Girths and how they can affect the nervous system

We spend a lot of time and money making sure our saddles fit correctly and often like the bridle less time can be spent thinking about the impact of an ill-fitting girth can have on the horse

For the girth sits in the pathway of your horse nervous system and will affect your horses breathing due to the function of the diaphragm and location where the girth sits

The worse thing we were taught was to keep tightening slowly notch by notch like a boa constrictor not allowing the horse to exhale the same breath it inhaled so before we even set off we are affecting the diaphragm so if your horses is already compromised through its breathing this will in turn affect the nervous system, the psoas will be affected and so on and so on

We tighten up affecting the sternum, ladies how do you feel if you put an ill-fitting bra on it not only cases discomfort but will also affect your mood as the sternum is the key for breath and congestion now does your horses mood change not when you place the saddle on its back yet when you touch the girth the ears will go back and the expression will change, do we then have to associate it with saddle or is it just the girth that the horse is unhappy about, the sternum is also a very sensitive area and do not think a girth will not affect this area think of all the structures feeding from the girth area again if it affects one it affects all.

The girth will have an influence on muscle, visceral and biomechanics of the horse it can affect the horse's behaviour, the girth area contains many sensitive structures all protected by the ribcage and the ribcage holds the muscles of respiration so if we restrict the ribs we restrict breathing, they move up and out as the muscles work, so if you are asking for a lift as we often do then this will also be restricted, so we need to choose wisely when making such an important purchase we need to make as much effort into the girth as we do the saddle, and an expensive price tag does not mean you are buying quality

Remember horses are not born no go through life with symmetry one side will always be different from the other which means one side will be more contracted than the other so we also have to think of type aswell as fit as no horses is the same as the other yet most have a regimented sizing and shape but are all horses regimented in size and shape

Often speaking to your saddle fitter not just to fit a saddle but the girth as well usually helps as they will spend time with your horse and know how the horse moves etc and they have experience with many different types of girths and shapes of horses.

Remember your horse must have all their systems working together we cannot single out one area and not think It doesn't affect another