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I like medium billets OR short billets on the "right" saddle, have  
died with short billets on the "wrong" one, ouch.  When I had an RP  
XF, it had short billets and there was no bulk under my leg.  My  
current RP (VSD Summit) has medium billets, as do their endurance  
saddles.  The "body" of the buckle lays completely on the sweat flap,  
when the girth is the right length.  The thing to avoid is having the  
body of the buckle *on* the horse.  So with long billets and a  
dressage length girth or cinch, there needs to be protection on the  
horse's side of the girth.  Some girths are designed that way.  Most  
cinches aren't.  I also like "keeper" straps on the girth or cinch to  
keep the billets of any length after the buckle from flopping around.

RPs have 4 billets from the factory (except the jumping models) and I  
keep thinking I'll get around to unstitching/removing the front  
(point) billet for forward-grooved horses, but since it can be  
strapped down I keep forgetting.

JMO,
Lynne
http://www.photo.lynnesite.com



On Dec 6, 2007, at 9:28 AM, Truman Prevatt wrote:

> I have been riding an RP X-functional (all purpose) since 2000. I  
> have long billets and use a dressage girth. I would not have a  
> saddle with short billets again.
>
> Truman
>
> Marta Kozlowska wrote:
> > I ordered a semi-custom saddle for my mare. It's coming in January.
> > It's an all purpose saddle. My previous saddle was a dressage saddle
> > but the one before that was an all purpose, too.  So while we were
> > fitting the horse for the saddle a question came up as to what  
> > billets
> > to get - long or short. My initial reaction was that long billets
> > (which would allow me to use a dressage girth) might put the buckles
> > under my calf somewhere. But then as I thought about it I realized
> > that I didn't have that problem with my dressage saddle so why  
> > would I
> > have that problem with an AP. My concern with short billets is that
> > they may create bulk under my thigh. So I asked on another horsey
> > board and I also asked my trainer. I got many opinions. Some people
> > claim that the longer girth gives the saddle more stability.  Others
> > say that short billets make it easier to adjust the girth from the
> > saddle (true but not really my concern here). So I'm curious what the
> > endurance folks think about this issue?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Marta


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