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.

Just another horse cruelty case !!

Posted by rji | Filed under Equestrian News

Milo before recovery I picked this up on the Horse & Hound news feed and although the woman in question has been reported, caught, convicted and sentenced; that ain't the problem.

It's the punishment ..... and how it just does not fit the crime

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a woman who has a history of horse cruelty.

She had received an adult caution last year for neglecting two ponies so badly they had to be put down.

"His body was covered in large areas of hair loss and raw skin as a result of self mutilation. He was obviously in a great deal of discomfort."

In her absence Alcroft was banned from keeping equines for 10 years and the ILPH was awarded custody of Bobby, Milo and Cally.

A history of cruelty to horses. Two ponies killed because of her and another three left to suffer horrendously and what did she get........ An adult caution, which she apparently ignored, and banned from keeping horses for 10 years.

Will she ? Do we really believe she won't simply set up again somewhere else .

Why is the law such an ass where animal welfare is concerned, especially when there is a history of cruelty. Surely, this woman deserves some sort of physical confinement, a significant fine or just a good hard slap?

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