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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 20, 2009 18:17:57 GMT -5
Ok - I have riden dressage for a good long time and never come across the particular issue I am having. I need a size 42-44(depending on style) dressage girth. I have not found ANY dressage girths that are this size without going into a string girth which I HATE. There are a variety of AP girths in these lengths that would probably work, but my quandry is this.... What do I do with the leftover billet piecies??? I don't want to run anything around the inside of the girth to tie the billet pieces down(besides how goofy would that look!) because I am worried about galling. My guy is REALLY sensitive about hsi girth because we are constantly fighting sweet itch. I have settled on most likely an Amigo girth that spreads the pressure out over the sturnum, but amnot exactly sure what to do with those darn billet leftovers. And NO - cutting them off isn't an option  Just paid $3200 for my saddle lol. Thoughts anyone?  ? I can't ride my wonderfully comfy new saddle till I get this girth thing all figured out - and amazingly, I have NEVER run across this particular problem!!! AP girths don't have keepers for the billet straps! Sara |
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Post by beckybee on Jan 20, 2009 19:34:52 GMT -5
I was on the opposite side of the problem. I got this Trekker treeless saddle with really long billets. I was looking for a 22" dressage girth and no one had 'em in stock. It took longer to get the girth that get the saddle from Germany! Can I ask a stupid question? What's the difference between a dressage girth and an AP girth (other than price )? |
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Post by Admin on Jan 20, 2009 20:40:26 GMT -5
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Post by crum on Jan 20, 2009 20:45:36 GMT -5
drafttack.com has a 42" one. I don't know much more about it other than that they carry it. I bookmarked it when I was looking for Lilly. The rest of my bookmarks seem to be out of date for this topic.
I was lucky with Lilly and managed to get a Sommer leather adjustable length dressage girth when I purchased one for her. According to the sales receipt it goes from 41-55". It looks like Dressage Extensions doesn't carry it any more though. It looks like it was a closeout when I purchased it actually. Maybe you can do an online search and see if you can find anyone else that carries it. One of the nicest things about this girth being of an adjustable length is that it is easy to shorten or lengthen it to adjust where the billets connect and where pressure will be distributed for the girth itself.
modified to add dressageextensions.com may have started carrying something to replace the adjustable dressage girth I purchased so they may have something longer if you have a chance to search their site.
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jude
Super Pooper Scooper
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Post by jude on Jan 20, 2009 21:03:16 GMT -5
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jude
Super Pooper Scooper
Posts: 4
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Post by jude on Jan 20, 2009 21:05:09 GMT -5
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 21, 2009 1:54:13 GMT -5
Well - here is the thing, I don't want the girth to be short. I like my girths on the tightest hole when fit properly. IMO the billet straps can be uncomfortable and work their way into bad places on the ribs. I actually generally order my dressage saddles specifically with universal billets - meaning they have 2 sets of holes. Both short and long ones. THEN I use an AP girth. I generally only use a dressage girth when competing since it is required. But - although I did request it on this saddle, it came only with the long dressage billets  I can have them changed, but that means more waiting and more cost. As for the difference, Dressage girths are designed so that they buckle much lower. this keeps the girth out of the way of the leg and adds less bulk under the theigh. The downside - it allows for the billets to work like a tight thin belt.... Just looks plain uncomfortable to me. However, on normal sized horses, often times you can use a longer pad and it will lay under the top part of the billet which seems to help - BUT Kadin is so big, that even the long pads don't come down long enough to do this. PLUS, dressage girths are set up to have keepers that you feed the extra end of teh billets through to keep them tucked up nice and neat - AP girths do not have this. Unfortunately I DO NOT want a leather girth or a neoprene with Kadin - his sweet itch gets so irritated I have to be really careful. I am looking at one of the Amegio(or possibly other brands) that have the huge square int he middle of the girth to spread the weight out over a bigger area over the sternum and is covered in natural lamb fleece. Tends to make it alot more comfortable for the horse and helps stabilized and balance you and your saddle without having to tighten the girth too much  AND - I have found oen that will work well - it is adjustable which is great, BUT it is an AP and has no place to put the extra billet lol..... Weird thing I guess..... But, I don't like them flopping. Sara |
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Post by crum on Jan 21, 2009 8:01:39 GMT -5
I hadn't realized you already had picked out the girth you were going to use.
The simple solution is a piece of material or a pair of straps with buckles on both ends and keepers of their own. You could probably get them made out of almost any material. I had something similar to this I used for a dressage saddle I had with a third set of billets that I was in a rush to use and could only find a 2 buckle dressage girth for at the time. The third billet fell between the 2 buckles so I just had this extra strap that I used to capture the middle billets and keep it need and tidy. No one ever objected to it at the shows, but they may have just not noticed it as it was made out of black leather just like the girth I was using. If you were going to show with it these days I would recommend asking someone at an official level it is is a problem.
modified to add obviously if you go with individual narrower straps for this you need to make sure not to snug it down as much as the real girth or it would probably cause excess pressure along its length. You would just want it snug enough it won't flop around or slide in front of or behind the real girth.
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Post by stormlady on Jan 21, 2009 11:59:15 GMT -5
Or take the girth to a saddle repair shop and have them add keepers to it.
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Post by crum on Jan 21, 2009 16:17:58 GMT -5
Or take the girth to a saddle repair shop and have them add keepers to it. The problem with having keepers sewn on is most local people who have the equipment to do that type of work will want to stitch all the way through the girth or take the girth apart to add the keepers. At least that was the problem I ran into in the past. When you pay a few hundred dollars for a girth having someone take it apart just seemed wrong to me. modified to add also that maybe I'm odd in that when I find a piece of tack I really like, such as a girth, I really can't stand the thought of letting someone modify it and possibly damage it. |
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 21, 2009 17:16:59 GMT -5
I agree Crum - I am the same way. I really don't want someone to discombobulate my equipment if possible. The girth I am looking at is around $200ish - so kind of don'tw ant to have it mangled accidentally lol. I rode earlier and used a couple of pieces of electrical tape to hold the billets. Definately NOT the ideal solution.....
Sara
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Post by beckybee on Jan 21, 2009 18:32:25 GMT -5
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 22, 2009 0:11:11 GMT -5
Thanks for posting Looks like a nice girth - might get one for malibu. That is the style i am wanting for her. |
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 22, 2009 0:24:48 GMT -5
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Just paid $3200 for my saddle lol. 
? I can't ride my wonderfully comfy new saddle till I get this girth thing all figured out - and amazingly, I have NEVER run across this particular problem!!! AP girths don't have keepers for the billet straps!
I can have them changed, but that means more waiting and more cost.