Girth (tack)

A girth, sometimes called a cinch (Western riding), is a piece of equipment used to keep the saddle in place on a horse or other animal.

It passes under the barrel of the equine, attached to the saddle on both sides by two or three leather straps called billets.

The Balding style is a flat piece of leather cut into three strips which are crossed and folded in the center, and the Atherstone style is a shaped piece of baghide with a roughly 1.5” wide strip of stronger leather running along the center.

Unshaped girths are commonly made of flat, heavy cotton, or padded cotton with nylon webbing reinforcement, or out of leather as in the tri-fold or threefold girth, popular among sidesaddle riders and traditional foxhunters.

This is because the dressage saddle has longer billets, to keep the buckles out from under the rider's leg, and so a shorter girth may be used.

Made of leather or nylon with an elastic insert (for racing), the overgirth completely encircles the horse around belly and the saddle's seat.

It is used by stockmen, eventers, polo players, in flat racing, and by steeplechase jockeys to provide more security in holding the saddle in place.

The number of cords used varies with width and design, but the standard range is from 17 to 30 strands, creating an end product that is 4 to 7 inches wide at the widest point in the center of the cinch.

One of the first non-traditional designs incorporated 1/2" thick felt backed by nylon webbing on the side away from the horse.

Many riders also choose a girth that allows for extra elbow room, so the horse is not restricted as his leg moves backward.