Anyone else experienced a prolite girth making horse very sore?

C

Charla

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 January 2011
Messages
585
Location
Kent
Visit site
I recently purchased a brand new prolite girth after doing research as to which girth would be good for my mare. After one use of it, I took it off and was horrified to see it has rubbed her so badly on one side that she was bleeding and red raw just behind her elbow! Has anyone else experienced this?
 
My mare absolutely hated the prolite fairfax, it rubbed her but also her stride went very shuffly :(
Another girth that rubbed her was the Cair air filled girth. The best I have found is the Tekna that they no longer make.
 
Charla said:
I recently purchased a brand new prolite girth after doing research as to which girth would be good for my mare. After one use of it, I took it off and was horrified to see it has rubbed her so badly on one side that she was bleeding and red raw just behind her elbow! Has anyone else experienced this?
Click to expand...

I did. Same area, just behind elbow sore and becoming red. Complained to my saddle fitter who sold me the girth as I assumed there was a fault/problem with the stitching. She then pointed out I had it on the wrong way round and there is a marking saying which way the girth goes...

Was very embarrassed. No issues since.

This may not be the case with you but worth checking x
 
Haha! Oh dear! Perhaps I could have done this, although 90% sure I didn’t. Once she’s healed I’m scared to try again, checking which way round it goes, in case it was to cut and rub her again. Hmmm.
 
We didn't have a rub but it didn't really suit us as his girth groove still managed to pull the whole girth forwards and then it gaped at the sides (long version).
 
just a quick thought, did you measure her to work out whether you needed standard or narrow gauge? My welshie is built like a brick outhouse but on measuring she def needs the narrow one, my standard would rub her.

They do seem to be a bit marmite for horses, some like mine get on with them really well and they just don't seem to sit right on others.

lol, x -post with GS!
 
Just bought one for my chunky, big-shouldered, croup-high ISH, only used it once with no rubs so far but I will look out for it rubbing now that you've mentioned this.
 
Interesting to both milliepops and goldenstar. Mine measured as needing the standard, but I wonder if this is the issue then as it looks as though it slightly gapes at the sides compared to my normal girths!
 
Mine was a narrow gauge, and did to all intents and purposes fit and that it would solve our baggy elbows problem (even the saddler commented on how wrinkly they were!)

I was really not comfortable with it gaping at the sides as it did, I was concerned that it was therefore generating a lot of sternum pressure.
 
Charla said:
Haha! Oh dear! Perhaps I could have done this, although 90% sure I didn’t. Once she’s healed I’m scared to try again, checking which way round it goes, in case it was to cut and rub her again. Hmmm.
Click to expand...

The Prolite logo needs to be on the near side - spent ages trying to work out which was the right way round until I realised that!
 
I have Fairfax girths and Micklem bridles, and handily both of them have the word FRONT and direction arrows stamped on them to aid folk like me to put them on correctly! Griffin nummed will make up a sheepskin sleeve for prolites to special order, if that might help.

I wonder if the narrow gauge girths would be better labelled as standard and the standards as wide, as I've heard of many normal shaped neds who need the narrow gauge.
 
I have a fairfax too and the prolite doesn't have the stamp TP :) I know a few people that have put their prolites on back to front.
 
I had the leather Fairfax ones, which Jay loved. I did look at the Prolite ones when my new horse came as she is smaller, but they seemed harsh in comparison. So, Finn got a new Fairfax... and it does not suit a all!

Even with a narrow gauge the best I can describe is that the arm holes are not big enough, she did not like it even with the sheepskin cover. The wider one is worse. Only used 2 weeks and the dratted thing is for sale again.

What suits her is a curved banana girth (the type where the buckles face different directions, so a true crescent shape). I have looked and her elbows still touch even though it sits much further back, there is only 5" between grease marks on the girth where the elbow touches, so the Firfax/Prolite narrow gauge would be way too wide.

Mattes have a information chart as to which girth shape suits which shape horse. Sadly their crescent/banana girth has a forward lump that would be too wide for her, but I did find one on Better Saddles I think it was, made by someone I had not heard of in Walsall.

I do think that the fit of the girth is as important as the saddle for some horses who are different to standard shape.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top