As a regular rider, you're probably so used to your saddle and its accessories that you don't even give any thought to items like the girth. All riders owe much to the girth, an exceedingly vital part of a horse's saddlery. If there was no such thing as the girth, you would be compelled to ride bareback. That suggests you'd need to have the sense of balance of a professional skier.
Next time you tighten the girth on your pony, think about its impact on the horse. The girth is a little but necessary part of saddlery that may give great discomfort to the horse if not fitted right. This implies your girth should be just the right fit for your pony, and you must tighten it just the right way.
You can avail of a great assortment of girths on the market. But when you do decide to get a girth, you must pay attention to certain purchase criteria.
Your first area of concern is your girth's size. Your horse's current girth would be the best measure for the new one, and if not, you need to use any girth, fit its just right on your pony and measure that. A third option is for you to measure round the pony from girth strap to girth strap, but the precision of this method may be questionable. You could also consider girth extenders for girths that are too short, but all said and done, it is best you get a new girth and take pains over the measurement.
Like with any saddlery item, the material your girth is made from will make a serious difference to how well your horse adjusts to it. A girth of top quality won't irritate or chafe your horse. Usually leather makes for the best quality, but new leather girths can chafe the horse's elbow crevices. This is because of the fact that new leather is stiff. It is easy to get rid of the stiffness with a speciality leather cream. Flexible leather moulds to your pony better and faster, without annoying the horse. A good cream maintains the leather in superb condition; if you are not sure about the best cream to buy, ask for the advice of the retailer where you purchase the girth.
If a girth continues to chafe against your horse, it may be best to drop using it. You might also try out girths with neoprene layers designed to give maximum comfort. They are very effective in maximizing comfort, though they may lead to heat build up where they lie against the horse's skin. Webbed girths are extremely cost-effective and do not hurt your pocket, but you want to take additional care to see that your horse is ok with them. These girths also need continued inspection, as they're not so durable and can crack or maybe snap with some use.
What sort of girth and accessories you purchase will be determined by the discipline you utilize your pony for. A stud guard is a total must for show jumping and eventing, as is an overgirth. If you're earnest about dressage, you'll go in for a girth specifically made for dressage; this kind of girth allows freer elbow movement and optimizes dressage performance. Don't get confused by the huge range of girths you see in the market. Just keep this in mind: the wider the girth, the better it will be at spreading out force on the horse, and more comfortable the pony will feel.
And lastly, when you are girthing your horse, make it a slow but steady process. You don't want any kinks coming up because you girthed up in a rush.
Next time you tighten the girth on your pony, think about its impact on the horse. The girth is a little but necessary part of saddlery that may give great discomfort to the horse if not fitted right. This implies your girth should be just the right fit for your pony, and you must tighten it just the right way.
You can avail of a great assortment of girths on the market. But when you do decide to get a girth, you must pay attention to certain purchase criteria.
Your first area of concern is your girth's size. Your horse's current girth would be the best measure for the new one, and if not, you need to use any girth, fit its just right on your pony and measure that. A third option is for you to measure round the pony from girth strap to girth strap, but the precision of this method may be questionable. You could also consider girth extenders for girths that are too short, but all said and done, it is best you get a new girth and take pains over the measurement.
Like with any saddlery item, the material your girth is made from will make a serious difference to how well your horse adjusts to it. A girth of top quality won't irritate or chafe your horse. Usually leather makes for the best quality, but new leather girths can chafe the horse's elbow crevices. This is because of the fact that new leather is stiff. It is easy to get rid of the stiffness with a speciality leather cream. Flexible leather moulds to your pony better and faster, without annoying the horse. A good cream maintains the leather in superb condition; if you are not sure about the best cream to buy, ask for the advice of the retailer where you purchase the girth.
If a girth continues to chafe against your horse, it may be best to drop using it. You might also try out girths with neoprene layers designed to give maximum comfort. They are very effective in maximizing comfort, though they may lead to heat build up where they lie against the horse's skin. Webbed girths are extremely cost-effective and do not hurt your pocket, but you want to take additional care to see that your horse is ok with them. These girths also need continued inspection, as they're not so durable and can crack or maybe snap with some use.
What sort of girth and accessories you purchase will be determined by the discipline you utilize your pony for. A stud guard is a total must for show jumping and eventing, as is an overgirth. If you're earnest about dressage, you'll go in for a girth specifically made for dressage; this kind of girth allows freer elbow movement and optimizes dressage performance. Don't get confused by the huge range of girths you see in the market. Just keep this in mind: the wider the girth, the better it will be at spreading out force on the horse, and more comfortable the pony will feel.
And lastly, when you are girthing your horse, make it a slow but steady process. You don't want any kinks coming up because you girthed up in a rush.
About the Author:
Horses are Heather Toms
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of
articles with other horse lovers visit HorseHorses
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