Icelandic horses are ridden with the girth further back than western horses. When placing the girth place one hand underneath the horse at the back of the front legs. The girth should be placed behind your hand or approximately 4 to 6 inches behind the front shoulders.

A girth placed too far forward interferes with the horse's movement and can even cause a sore to develop. If placed too far back it can be uncomfortable for the horse and even restrict the breathing.