How can you tell if your horse's girth is too tight?

I put the girth on so the skin is smooth before I start, but even if it isn't, his first few steps do this anyway. So IMO if you're stretching the horse's forelegs to smooth the skin, it's unnecessary. Honestly, I can't think of a reason to stretch a horse's leg unless he's been injured or some such.

The risk of getting it wrong outweighs any potential benefit.

Https://www.mastersonmethod.com/pdf/2009... I use a lot of the Masterson methods. The forward stretch is fine. But the more helpful stretches I have found to be the ones where a front foot is placed well - under or toward the hind foot of the horse and the horse asked to take weight on that foot.

Also, the stretch of a single hind foot coming well forward. Stretching is more important or effective after exercise than before because the muscles are warm. If you do very intensive stretching when the muscles are cold you can induce injury.

But if you just take it easy you should be fine. Some great warmups include big walking and reaching with a single foot while astride. You can ask each foot to make a big reaching motion at the walk and it's really effective to get lots of expression and response.

Also, you ask for lifted and reaching shoulder in the walk and this is really helpful to get clean lead changes. So much can be accomplished at a good walk. P.S. I think the use of the narrower leather girths with the elbow cutouts makes girth galling more prevalent.

I like girths like the professional choice neoprene because they are a bit wider, they grip on their own because of the material and don't need to be on so tight. Because they can be looser fitting and still grip the horse fine, the idea of galling or the skin being bundled beneath them doesn't occur. Also, triple elastic on both sides helps.

Many people overtighten and don't realize....

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