The Equestrian Blog

Saddle Girth – How tight is too tight?

Are you guilty of doing up your horse’s girth as tight as you can in the belief it gives your saddle and you the best security? Well Australian researchers have found that a girth done up too tightly can have a negative effect on your horse’s performance.

The usual tension applied to a saddle girth to keep a saddle on a Thoroughbred racehorse is around 13kg but researchers found anything over 10kg could alter the horses performance.

Although they still have to work out why, it’s thought that it may force the horse to adopt different breathing patterns involving a greater use of the diaphragm which in turn affects performance. Alternatively, the soft tissue and fluid in the thoracic wall (the part between the neck and abdomen, enclosed by the ribs) could be displaced during exercise.

As yet, no-one knows for sure. Some horses don’t seem particularly affected by girth tightness but others do. Saddle placement also played a part, so more research is needed. Whatever the effects of your saddle girth just make sure you don’t leave your girth too loose.

Toxic to Horses

Just a quick question...

As horse owners we're mostly all familiar with the battle against ragwort and how it has spread into every field, central reservation and grass verge, but do you know what else is toxic to your horse?

If you don't you should do. Have a read of our Toxic to Horses section, some things may surprise you.

Gate Theft Kills Horses at Timbertops Equestrian Centre

The callous theft of field gates at Timbertops Equestrian Centre has resulted in four horses being killed on the A1.

The four horses were killed after straying onto the A1 motorway after their field gates were stolen. The horses escaped from the field near Wentbridge, on the border of West and North Yorkshire, after the gates were stolen at the weekend.

Four of the horses were hit by vehicles on the nearby A1. Three died at the scene and a fourth was put to sleep by a local vet.

Anyone with information about the gate theft is urged to contact York CID. The gates were stolen between 3pm on Saturday and 12:15am on Sunday. The field belongs to
the Timbertops Equestrian Centre... full story

Carl Hester Makes It 50 National Titles

Carl Hester has succeeded in winning his 50th National Title.

Winning the grand prix at the national dressage championships on Donald McTaggart's Liebling ll and then the intermediaire I freestyle on Sasha Stewart's breeding stallion Uthopia means Carl has won a title every day since Thursday, starting with the prix st georges, then yesterday's intermediaire I, both on Uthopia.

In the grand prix Liebling ll scored 71.36%, beating last year's National champions Maria Eilberg and Two Sox into second place. Third place went to Steph Croxford and Mr President, who scored 67.40%.