel in the centre allowing the horse's ribs to expand and contract without restriction when breathing. The panel is designed to spread the load more evenly over the sternum and is shaped to reduce pinching of the skin behind the horse's elbows. It is lined with a natural non-slip honey-comb rubber to prevent the saddle from slipping, with the rest of the girth made from soft, durable, gently padded leather. It is a sound option for all types and levels of competition, and its unique but simple design allows a greater freedom of movement through the shoulder, while keeping the saddle in place.

It is of absolute importance that the Tixerant is correctly fitted to get its full benefit.  It sits one hand width behind the girth groove, which positions it directly underneath the saddle and not in front of it, giving the saddle much greater stability.

Click here to see the video of our Saddle Fitter Kerry, showing exactly how it should be fitted.  And if you would like more information or have a specific question about the Tixerant, please get in touch we are happy to advise.

Another more specific girthing option is the H Girth. This girth has a large sternum pad that redistributes pressure over the pectorals while the thinner dual straps are adjusted to suite the shape of the barrel.  It offers great stability without the need to over tighten, and is specifically useful for saddles that have a tendency to slip forward.

If this can seem like a daunting process with so many options available, the starting point should be the knowledge and expertise that your saddle fitter can bring to the process. The saddle and girth should be a bespoke solution, tailored solely for you and your horse no matter what level you compete at, and the solution should be carefully designed to provide maximum comfort and optimum performance for your horse.

If you would like further information about either of these girthing options feel free to chat to one of our saddle fitting team about your saddle and girth combination, please get in touch with us on 01629 540343