I have recently purchased a Wintec Saddle, It has an overgirth attached (only just discovered what it was called) I have no clue how to even use it or where it should go… Can someone please tell me how it should be used and if you have a good photo of it being used, that would be really great too, thank you
Everyone I know cuts them off.
Thanks I might have to, I really would like to see what people do that leave them on but it does seem like no one does, nothing anywhere about them that I have seen so far.
I unstitched them and left the little tab so that I can sew them back on if I ever want to sell the saddles and a buyer wants them.
What is an overgirth? i have 3 wintecs and i have never heard of this. ( i ride English)
I had to ask my instructor what those were when I purchased a nearly new Wintec, and she fortunately knew what they were! Supposedly they go over the girth and keep the saddle flaps down, but… Doesn’t your leg do that? And I have never had saddle flaps flying around wildly when I have needed to lunge…
I cut them off. They were part of the saddle flap with no other way to remove them.
I had never heard of this and had to google to see exactly what you were talking about. Wintec says the overgirth is “to hold the flap in place for an ultra-close feeling.”
My question is what does the strap attach to? I can’t tell from the photos on the Wintec page. Is there a buckle on the end of one of the overgirth straps so they buckle together or do they buckle into something else?
An overgirth is the middle strap in this picture: https://www.wintec-saddles.com/produ…e-contourbloc/
It is very long and cumbersome. If your horse has a forward girth grove (like mine), this does not sit over the girth like it is designed and will instead rest on the skin behind the girth either causing pinching against the girth if adjusted properly or randomly bopping the underside if loose. I have no idea why they thought this feature was a good idea since nearly everyone finally gets to the point of cutting it off after they work up the nerve (me included). Otherwise I have been very happy with that specific saddle in the link.
At least on my saddle, there was a buckle on one end.
They are somewhat useful on old style dressage saddles with zero knee blocks, quarter panels, and smooth leather. Typically riding in one of those, you’d use either a bit of glycerine saddle soap or Saddle Tite or some other sticky goop at the top inside edge of your boot to give a little grip and security. This would mean on a really well broken in saddle that the flap would actually move with your leg if you had to exaggerate you flying change or half pass leg aids. The overgirth would hold the flap in place so it didn’t move with your leg.
Now you know
I have cut them off every Wintec dressage saddle I’ve had. The Pro and Isabell models are plenty sticky enough in the seat and thigh area that you don’t need any sticky goop I left an overgirth on a Stubben for years, but because it was a Special (no knee rolls, quarter panels, etc.) but made of Parzival leather, the flaps were substantial enough to stay in place - and I only ever used conditioner for a bit of stick, never sticky goops of any kind.
That is very strange and totally unnecessary. I have never seen that. I would cut it short and never use it.