Heads Up!

Putting my girth on seems so simple. But (no surprise here) there is a best way to do it & then a bunch of other ways. First, make sure there is no dirt, mud or shavings under my belly. You can guess why it's not a good idea to put your head under there to have a look. Instead, use your hand & feel whether the girth area is clean.

Second, if my girth has elastic on both ends or neither end, it doesn't have a left or right. If there is only elastic on one side, that goes on my left. Attach my girth on the left side first, on the bottom holes; use the outside billets unless it says otherwise on my stall door. Then go around to my right side and reach under me for the girth. Don't forget to slip it through the martingale loop (if I have one.) Lift the girth up to the billets & then check where the martingale loop is - it should be right in the middle of my front legs. If it's over to one side it will rub my elbows when I move. But please don't slide it around after the girth is attached! That pinches!

Third, attach the girth on the right side just so it's snug, not tight. This is a good time to put your helmet on, if you're not already wearing it. When you tighten the girth from now on, just go up one hole at a time - up one hole on the left billet, up one hole on the right, etc. Now, while my girth is still not all-the-way tight, is a good time to check your stirrup length. Then see if the girth needs to go up another hole. Same procedure; only one hole at a time, even if you go back & forth from left to right more than once.

Lastly, when we get to the ring, before pulling your stirrups down, check the girth again by trying to go up another hole - not by slipping your fingers under it & yanking. That pinches! If it's really hard to make it go up another hole, it's tight enough. Also, please make sure the saddle pad hasn't wrinkled! A wrinkle under the girth is like walking with a pebble in your shoe. Ow.

By tightening my girth gradually instead of suddenly, you are helping keep me much more comfortable. You wouldn't want me to be grouchy about my girth, would you?

Thanks!