Ride with confidence knowing your saddle is securely in place with an English horse girth. Made from high-quality materials including leather, nylon, and neoprene, Jeffers carries English girths and girth extenders from your favorite top brands such as Wintec, Uniquely English, Ovation, and Lettia.
What is an english girth for horses?
An English girth is a wide, reinforced strap made of leather, synthetic webbing, or neoprene that passes under the horse’s belly to secure the saddle in place. An English girth features metal buckles at both ends that attach directly to the leather billet straps hanging from the saddle's tree. Many modern English girths incorporate elastic inserts at one or both ends to allow the horse’s ribcage to expand comfortably while breathing during exercise.
How to measure an english girth
To measure an English girth correctly, place your saddle and a standard pad on the horse's back and have a friend hold a soft measuring tape against the middle hole of the billets on one side. Run the tape under the horse's heart girth, about four inches behind the elbow, up to the middle hole of the billets on the opposite side. The resulting measurement in inches is your girth size. If you already have a girth that fits, simply lay it flat and measure from the very end of one buckle to the very end of the buckle on the opposite side.
How to put a girth on an english saddle
To put a girth on an English saddle, start on the off-side or the horse's right side by buckling the girth onto the first and third billets, ensuring the buckles are level and the girth is centered. Walk to the near-side or the horse's left side, reach under the belly to grab the loose end, and bring it up to meet the left-side billets. Gently guide the buckles onto the billets and tighten them just enough to hold the saddle steady; you should always perform a final tightening, adjusting both sides evenly, after the horse has walked a few steps and "tucked" their stomach.
How tight should an english girth be
An English girth should be tight enough to prevent the saddle from slipping but not so tight that it restricts the horse's breathing or causes girth sores. A general rule of thumb is that you should be able to fit two fingers snugly between the girth and the horse’s ribcage just behind the elbow.
Interested in more horse products?
Complement your english horse tack setup with our related collections including english bits, breastplates & martingales, english halters, english saddles, and tack collections.
Can I purchase English Horse Girths online?
Absolutely. Don’t miss our top-rated Horse Grooming & Tack Supplies too! You might qualify for free shipping — just add the item to your cart to find out. Also, our Horse Essentials often include free delivery.