How to Girth a Sport Saddle

The most common mistake with girthing this saddle is with using the English billet strap method, which is simply to put the buckle into a hole of the cinch strap. That method will not get the cinch tightened enough to keep the saddle on the horse securely. Also, trying to finish the end of the cinch strap with a western knot doesn't work either because the D ring isn't big enough to accommodate the knot. The knot is sometimes referred to as the Texas T, bow tie or western knot.

UPDATE - This information, until recently, was accurate. A nice innovation was added when the larger Dee rings where made available by the new Production Manager at the saddlery. The customer now has the choice of getting the larger or the smaller cinch Dee ring installed. So, you can use the knot method for your cinch with the larger cinch Dee. Although, if you have the small Dee ring the method described below is still valid. An advantage to using the method below is that it creates less bulk under the left knee chap.

The method used to cinch the Sports Saddles starts out like that of any other western girth method. However, the buckle on the girth needs to be used to complete the cinching rather than finishing with a knot at the upper D ring. Follow the procedure illustrated below.

Step one – Put the cinch strap thru the girth ring, but keep the strap loose at this point.

Step two – Now go up to the upper D ring and put the strap thru there and bring it on down to the girth ring.

Step three - Put the cinch strap thru the large girth ring, now for the second time. Now pull the cinch strap up snuggly.

Step four - As you pull the nylon strap upward to tighten the girth the strap will slide easily. The nylon strap slides easily on itself unlike the leather cinch straps, which tend to resist sliding easily due to moisture.

Step five – Put the pin from the buckle into the desired hole but do not let the pin just stick out to the side. If the pin is left like this it could slip back out of the hole.

Step six – to get the pin to sit firmly up against the nylon cinch strap, put your finger under the outermost nylon strap, grip it and tug outward. This will “seat” the pin up against the nylon girth strap. If this leaves the strap with too much play in it than put your fingers under the entire nylon strapping and tug outward on it to make the final adjustment.

Steps seven and eight - What do I do with the excess cinch strap? You may not have enough strap left to store the excess through the leather keeper found on the Trail models. You can drape the excess over the Skito pad's keeper strap on either side of the cinch.

Or, if you have a neoprene girth you can double-up the excess and tuck it away inside the pocket of the girth. If you are using the girth that came with your saddle (sorry, no picture) you will see a three inch wide open ended pocket on one end of the girth. You can place the excess into this pocket if the girth was arranged so the pocket is on the girthing side of the horse.

--- Original Message -----

From: "Maggie Hoegh" <Maggiehoegh@adelphia.net
To: <treeless@sportsaddle.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 10:25 PM
Subject: Girths/cinching

I know this will be perceived as an unorthodox question and probably answered with a definite "of course not, are you crazy?!", but... Would it be possible to special order a Sport Saddle with an english/dressage billet/girthing system?

I have tried a Sport Saddle with the western girthing system and my horse has a definite adversion to it. She is quite happy to be saddled in her english saddle with an elastic girth.

Sincerely,
Maggie

RESPONSE:

Hi Maggie,

I do get this question from time to time. SS will not do this but I will tell you what people have done. They purchase two sets of billet straps and simply put them on the ring (they are sewn in place over the ring) that is used to hang the stirrups straps that are there. The other option is to order the sportgirth that I sell which is a western style but can be ordered with elastic on both ends. I have one and my horse does seem to like it too.

If you go to the section called "recommended tack and equipment" you will see it there. Hope this helps.

Thanks.

Have a nice day,
Gerri Rini