Measuring your Girth
How to Estimate Girth Length
You can estimate the girth length you will need by placing your saddle and saddle pad (along with any special padding you’ll use under the saddle) on your horse. Have a helper hold a fabric tape measure with inch increments on approximately the middle billet hole on one side of the saddle, while you stretch the tape under the horse, one hand’s width away from the back of the elbow, to the corresponding billet hole on the other side of the saddle. The inch measurement you obtain translates to the girth size you require.
Remember that different saddles will have different billet strap lengths, so you may have to change your girth size if you change your saddle. Also, if you measure a used girth to obtain the desired length for a new girth, remember that the old girth has probably stretched.
When fitting the girth, the aim is to get the buckles away from the pressure-sensitive area behind the elbows – so fit the longest length possible.
As a general rule, fit the girth’s top edge as close to the bottom edge of the saddlecloth as possible when fully tightened. Obviously, this depends on the size of the saddlecloth, so an alternative guide on a dressage saddle is to have just two billet holes remaining on both sides of the saddle.
Converting Between Long and Dressage Girth Lengths
If you know your horse’s girth size and you need to switch between a long and a short girth, add or subtract 20 inches. For example, if you use a 48-inch girth with your jumping saddle, you should try a 28-inch girth with your dressage saddle.
You can estimate the girth length you will need by placing your saddle and saddle pad (along with any special padding you’ll use under the saddle) on your horse. Have a helper hold a fabric tape measure with inch increments on approximately the middle billet hole on one side of the saddle, while you stretch the tape under the horse, one hand’s width away from the back of the elbow, to the corresponding billet hole on the other side of the saddle. The inch measurement you obtain translates to the girth size you require.
Remember that different saddles will have different billet strap lengths, so you may have to change your girth size if you change your saddle. Also, if you measure a used girth to obtain the desired length for a new girth, remember that the old girth has probably stretched.
When fitting the girth, the aim is to get the buckles away from the pressure-sensitive area behind the elbows – so fit the longest length possible.
As a general rule, fit the girth’s top edge as close to the bottom edge of the saddlecloth as possible when fully tightened. Obviously, this depends on the size of the saddlecloth, so an alternative guide on a dressage saddle is to have just two billet holes remaining on both sides of the saddle.
Converting Between Long and Dressage Girth Lengths
If you know your horse’s girth size and you need to switch between a long and a short girth, add or subtract 20 inches. For example, if you use a 48-inch girth with your jumping saddle, you should try a 28-inch girth with your dressage saddle.