How do I know what size girth to buy?

[HJECG]

Hi. I have bought a like new, used, Bates Caprilli saddle for my 14 year old daughter for her major Christmas surprise this year, and I’ve ordered
really nice new matching Bates non-stretch stirrup leathers, plus good stirrups from Dover Saddlery to put together with the saddle. It’s all looking great.

Now it’s time to order (we have exactly zero tack shops that are of any use within 200 miles of us) a girth for the saddle, and I’ve never bought a saddle girth before. Every saddle I’ve ever bought or owned came with a girth. How do I figure out how to size it for her horse?

For instance, again, looking at the Dover Saddlery site, I am considering the Ovation Dry-Tex Equalizer Girth, and it comes in lengths ranging from 38 all the way up to 56. I have no idea how to figure out what the right size to buy would be. Can anyone explain to me how I size a girth for her horse before ordering?

Thanks so much!

[fivestrideline]

Are you using an English girth right now? If so, and the new saddle is close in size (billet lengths can vary, but assuming you’re already using a similar jump saddle), just measure the current girth from buckle end to buckle end. Most girths come in 2" increments, so assuming you’re getting one with elastic on both ends, I would round down if you’re between sizes.

Do you have the saddle now? If you board, you could take it out to the barn and ask if you can borrow girths until you find one that fits. The measure that and order one! Usually you want the girth to be properly tightened at the second or third hole from the bottom of the billets on both sides - this can vary, but if you have to tighten way up you get lumps, and no one wants to wrestle on a too-short girth and squeeze the poor pony in two .

If you can get close in size, you can always order a few inexpensive girths in different lengths and return what doesn’t fit. Or hoard them, like a lot of us do .

I remember getting a Bates Caprilli as my very first saddle a million years ago. I didn’t have a horse, but it was so exciting to have my own comfy saddle. Congrats to kiddo!

[Scribbler]

@HJECG

Hi. I have bought a like new, used, Bates Caprilli saddle for my 14 year old daughter for her major Christmas surprise this year, and I’ve ordered
really nice new matching Bates non-stretch stirrup leathers, plus good stirrups from Dover Saddlery to put together with the saddle. It’s all looking great.

Now it’s time to order (we have exactly zero tack shops that are of any use within 200 miles of us) a girth for the saddle, and I’ve never bought a saddle girth before. Every saddle I’ve ever bought or owned came with a girth. How do I figure out how to size it for her horse?

For instance, again, looking at the Dover Saddlery site, I am considering the Ovation Dry-Tex Equalizer Girth, and it comes in lengths ranging from 38 all the way up to 56. I have no idea how to figure out what the right size to buy would be. Can anyone explain to me how I size a girth for her horse before ordering?

Thanks so much!

Does your daughter have her own horse or is she still in lessons? Trying to remember your other posts.

If she is riding other horses how do you know the saddle will fit? Will the lesson program allow random private saddles on their horses? Most will not

If she is riding multiple horses, they will each need a different girth depending on their barrel size. There can be a lot of variation even between horses of similar height.

If she has her own horse, and is using a jump saddle, then that girth is likely the size you want unless there is an obvious issue with it being a bit too short or long.

If she has her own horse then you need a saddle fitter to check fit and potentially reflock your new saddle.

Edited to add: I checked back on your other post and sounds like daughter is still on lesson horses. I’d say a saddle is premature at this point.

[endlessclimb]

I was actually shocked the other day - I took a lesson on a very kind school horse at a nearby barn, just trying to keep my fitness up, and the young girls helping me find things asked “do you have your own saddle?”

It took me a second to answer “not with me.” They also allowed any saddle to be used on any school horse. It was really weird, to me. A saddle and halfpad for every horse, person has to learn how to deal with the equipment - that’s how I remember it!

[Indy]

If she’s on lesson horses, I’d check with her trainer first before purchasing a girth. At our barn, even the lesson kids with their own saddles (which generally have to be approved by the trainers to make sure they fit kid and mount appropriately) still use the barn girths because the kids don’t always ride the same horse or pony every time. It’s not practical for the lesson riders to have their own girths.

If you want something extra to go along with the saddle for Christmas, go with a saddle pad instead. Those are more universal.

[Scribbler]

I see that Bates has the adjustable wither gullets but that’s just the tip of the iceberg in saddle fitting. I think they have CAIR panels, which are air filled. They claim these are more adaptable but IMHO that’s only going to work within a fairly narrow range. If the tree shape isn’t a match for a given horse there’s going to be bridging (saddle panels too flat) or rocking (saddle panels too curvy) or saddle sliding around (drop of panels too wide or two narrow).

[Demerara_Stables]

@endlessclimb

I was actually shocked the other day - I took a lesson on a very kind school horse at a nearby barn, just trying to keep my fitness up, and the young girls helping me find things asked “do you have your own saddle?”

It took me a second to answer “not with me.” They also allowed any saddle to be used on any school horse. It was really weird, to me. A saddle and halfpad for every horse, person has to learn how to deal with the equipment - that’s how I remember it!

This is every barn here. Even as a catch rider or trainer, you’re expected to bring your own saddle and put it on everything you ride. The owner’s saddle is seen as a very personal thing. It’s infuriating.

[endlessclimb]

That is so bizarre. I mean, it’s great to have a saddle that fits both. But between the two of us, the saddle needs to fit the horse first, and ESPECIALLY a hard working school horse.

[Demerara_Stables]

I started making it a point at some barns to not bring a saddle or just tell them I didn’t have one. Said I needed to ride in the saddle that’s fitted to the horse. 🤷

[trubandloki]

@Scribbler

Most will not

My experience is different than this.
The lesson barns I know will check your personal saddle and allow those to be used if they fit Dobbin OK.
Clearly, if your saddle is not even close to fitting the horse you are riding it is a no. But certainly no blanket statement that personal saddles are not allowed.

[HJECG]

Ugh. Sorry if this post appears twice, but the first time I posted it, my edit did not appear. Trying again…

We actually just leased a lovely mare for her after her first 18 months on lesson horses, and we are boarding her at the barn where she’s been taking (and still is taking) lessons.

She’s been riding in saddles belonging to the barn where she rides, but we decided that she’s definitely ready for her own saddle and bridle, so that’s what she’s getting for Christmas!

(Edited to add: we did not use a professional saddle fitter before purchasing this Bates Caprilli Close Contact saddle. However, it does have interchangeable gullets. Also, her horse is put together in a fairly standard way - she’s not notably wide or narrow in the withers and back. )

[trubandloki]

@HJECG, here is a random youtube video that shows you how to measure.
You will have to take the new saddle out to the barn and put it on your lease horse. Maybe you can arrange to have your trainer or a knowledgeable friend help you. Your trainer might also have a stash of girths so you can check to see that your measurement works out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy5aQoRUOsA

[HJECG]

Thank you! I will definitely watch this. And she does have a good sized stash of girths, and I know she will help me. I would just also like to learn about how it’s done myself, because it’s just not something I’ve ever done before.

[BostonHJ]

I would just run this up the flagpole with her instructor or the horse owner if you haven’t already. It sounds like the horse isn’t super picky about its saddle (since you referenced your daughter riding in barn saddles), but if the horse has its own saddle within the barn, the instructor/owner will likely at minimum want to sign off on whatever you buy to make sure it doesn’t cause any issues.

[mika0116]

Congrats on the lease - I would discuss with the current owner & your trainer what tack the horse goes best in (saddle and bridle and girth)

It is a good rule of thumb to not buy tack unless fitted to the horse that you’ll be using it on… poor saddle fit can lead to tons of other issues like poor under saddle behavior and pain reactions.

A fair amount of AA’s who don’t own & lease own their own saddles, but we know that there will be times where we will be purchasing a new saddle and selling our current one, if we need to or riding in a saddle that fits said horse and is “just okay” for us.

I often have left mine at home and used saddles meant for the horse per my trainer.

[Indy]

Given you’re leasing a horse, just look at the size of the girth your daughter has been using on whatever saddle she’s currently using. There should be a tag somewhere on it that says what size it is (unless the girth is ancient and the ink has worn off of the tag…if that’s the case, see if you can find a girth at the barn that has a size on it and hold them together as a ruler). Also trainer might know the size the horse uses. So long as the billets on the new saddle aren’t drastically short or long, you’ll likely be fine with the same size (but save the receipt just in case). New girths are going to be a lot snugger than old ones so know that the elastic will be a lot tighter on whatever you buy than what she’s currently using so it could be a snug fit to get buckled until it the elastic stretches a bit.

[skydy]

She’ll be thrilled!

Having a saddle of your own is a wonderful thing for a kiddo and having one that fits her will eliminate the struggles with balance and position that are caused by a saddle that doesn’t fit the rider.

A saddle and a bridle is a great gift. I remember my first saddle and bridle. I was so thrilled with them that they lived in my bedroom for quite a while and they were always immaculate. Learning to take care of your tack is an important lesson for a young rider.

Her trainer or a good saddle fitter can help you if there are any fitting issues with the horse.

An early Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[2DogsFarm]

KISS.
Ask kid’s trainer what size girth leased horse wears.
Same for the bridle. Ask trainer if you need cob or horse size.
Did you plan to buy it sans bit?
You’ll want to know what type & size bit.
They’re not One Size Fits All.
I’d also ask trainer what size seat for the saddle.
Too small or too big affect riding.

I bought my first saddle when I was still riding Schoolies. It fit everything I rode, then owned, from 1985 until I got my WB in 2010.

Great idea for Christmas, but make sure you have the above info as some tack isn’t returnable.

[BAC]

@mika0116

A fair amount of AA’s who don’t own & lease own their own saddles, but we know that there will be times where we will be purchasing a new saddle and selling our current one, if we need to or riding in a saddle that fits said horse and is “just okay” for us.

Or just keeping the current one and buying another saddle for the newest lease horse. That’s how we end up with collections of saddles and bridles. Whenever I leased, my saddle had to be approved by the owner and trainer for fit before I was allowed to use it, sometimes it didn’t and I had to use the horse’s own saddle whether it fit me or not but that’s okay, the horse’s comfort is what is most important.

[ZuzusPetals]

@fivestrideline

Or hoard them, like a lot of us do .

Sister.