Although SMART Saddles don’t advocate overtightening of the girth, it’s also counter-productive to have it too loose. Just like a running shoe, the SMART saddle is designed to be fitted with a close, even contact; engaging with the horse’s back to flex throughout the stride cycle - with no rigid parts to dig in or create focal pressures. The girth should work with your saddle to provide a snug, secure fit allowing your horse to move as he naturally would. If the girth is too loose it can allow excess saddle movement which can not only destabilise the saddle but also create friction and pull across the fascia.
The SMART Saddle range has a unique girthing assembly which, in combination with the fully flexible saddle design, is designed to distribute the pressure evenly around the trunk of the horse. The self-righting design can hang vertically or on an angle, allowing it to accommodate the widest range of horse shapes including individual asymmetries.
Choosing the right girth:
Getting the right girth fit and design can significantly impact saddle performance. While there are many innovative girth designs available today - many of which are excellent in their own right - most are developed with traditional treed saddles in mind. As a result, some may not be fully compatible with a flexible SMART Saddle.
For example, in our experience, girths featuring multiple elasticated sections can cause stability issues when used with a flexible saddle. These types of girths might work well with rigid saddles by allowing some movement, but with a saddle designed to move naturally with the horse, excessive elasticity can lead to unwanted instability.
In contrast, a simple girth with strong elastic can be just the ticket, providing enough give to allow freedom of movement without compromising saddle stability. For over a decade, we have recommended the Professional’s Choice Ventech girth, a straightforward yet thoughtfully designed girth that suits a wide range of horses and pairs exceptionally well with the SMART Saddle range. The shearling-lined version is ideal for thin skinned or sensitive horses or longer hours in the saddle.
All SMART Saddles have long girth billets, designed to be used in conjunction with dressage girths. Although dressage girths are shorter by design, this does not mean that they should sit very low down your horse’s sides. Fitting the girth too low can cause discomfort for your horse and affect the stability of your saddle. For best results, we recommend using a girth that sits as close to the bottom of the saddle flap as possible; this provides the most continuous band of contact around your horse’s sides all the way up to where the saddle begins so that the girth and the saddle can work in tandem.
If you experience saddle-related problems, it’s always wise to first examine your girth setup. Often, issues stem from using an unsuitable girth, one that doesn’t fit properly, or a girth that is fastened too loosely – which can in turn affect saddle position, leading to incorrect balance and reduced overall comfort for either horse or rider.
Unsure how tight is too tight or how loose is too loose? It’s simple: if you pull on the girth straps and the buckle can go up a hole, the girth needed to go up. If you pull on the girth straps and the buckle can’t go up a hole, leave the girth as it is.
You wouldn’t go for a run with shoelaces that
are too loose and the same applies for girthing up your saddle!
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