Girths

At Unamari, we design, develop and produce a varied range of Catago and HorseGuard webbing. You will therefore exclusively find the full range of girths from these two well-known brands here at Unamari.

What is a girth?

A girth is an indispensable piece of riding equipment for anyone who rides with a saddle. The girth is the "belt" that stretches from one side of the saddle to the other side of the saddle under the horse's belly, allowing the saddle to lie in place on the horse's back.

A girth can have different shapes depending on the discipline. It can also be made of different materials. Most importantly, when choosing a girth for your horse or pony, it is important that the girth fits the individual horse as well as possible in combination with a well-fitting saddle. With the perfect girth for your horse, you will distribute the pressure evenly and be more secure on the horse, creating a better experience for both you and your horse.

What is the difference between a regular girth and a dressage girth?

The difference between a dressage girth and a regular girth or a jumping girth, also called a jumping plate or a plate girth is primarily the length. On all-round saddles or combination saddles as they are also called, the girth straps are short and the girth is buckled up under the saddle flaps. The same applies to jumping saddles.

On a dressage saddle, the girth straps are long and are tightened below the saddle flaps, not under the saddle flap, so the distance on the girth itself is shorter. A dressage girth will typically be between 35-85 cm. in length depending on the size of your pony or horse. A regular girth/jumping girth will typically be between 90-140 cm. Both types are made in lengths that jump 10 cm. in the above ranges.

How do I measure a girth?

You can find the length of a girth by measuring from the outer buckle edge to the outer buckle edge.

How tight should a girth be tightened?

The girth should be tightened to support the saddle to lie correctly on the horse's back, but at the same time give the horse room to breathe easily and unhindered. If you need to tighten the girth more than this to ensure that the saddle stays in place and does not slide forward, for example, we recommend that you contact a saddle professional, as this may indicate that your saddle can be adjusted more optimally.

What is a dressage girth?

As described above, a dressage saddle has longer girth stops and the girth is therefore tightened below the saddle flaps and directly against the horse's coat. A dressage girth is therefore shorter than a regular girth and is shaped differently at the buckles, which are covered on the back so they don't bother and cause sores on the horse. You'll find a variety of anatomical shapes to suit the horse's individual needs.

What is a plate girth?

A plate girth is also called a jumping plate or a jumping girth. As the different names suggest, it is primarily used for jumping. It is a type of girth with a larger plate under the horse's belly that is intended to provide extra protection when the horse jumps.

Why use a plate girth?

Protection is the main reason why jumpers choose to use a plate girth. Some horses close up a lot, as it's called, with their front legs when they are over the jumps, sometimes so much so that their hooves can cut or hit under the belly. This is where the larger plate protects so that instead of hitting itself, the horse hits the plate on the girth.

This is especially useful if the horse is wearing shoes, which can do more damage to the horse's fur, skin etc. under the belly than horse hooves without shoes. In cases where the horse also has Mordax screwed onto the shoes, protection is extra important. Mordax are "iron studs" that, if the shoes have holes for them, can be screwed on either side at the back of the horseshoe. This provides extra grip on the ground. Mordax is used especially when jumping on grass or during the cross-country part of eventing.

Which type of girth should you use?

In our range, which consists of the brands Catago and Horse Guard, you'll find girths made in a variety of materials. Which material is most appropriate for you to choose for your horse or pony will depend on your individual needs and requirements such as flexibility and maintenance. All our girths are made of quality materials with stainless steel buckles for durability.

Memory foam ground

Memory foam molds to the horse's body for comfort. Therefore, in our range here at Unamari, you can find several different girths in this material. Both regular long girths with different shapes and dressage girths. Both in regular memory foam, but also with Catago FIR-Tech in combination with memory foam.

Neoprene and PVC girths

A neoprene or PVC girth is a practical choice as it is very easy to clean. Especially PCV girths can be maintained by regular wiping or washing with water and perhaps a mild soap.

Leather girths

Leather is a classic material for riding equipment, so you will also find leather girths in our range. Both brown and black. They are timeless and beautiful products that can be cleaned and treated with leather care in the same way as your other leather equipment.

Belt with lambskin

Sometimes a girth with extra padding in the form of lambskin can be preferable. Primarily to either prevent or protect if you are unlucky enough to have a small scratch or wound on your horse.

In our range we offer several different girths with imitation lambskin, both dressage girths and long girths for combined saddles and jumping saddles.

It is also possible to purchase lambskin products that can be added to the girth you already use.

Girth for Icelandic horses

The Icelandic horse has different girth needs than both ponies and large horses. In our range you will find the Icelandic girth from Catago, which is a leather girth of the highest quality with elastic in the middle, which ensures a balanced and equilibrium feeling for horse and rider.

Catago FIR-Tech girth

The Catago FIR-Tech girth is anatomically shaped and has a wide contact surface. The girth is lined with memory foam that molds to the horse. The inside of the girth has FIR-Tech material, which reflects the horse's own body heat to increase blood circulation and relieve tension. The girth has strong girth buckles and elastic on both sides.

Longing girth

A lunging girth is used for lunging. Unlike a riding girth, a lunging girth is wrapped all the way around the horse and is not used with a saddle, but possibly with a pad or our Catago FIR-Tech Memory foam lunge pad.

In our range we have both a classic lunge girth and a variant that is lined with teddy fleece. Both are adjustable on both sides and have many rings and buckles to meet different needs. Both are available in pony, cob and full sizes.

Elastic girth

An elastic girth is also called a blanket girth. An elastic girth is placed all the way around the horse in the girth bed and is used, for example, over a drying blanket or transport blanket to ensure that it stays where it should. In our HorseGuard brand you will find a classic elastic girth in black and navy.

Tip for doing:

Always tighten the girth equally on both sides, this gives the saddle the best conditions for balance and gives your horse a better feeling of comfort and balance.

Girth extender

A girth extender is often used for horses that have gained weight and where the regular girth can no longer quite reach. Sometimes it's enough to use the girth extender on one side when tightening the girth for a little extra length to hold on to. If the girth cannot reach the outermost hole in the girth straps on both sides, the girth extender can be used while riding if necessary.

If you only use it on one side, however, you should pay attention to whether the saddle still lies correctly. If not, we recommend investing in a longer girth instead of just a girth extender, taking into account the horse's comfort.

Buy anatomical girth to keep the saddle in place

At Unamari, you'll find a wide range of girths from both Catago and HorseGuard. We are passionate about creating the best riding gear for you and your horse, and you will clearly notice this when you get your hands on our products.

As you can see, there are many types of girths. We have everything from a short girth to a long girth made of many different materials. That's why it can be a little difficult to find just the right one, but we can help! If you have any questions about which type of webbing you need, you're always welcome to contact us. Together we can find out which strap will help you create optimal comfort for your horse.