The Prolite Girth needs to be sized and fitted correctly in order to ensure the maximum benefits.
Follow these guidelines:
1. Prolite® Girths are measured in the standard way - buckle end to buckle end.
2. They come in two sizes – narrow gauge and standard - and it is important to get the right one.
Measure girth buckle end to buckle end
Standard and Narrow Girth
3. Narrow gauge girths are designed specifically to fit horses (and ponies) with a narrower rib cage
- If the flat area between the horse’s elbows measures less than 20cm, your horse needs the narrow gauge.
- Or, if a sweat scraper won’t fit between the front legs, the horse is a narrow gauge fit.
- Or, if the palm of your hand lies flat between the front legs, the horse is more likely to be a standard fit
20cm Sweat scraper
Using a sweat scraper to measure between front legs
4. Horses with a forward girth groove will also benefit from the increased elbow clearance provided by a narrow gauge girth
Narrow Gauge Elbow clearance
Standard Gauge Elbow clearance
5. If your horse has wrinkly skin behind his elbows, opt for the narrow gauge version.
Horses with a forward girth groove will benefit from the increased elbow clearance
If wrinkly skin behind his elbows, opt for the narrow gauge version
6. Make sure you fit the girth with the curved section facing forward (towards the forelimbs).
Face front
Measuring
7. For a short (dressage or event girth) fit the longest length possible so the buckles fasten away from the pressure-sensitive area behind the elbow. When fully tightened, the top edge of the girth should be as close to the bottom edge of the saddlecloth as possible. On a dressage saddle, aim to have two billet holes remaining on both sides.
8. On a long girth, the buckles should fasten on the sweat flap, away from the horse's skin, just like any normal long girth.
On a dressage saddle, aim to have two billet holes remaining on both sides
On a long girth, the buckles should fasten on the sweat flap
9. DO NOT use the billet keeper on its own. DO pass the billet through the buckles aswell before appling upward pressure. Pulling on the keeper will break the central stud. This damage is NOT covered by the guarantee.
Using the keeper strap alone will break the central rivet. It is designed solely to guide the billet strap, not to withstand the pressure of tightening
Always thread the billet strap through the buckle before applying any upward pressure to tighten the girth
10. Always girth up evenly on both sides.
11. Don’t pull the horse’s front leg forward after girthing up. We have found that stretching the horse’s front leg like this simply draws more skin forward into the sensitive area behind the elbow.
12. It is perfectly normal for there to be a gap at the front edge of the girth between the material and the horse’s sternum, particularly when the horse is standing still. This is part of the design which allows the muscles of the shoulder girdle to move, instead of being blocked. The gap at the front does not indicate that pressure has transferred to the back edge of the girth.
13. Use your Prolite® Girth for schooling, hacking and competition - the best results are achieved with regular use.
