Help! I don't know what girth to pick for my Total Contact Saddle
Crickey... That's a loaded question! Don't worry, help is at hand.
"Can't I just use the girth I already have?" Maybe, but maybe not.
Naturally, once you've decided you want to try the Total Contact Saddle and you've sorted your padding choice, you next need to look at your choice of girth, and the question above might be your first question.
As explained in our Placement, Padding and Girthing Guide, The TCS is a treeless saddle which sits behind the horse's wither, which means, on lots of horses with long or high withers, the TCS will sit further back than a traditional saddle. What does this mean in practical terms for you and your girth choice? It means that if you've been using a certain girth for a traditional saddle, and you hope to use it when you swap to a treeless TCS saddle, it may not be suitable, simply because the TCS will sit in a different place. This means that if you have been using a straight girth for example, it may end up pulling your TCS onto your horse's wither, where we don't want it to be:
So what type of girth should I use?
The fastest way to figure out what type of girth to use with your TCS is to place your TCS on your horse and ensure the billets are pointing down to the floor at a 90° angle. If you don't yet own a TCS and you're just figuring things out, you can still do the same exercise by drawing an imaginary line down to the floor. Now look at your horse's girth groove. Ideally, your girth should sit one to two hands' width behind your horse's elbow. (Unfortunately, some horses do have a very defined girth groove which sits forward from that, and those are the ones who would really benefit from anatomical girths). So look at those two lines, are they alighed? If so; happy days, straight girth. Doesn't match up? You'll probably need a forward cut/crescent or anatomical girth. And you're not alone! This is the case for most horses ridden in the TCS.
Measuring with and without a TCS saddle:
What Is an Anatomical Girth?
An anatomical girth is designed to contour to the horse’s body, allowing for better freedom of movement while maintaining saddle stability. Unlike standard straight girths, anatomical girths have shaping that accommodates the natural curves of the ribcage, sternum, and elbow area. This reduces pressure points and allows the horse to move more comfortably whilst aiding correct positioning of the TCS. They come in all shapes and sizes!
At Total Contact Saddles, we have found the Shires Lusso Anatomical Girth and the Professional's Choice Ventech Contoured Girth to work well for many horses, but we encourage you to carefully assess your horse and shop around for the best option.
Should You Make the Switch?
If you’ve noticed signs of discomfort, your TCS saddle slipping forward, or resistance from your horse, an anatomical girth could make a noticeable difference in their comfort and movement. Always ensure proper girth fit and don't hesitate to get in touch if you want help finding the best option for your horse’s needs.
Does your horse wear an anatomical girth? Share your experience in the comments!
