What size western girth/cinch for my pony?

Question

I am new to western riding and have ridden english for four years. I have a 13.2 hand Chincoteague Pony and I measured her girth size with the saddle on and generally found out that I needed a 32 inch girth, but that still seemed big to me so I was wondering what you guys thought. What size western girth do you think I will need for my pony?

Answer 1

a 22 inch at the least. a 32 inch sounds too big. try a 26 inch maybe. buy a cinch, see how it fits, and return it if it doesn't.

Answer 2

32 inch is right for western... thats a smaller size cinch. so that should be right. just measure how the other people are telling you to

Answer 3

Check these out:

http://www.cowboyway.com/HowTo/MeasureGi...

http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/cinc...

lhttp://www.ehow.com/how_2090055_measure-...

One of these articles should help you!

Answer 4

32 is definately too big unless it's very, very obese.  If it's not obese - I would purchase a 26" cinch (that's what I use on my 14 hand horse).  They're not too hard to find and will fit well.  Take care!

Answer 5

Get a friend to help you - the people here cannot see your pony.  I have a 15 hand paint mare that required a 28" girth  - no one believed it because she was so big, but her girth hadn't matured.  This year she takes a 32" but she looks the same as last year.

Size, breed and weight does not establish proper girth size.  Accurate measurement is the only way.

You want the girth about a hand's width directly behind her elbow.  Place one end of a flexible seamstress' measuring tape here, then hand it under her girth to your freind who will place the tape in the exact same place on the other side.  The result will tell you waht size girth to buy.

It would be helpful to do this with the saddle on - you want the girth, when cinched properly to allow 3-4 inches between the girth rings of the saddle and the rings of the girth.  If your saddle fits properly and is the right size, this should put the girth rings right about where I described above.

good luck!

Answer 6

Okay, this is what you do to find the size girth you need:

Put the saddle on your horse.  Measure from the front rig on each side.  Take that measurement and subtract 16.  ( you need 8 inches on each side for the latigo).  But since you have a pony you might be able to leave less room for the latigo.

I hope this helps!

Edit:

It actually varies from horse to horse on how much room you need to leave for the latigo.  The girth rings just have to be around the area of the elbow, if they are higher then that is fine.  Here is a website that will help you:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2090055_measure-...