Bitterly disappointed (mainly with myself for being so stupid)..

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kinglouis

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Bought a long Fairfax girth online...bought the same length as I always have had my horse in...mistake!
What I hadn't realised is that they have this really pointy bit where the leather girth meets the fabric straps (which have the buckles on), this pointy bit is meant to sit on the numnah as a minimum but best case on the sweat flap on the saddle. Mine did not & after 5 days I noticed rubbing/digging in. I send photos off to Fairfax to get a reply to say that I need a girth minimum 4" longer than what I have bought...WHAT! I have searched high and low and there is no information/declaration that you need to ensure that the pointy bit is on the numnah/sweat flap otherwise it may well rub/dig in. On closer examination of the girth & in hindsite it is bloody obvious but to a first time Fairfax consumer maybe not so?! I have used the girth for a week so cannot return it, although the online shop I bought it from are trying to help by going direct to Fairfax but essentially it is my fault for buying the wrong size:-(
I am
a. really a little upset that this info is not available anywhere because I would never think to buy a girth 4" longer than my usual one and
b. I am even crosser with myself for being soo stupid & not having a proper saddle fitter out to fit it before making an expensive purchase.
So I am wearing my DUNCE hat today and kicking myself very hard in the shins, I feel better for telling the world how stupid I have been but I also hope that I have passed on a useful piece of info!
 
I have just seen the price... OMFG.

Fingers crossed Fairfax offer an exchange or something.

Failing that I have some stale Victoria Sponge in my desk drawer that I could dig out for you.
 
Oh no, I've just ordered one! Eeeek, in a bit of a panic now.

Did you tell Fairfax exactly what you've told us in your post? I hope they help you out as that's really disappointing for you :-(
 
not stupid at all - I had been told to go a size bigger than normal but not two sizes so I would have been in the same boat.
 
How does that work -I thought the whole point of a dressage girth was so that the buckles were away from the saddle flaps to minimise bulk?

I hope Fairfax will be understanding, or at least the retailer will know now to publicise the issue for future as it leaves them with customer service work
.
 
That's a shame :( You would think they could add a note about it - I see ad's for rugs all the time that where you choose your size from a 'drop down' box there is a note that says 'we recommend you get a size up as these stretch' or 'please note fit is not generous' etc - its not hard to do
 
I have relayed all this to Fairfax but they are adament it is my fault for buying the wrong size, which I agree I have bought the wrong size but there is no information to support what size we should buy & a 4" difference miminum is not normal! They tell me they have not heard of this problem before but it seems I am not the only one. The retailers disclaimer is that the manufacturer can not advise on which size to buy...but in my eyes that can advise on this "corner" which does cause discomfort if in the incorrect place.

@ Sunshine its the long girth not dressage but I guess same principle you don't really want all that bulk under your leg...surely they can sort the design to have no corner!

Anyway I am just fed up with myself for being so stupid and not having it fitted properly in the first place...the pony is back in her Wintec synthetic job and very happy - how ironic!!!

48" brown fairfax for sale - offer accepted hahaha!
 
Agreed, there don't seem to be any sizing guides or help at all! That and they go on about how much work was put in to minimize rubbing and pressure points. Maybe Fairfax think putting up a sizing guide will frighten people off buying something that may not be as easy to fit as they claim?
 
Hey, you have a rights via distance selling rights, google it :) If the size is incorrect or the wrong colour etc you have the right to exchange. Google it, or go on the martin money saver website. :)
 
someone on my yard has just bought one and the first thing she said when I admired it is that I would need to size up if I was buying.

If you need to size up they need to say really as otherwise people will just order their normal size. That's why girths have sizes on after all.

I really hope they can sort you out!
 
Carrots&Mints said:
Hey, you have a rights via distance selling rights, google it :) If the size is incorrect or the wrong colour etc you have the right to exchange. Google it, or go on the martin money saver website. :)
Click to expand...

This. I would be contacting trading standards. It is not normal to have to go 4 " longer, or none of us would ever buy over the internet. Go through their website, save it as an offline page (in case they add information later) and get a TS complaint number. This is free and is normally enough to kick them into action.
 
Have you measured it end to end? Surely if it is advertised as a 48", then it should fit a horse that takes that size. If a 48" only fits a horse that takes a 44" then it's pretty ridiculous not to put a note!

Maybe you could try a girth sleeve or a saddler could put some sort of leather pad over the area? My horse takes a 44" but am thinking of changing to a dressage saddle!
 
I am working on a solution with the retailer, I hope they will come good, if not I will use all your suggestions, it is too much money not to fight for, if all fails it will be on Preloved!

Just to add, the go one size up theory does not always work, the retailer has said that is neccessary to take into account the "bulk" of the Fairfax girth & hence the generalised theory of going one size up, however if you have long girth straps on your saddle or short sweat flaps you may well need 2 or 3 sizes up, as in my situation. Basically it is essential to have the "corner" on the numnah or sweat flap so you need to be able to work out what length you require to satisfy this. Those of you who have one on order if it does not do this then send it back straight away for a longer version. #
In hindsite I would recommend getting a saddle fitter out to for one for anyone thinking to buy one.
They are beautiful girths, so I would recommend them.
 
They should really get you to take a measurement from hole to hole or something when you order, especially if they are making them to order it seems like madness not to get it right!

Hope you get something sorted!
 
Its a bit of an odd design for the long girth there are pics here: http://www.fairfaxsaddles.co.uk/products/19-performance-girth

I'm assuming the issue that you've got is that corner where the leather stops and elastic starts is sitting lower than the bottom of the saddle cloth. I can see both sides of this one, technically I think the girth is 48" if you measured buckle to buckle. But the design means that if you happen to use a girth that does up on the lower holes of your saddle then you might get rubbing.

I hope you manage to sort this out - I just bought the dressage version and its been great so far. I called Fairfax prior to buying though to get fitting instructions - they sent me a detailed email with pictures. Seems odd that this info isn't freely available!

Good luck!
 
I know you're trying to find a resolution with regards replacing this girth but as a thought have you tried riding with a dressage square instead of an ordinary numnah?
I only ask as my mares share my Fairfax and one is slightly larger than the other meaning that my larger girl ends up with the ends sitting slightly lower and not on the saddle sweat flaps.
I've got round this by riding her in a dressage pad (Lemieux but sure others just as deep) and because it is a deeper pad and therefore lower down it means that the girth is on the numnah.

Perhaps this will help?
 
The other thought here is that if it rubs your horse I would be worried that it would mark/damage your saddle or numnah? Hope you get it sorted OP :)
 
wait a minute though, if you normally take a long girth size 48'' ansd the fairfax IS 48'' measured from buckle to buckle then surely if you buy anything more than 2 inches bigger, let alone 4'' - the girth is going to be too long or you're going to be at your maximum holes on your girth straps with all that bulk up under your thigh which surely defeats the object anyway?

personally, i like to size my girths that when i first put the saddle on, the girth only reaches the first holes on the girth straps, so after im on board and tightened up fully the girth reaches only half way up my saddle flap on each side so i have as little bulk under my leg as i have to.

this fairfax thing is a bit bizarre. Are those straps which the buckles are attached to elasticated on each side?
 
not elasticated as that's a personal hate of mine with people over cranking up the girth. Like you Lula I like to fasten my girth on first couple of holes and then tighten when mounted to somewhere in the middle.
I think what size you need is really down to length of straps on saddle, depth and thickness of pad etc. I "borrowed" one from the tackshop before I bought mine which was a godsend or I too would have ended up with one too small and I've gone up 2 sizes to get mine perfect on my TB. I must admit that for such a brilliant girth I was surprised they put sharp still edges on the ends.
 
Exactly what I was thinking lula. If I bought one two sizes bigger it would be too big?! The information needs to show where it must sit and how to measure.

Very disappointing in such an expensive girth!
 
lula said:
wait a minute though, if you normally take a long girth size 48'' ansd the fairfax IS 48'' measured from buckle to buckle then surely if you buy anything more than 2 inches bigger, let alone 4'' - the girth is going to be too long or you're going to be at your maximum holes on your girth straps with all that bulk up under your thigh which surely defeats the object anyway?

personally, i like to size my girths that when i first put the saddle on, the girth only reaches the first holes on the girth straps, so after im on board and tightened up fully the girth reaches only half way up my saddle flap on each side so i have as little bulk under my leg as i have to.

this fairfax thing is a bit bizarre. Are those straps which the buckles are attached to elasticated on each side?
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This ^^^ exactly my thoughts, one of these girths on some of my saddles would be far too long by the time they are done up fully, if the horse loses some weight they will be up on the top holes right under my leg and very bulky.
 
I have a long fairfax performance girth for my short strapped dressage saddle. I took the first one back to the saddlery shop after a week I purchased it from (I used it twice) as it was too short as I could only get it on the first hole either side. I rang them explained the situation, they said no issue. So I carefully wiped it and returned it in its packaging and they replaced it with a bigger one no problem.

Surely its the online shop you have the contract with at purchase that should be trying to keep its custom! Blimey some retailers need to understand the good service, bad service rule. Get Good service you'll tell 5 people, get Bad service you'll tell 20... Or more on internet forums!!
 
Funny Fairfax deny knowledge of girths coming up short - OH bought one last year and experienced just that. They exchanged without quibble (we hadn't used it) but went up 4 inches from the last measurement. Nice girth and horse is better in it, but I wouldn't pay that for mine!! Bad mum!!
 
Not good service from Fairfax. Sounds ridiculous, nobody would know to order bigger unless stated. I'd phone Fairfax and demand they refund or swop it for the right size. I dont see how a girth can possibly be worth that much money though...!
 
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