Alternatives to Fairfax girths?

Pippity

Pippity

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I need a long girth for my share horse's new GP saddle. He's in a Fairfax Narrow-Gauge Event with his dressage saddle, and his owner says the Fairfax really made a difference so I'd like to keep him in something similar.

He's so narrow in front that the normal width would be pushing it, and the longest they do the Narrow-Gauge Long is 48". He needs at least a 50", preferably a 52".

So, any suggestions for something similar? (And preferably less expensive... *g*)
 
I don't think there is anything quite like a fairfax girth. they took out quote a lot of patents to be sure that nothing could copy them. If you know what element of the girth the responded well to compared to his previous girthing options you might be able to find something offering the same option.
 
Saddle fitter brought out a vast selection of girths, and he went best in what I thought was the most expensive but turned out to be the cheapest. Finally, SOMETHING where this horse doesn't demand made-to-measure, top-of-the-line before he'll be happy! Harry Dabbs Platinum Curved Waffle Girth it is.

I'm sure girths didn't used to be this complicated.
 
I've used the HD one too, the only trouble I had was that the binding does split after time (same as all waffle ones really) and my chap is a bit super sensitive to rubs. It wasn't really bendy enough for him but fitted him better than the prolite did. He doesn't get on with leather. Fwiw he is now in a pro choice one after years of me saying it wouldn't work ;)
 
Shay said:
I don't think there is anything quite like a fairfax girth. they took out quote a lot of patents to be sure that nothing could copy them. If you know what element of the girth the responded well to compared to his previous girthing options you might be able to find something offering the same option.
Click to expand...



They have one patent. It's not particularly special. This is the text of it:


A device 10 for securing a saddle to a horse comprises an elongate support member 12 with a central section 13 and connection means 15a, 15b in form of buckles 16 at each end for connecting the device to a saddle. Two side sections 17a, 17b extend between the central section 13 and respective connection means 15a, 15b and include guiding portions 20a, 20b. Positioned at the leading edge of each side section 17a, 17b, at the edge positioned closest to the front legs of the horse, the guiding portions 20a, 20b are made of a resilient deformable material such as foam covered in soft leather, and provide a guide or flap which adapts to the contours of the musculature of the horse, preventing excessive pressure on the tissues trapped between the girth and the horseâ s leg during movement.



Scientifically, I afraid you can rip their testing to shreds as well. Numbers too low, procedures flawed.


In the dressage version, I think the two things that make most of the difference are that they created elbow room by being genuinely curved. When the girth is laid flat on the floor, the buckles do not point straight out from the sides. There are few girths that are like this. The Harry Dabbs is one, so are Heritage anatomic girth. The other one is that they recommend fitting it so the buckles are as close to the bottom of the saddle flap as possible. This is more comfortable for many horses than two inch wide girth straps on their sides with a bit of flesh between them.


Sorry, OP, can't help on long girths.
 
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