Billet Length Guide

The Total Contact Saddles are available for purchase with long or short billets. The body of the saddle is the same in both styles, meaning both the short and long billet saddle fits all horses and rider whatever their size, it’s purely down to your preference if you want to use a normal girth or a dressage girth. Please note that the anatomy of some horses will suit a short or long billet saddle better (for example really small ponies may suit a short billet length better due to their small barrel size).

Short billet (left)

On the short billet saddle, the measurement across the back of the saddle from the second hole on one girth strap to the second hole on the other is 38” 96cm. The billet/ girth straps end about 5” below the under flap. The holes continue under the saddle flap to the top. This suits riders and horses that like to use long girths such as standard girths. On this model the girth buckles will end under the saddle, so to protect their thighs, horses and saddles from the girth buckles, many riders opt for purchasing our Girth guards. You can use these girth guards between your girth buckles and your saddle to save your saddle from damage or use between your girth buckles and your horse to protect your horse from the pressure of the girth buckles.

Long billet (right)

On the long billet saddle, the measurement across the back of the saddle from the second hole on one girth strap to the second hole on the other is 54” 137cm. The holes stop roughly at the bottom of the saddle flap. This suits riders and horses that like to use short girths such as dressage girths.