Horse Girth Guide | Help & Advice | Houghton Country

Lots of research has gone into how the right saddle can maximise the horse’s comfort, with many riders sparing no expense in bespoke fitting and custom-made designs to help a sensitive horse or to improve performance. It is often however underestimated how much difference the right girth can make to the horse’s comfort and freedom of movement. The right girth can be the difference between a fallen pole or a clear round, or your horse feeling comfortable to extend through the shoulder for the higher marks in the white boards.

Following the start of research into the effect of the shape of the girth on the horse’s performance, anatomical girths have risen to popularity. Anatomical girths disperse the pressure created from buckling up the girth to the saddle across a broader surface area, which is more comfortable for the horse. Most significantly, anatomical girths are also shaped cut away from the elbow of the horse, allowing the muscles to contract without pressure points and so allowing a greater range of movement of the forelimbs and enhanced freedom through the shoulder.

The Fairfax girth was one of the first anatomical girths; the result of significant research into how different girths distributed pressure and thus affected the horse’s gait and performance. This research found that the most pressure from the girth is actually behind the elbow, not on the sternum, and that peak pressure occurs when the forelimb is at its most extended or, in the case of jumping, when the horse lands from a fence. The conclusion was that an anatomical girth that reduces pressure behind the elbow improves comfort and performance by improving forelimb extension, knee and hock flexion and gait symmetry. Under license from Fairfax’s intellectual property came the Prolite girths, anatomically shaped in the same way but made from a synthetic material that wipes clean easily and is less costly than leather.

Alongside Prolite, there are several alternatives of anatomical girth now available, including those from LeMieux, Shires, and Thorowgood, for example. You will notice that these girths are all slightly different shapes, with some featuring a more exaggerated cut back shape at the elbow than others, and some having a broader middle section to distribute pressure over the sternum. Which one is best suited to your horse depends on their conformation, including the positioning of their girth groove, and also depends on your saddle - so it is best to liaise with your saddle fitter regarding which shape of girth is going to work best for you.

Stud girths are used to protect the horse from knocks from studs or from the horse’s shoes, and so are chosen for cross-country activities and sometimes for show-jumping.

Some riders do prefer to ride in a non-anatomical, straighter cut girth. Although research has allowed the modern designs of horse girths to develop, this doesn’t mean every horse necessarily needs a girth into which has gone a lot of research, and they may feel happy by your judgement in a straight cut girth. You may find, though, that if you were to try your horse in an anatomical girth, they move even better.

Sheepskin, or faux sheepskin fluffy girths and girth covers are used to reduce the risk of rubs and girth galls, or can help a sensitive, girthy horse to accept being girthed up more happily. "Girthy" horses show signs of discomfort and/or aggression while their girth is being buckled up. One practical advantage of faux sheepskin is that it can easily be washed in a washing machine with a non-bio detergent, and since a dirty, muddy or greasy girth is likely to cause the sores you are trying to avoid, it is advisable to keep these fluffy girth covers clean. Some girths have this fluff integrated, and these girths are usually machine washable – check with the manufacturer for washing instructions on your girth. Most horses do not need a sheepskin cover, but sensitive-skinned or girthy ones do tend to benefit from the additional comfort they offer. To avoid girth galls (sores around the girth area), do not over-girth your horse, wash sweat off thoroughly after exercise using a no-rinse wash or shampoo, and keep your girth clean, using a leather cleaner and conditioner regularly if it is leather, or wiping it clean if it is synthetic. Check your girth over daily for any wear to the material, as damage to the exterior of the girth is likely to rub the horse's skin. If a girth gall has already formed, apply a layer of Vaseline before girthing up to prevent it from worsening.

Elasticated girths for horses can be easier to buckle up, but there is more risk of over-girthing the horse with an elasticated girth than with a non-elasticated, as it is easier to pull the girth very tight. If a girth has elastic in it, it is advised that this elastic is at both ends and/or the middle as opposed to only at one end, as elastic at one end of the girth causes asymmetrical pressure points. Whether your girth is elasticated or not, aim for the girth to be fastened to the same holes on each side and on each girth strap to keep the girth sitting symmetrically to help with stabilising the saddle and comfort of the horse.

Regarding what size girth your horse needs, again, it is advisable to have this discussion with your saddle fitter. You can however measure from one of the holes on your girth straps, around the underneath of the horse’s belly, to a hole on the opposite side of the saddle’s girth straps. Do not use the very bottom hole of the girth straps to take this measurement as you will want the girth to do up higher than this point. Research has shown that having the buckles fastened too close to the elbow, i.e. too low down, creates a pressure point at this sensitive area, undoing the effect of an anatomical girth and restricting forelimb movement. The buckles are better placed higher up towards the flap of the saddle. This measurement will give you a rough idea of what size girth your horse will take. If you currently have a long girth but are needing to swap to a short girth for use with a monoflap or dressage saddle, as a very general rule, you can halve the length of long girth your horse takes, but it completely depends on your saddle, so again it is best to ask your saddle fitter and trial several sizes.

A girth stabilises the saddle and can affect the horse’s way of going for the better or worse, so the importance of choosing the right one to ride in should not be underestimated. We stock a range of anatomical and traditional girths for use with all types of saddle including dual- and mono-flap saddles, in both leather and synthetic materials.