Anatomic girths--stupid question

[SarahandSam]

My saddle fitter recommended I get an anatomic girth for my horse to keep the saddle sitting farther back--it slides up too far for his balance point with a regular girth. I ordered a Toulouse anatomic girth in a 48" because that's his normal size.

Way too short to reach the billets. So I ordered a 50". A normal 50" girth will go up to the top holes on the billets of his saddle and still be slightly too big. This is a 14.2 QH.

The 50" is still too short!

So now I'm wondering... am I using it correctly? Which way is forward and which is backwards? With the Toulouse girth, it looks like the side with two bumps goes forward, and the side with the wider swell in the middle faces toward the back of the horse... that's what I assumed, but maybe I'm wrong?

I tried it both ways anyway and it's still too short. I can't comprehend why I would need a 52" girth on a pony just because of the anatomic shape, but maybe I do... is there something I'm missing here?

[pintopiaffe]

the single curve faces FRONT... i.e. it curves forward at the belly. The two curves face the haunch, to allow room for the elbow to go back and then also they hit the billets back where they are with the center of the girth sitting in the forward girth groove.

I don't know why the size would be SO off. I don't have the Tolouse brand, but mine is right on size-wise to what he would wear in any girth. It was tightish to start until the elastic broke in a little, but is perfect now.

The key is for the elbow cutouts to sit in the right place. Too high or too low and the point of the girth is negated--and can even *cause* rubbing.

[SarahandSam]

Thank you! I felt like such an idiot going, "Hmm, which way is which?"

I wonder if it's because it's triple elastic, and they're stiff... he does puff out when I'm girthing him up, but I can't even get it close to the bottom hole, whereas when I then tried with a regular 50" it was fine. He's definitely getting to be a fatty as he gears up for winter, but shouldn't be going up that many dress sizes!

[Lucassb]

I had the same problem when I bought an anatomic girth. I bought a size up on the advice of the tack shop person - my horse normally wears a 52, and I bought a 54.

It's still too short!!

Unfortunately, I didn't think to double check before I oiled it, figuring a 54 would be plenty big enough. :(

So now I have a very pretty AdT girth decorating my closet. At least you know you're not the only one!

[SarahandSam]

Lucas, I wish you'd bought a 52 so I could buy it off of you. d;

[Risk-Averse Rider]

My Toulouse seems shorter than my non-anatomic girth, but I think part of it is that the triple elastic is quite stiff.

Have you measured from buckle to buckle on the new girth to compare it with a girth that fits?

[SarahandSam]

Yep, RAR, compared it size-wise to my 48" and 50" and it was perfectly aligned with the 50". So I'm guessing it's either because of sitting farther back, or the triple thick elastic... I'm debating whether to use it with a girth extender (which I have) until the elastic softens a bit and it fits, or send it back for a 52"... any thoughts?

[nightsong]

I think that girth sizes are like clothing sizes -- more in the way of a guideline.