SMART Girthing

All SMART™ saddles incorporate the patented self-tensioning girthing system to ensure saddle stability. Maintaining an even girth tension allows complete freedom of movement of the back and shoulder and reduces peak girthing pressures. The SMART girthing arrangement accommodates and improves even the most difficult and awkward conformation comfortably and improves saddle stability for all back shapes.

Although you may think that having your girth looser is kinder for your horse, this is not necessarily the case! Many saddle fitting concerns can be resolved by simply adjusting the girth correctly.

It is not unusual for a client to come to SMART Saddles with horses that have existing girthing issues, but it is important to remember that the way that a flexible SMART saddle engages with the horses’ back is completely different to a traditional treed saddle. Therefore, you needn’t assume that your horse will carry this same issue forward when changing to a SMART saddle and shouldn’t shy away from having a properly fitted, snug girth.

We certainly don’t advocate overtightening the girth, but the girth should be snug in order to function as it is supposed to – and to be comfortable for the horse. By keeping the girth snug, both the girth and the saddle can stay in place, moving with the horse throughout the stride and respiratory cycle.

• Is your girth snug before you mount?
• Is your girth done up equally on both sides, to prevent asymmetric pressure/pull?
• Did you check your girth tension as soon as you got on?
• Is your girth the right size for your horse?
• Is your girth compatible with the SMART saddle?

• • Make sure that the horse is standing squarely and not tucking his foreleg under his body.

  

  • After positioning the saddle, check the girth billets have been passed through the relevant slots on the saddle cloth.

  

  • Buckle the girth loosely so that it is just touching the skin, taking care to positioning it over the sternum and behind the elbow.
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  • Hold a girth strap and, standing squarely balanced yourself, lean backwards allowing your bodyweight to gradually pull the girth towards you. The horse will naturally brace himself against this pull, and the elastic in the girth will start to engage. 
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  • Whilst holding the strap taught with one hand, slide the roller buckle up into the next hole and gradually release the strap. Because this method does not pinch, the horse will not notice the tightening.
  • Repeat alternately with each strap until the girth is tight enough to mount.
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  • Fasten all D tabs before mounting.
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  • Remember to check again as soon as the rider is mounted! This is not because you need the girth tighter with a SMART™ saddle, but because the flexible layers may open and drop around the barrel slightly with the riders weight, having the effect of loosening the girth.