When you are riding a horse, you must make sure that you are comfortable and so your horse is. It will help the horse to move smoothly without any discomfort as well as help you enjoy the ride. To make sure, you must check the dressage girth of the horse properly whether it is tight and fixed in place or not. When the girth is not placed correctly on the horse, or it is tied loosely, it moves around, causing significant discomfort to both of you. The uneven distribution causes pain to the horse in its sensitive areas. Therefore, you will find that your horse is refusing to move. It also can cause accidents during a run. Hence, it would be best if you used the short dressage girth to maximize the freedom of movement.

Types of Dressage Girth

There are various types of dressage girth available in the market. However, it is upon you to choose the type according to your convenience and need. It would be best if you tried to keep your horse comfortable while it is galloping. Following are the different types of dressage girth, which are straight or shaped.

Ergonomically Shaped Girths:

The Ergonomically shaped girth is one of the most famous dressage girths dominating the market. It is exceptionally comfortable for your horse and thus helps it to move around smoothly. Because of its cutouts shape, the ergonomic girths provide maximum room for the elbow and shoulder of the horse so that it can move freely and prevent wrinkles and rubbing of the skin. The benefit of the ergonomically shaped dressage girthis that the center is more comprehensive. Thus, it helps to distribute the pressure evenly along the breastbone. It helps the horse to give an extra edge in moving faster than its counterparts.

Anatomically Shaped Girths:

Anatomically shaped girths are helpful for horses having an excellent girth area because they provide the elbows enough space to move around while it is running. The cutouts of the anatomically shaped girths are specially created for the elbows on both sides. Hence, the horse, while on the move, feels comfortable.

Asymmetrical Girths:

As all the horses are not of the same body shape, their girth area also differs. Some horses do not have a healthy and defined girth area. Hence, for these types of horses, Asymmetrical girths work well. The cut out of the girth is only on one side of the elbow. It is the longest side of the girth.

Crescent-Shaped Girths:

Crescent or moon-shaped girths are especially for horses with short backs, wide rib cages, and narrow chests. If you place any dressage girthson the back of this horse the saddle tends to slide forward. If the girth touches the elbows, the horse will not find it comfortable to move around so the pace will come down. The Crescent-shaped girths are round around the rib cage, preventing the girth from moving forward and colliding with the elbows.

Straight Girths:

Straight girths are the traditional girths that have been in demand for ages. If you want to use straight girth, you need to check the structure of your horse, and it must have an excellent girthing area so that the saddle fits perfectly and efficiently. You will get straight girths in various materials according to their cost. The straight girth is a type of dressage girth that was the most popular and the only type in ancient times.

The Material Used In Dressage Girths

The material used in dressage girthsis either natural or synthetic. Following are the types of materials that we use as girths in horses.

Leather:

Leather is the most common dressage girthmaterial that is durable and long-lasting. It would be best if you took utmost care of the leather girth; else, it can cause problems to the horse’s skin. Leather girths are common because they are breathable and go well with the horse’s skin. Various leather girths come with extra cushion for the horses’ comfort.

Neoprene:

Neoprene is exceptionally soft and flexible, giving extreme to your horse while on the move. One of the most significant advantages of using Neoprene as a dressage girthis its meager maintenance cost and ease of washing and drying up faster.

Conclusion: If you want to make your horse comfortable while running and also want to enjoy the ride, you must get the right kind of dressage girth. So, according to the external features of your horse choose the right kind of girth.