Busting Myths 4 - Stretching The Legs

There are many myths that have been going around with regards to saddlery and the use thereof. In this series of posts, I endeavour to show most of them are without foundations and can, in some cases, be the opposite of the actual facts.

Pictured left is author Kay Hastilow, Master Saddler and Master Saddle Fitter.

 

We are often told that when we girth up we should stretch each foreleg right forward ‘to remove any wrinkles in the skin.’ 

Well, you will achieve that but in the process you will pull a large wadge of flesh in front of the girth and trap it there as the girth will block it and prevent it from moving back to its rightful place. This can lead to discomfort for the horse and girth galls, the opposite of what we thought we were doing.

If you walk your horse for a few paces after girthing up and before mounting, this will smooth the skin out without trapping any forward of the girth.

Simples.

With online training now credibly established as 'the new normal', Kay's highly acclaimed and informative 2-part video series continues to sell around the world since its launch in 2019. Aptly titled Saddle Fitting Know How - For Riders and Trainers, the two videos distil her 50 years of experience into over an hour of what is an unrivalled go-to resource for all Riders and Trainers interested in saddles and saddle fitting.
Watch a brief trailer and buy securely online at
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saddlefittingknowhow