A properly fitting girth is extremely important for your horse. It provides a safer and more comfortable ride for your horse. Girths that do not fit properly can cause pain and soreness when riding. Here are just a few things to keep in mind when checking if your girth fits correctly:
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If the area is swollen, do not ignore this. In a western saddle, swelling around the cinch ring indicates that the girth is too long. If your saddle rolls, this also could mean that the girth is too long or your saddle does not fit properly.
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Over-tightening your girth can cause a number of problems. Over tightening adds too much pressure to the exterior vein. This pressure traps and slows blood flow, which stresses blood vessels and can be harmful to the capillaries. Over tightening can also bruise the soft tissue, damage the heart girth area and cause sore backs.
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Make sure your girth is clean and free of debris. A girth that is not clean can cause irritation or pain to your horse’s skin and heart girth area.
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Make sure your girth is in proper working order. Do not use a girth that has damage to the cords or buckles. This can interfere with the weight distribution and cause your horse pain throughout the ride.
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Tighten your girth only enough to secure the saddle and prevent the saddle from rolling. A good rule of thumb is to be sure you can fit some fingers between the girth and your horse’s heart girth area. If you cannot, your girth is too tight.
A girth is extremely important to your rides. Not only should your saddle fit properly, but also your girth must fit properly as well. Follow these few tips to ensure a happy and healthy horse!
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