Broken horse - need to invest in a girth sleeve...

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Maia

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Put this in here as well as NL as realised it was probably the more appropriate forum so please don't shout at me for repeating the post!

Just got back from yard as received a phone call from YO half an hour ago to say that my horse had been playing in the field one minute and was stood by the gate kicking her belly with blood dripping from between her front legs the next.

Fortunately the vet was up giving another horse its MOT so by the time I got there he was already looking at my horse. It appears that in playing in the field she must have reared as one of the others bucked (or something similar) and so she now has a lovely gash and stitches right where her girth would go on her midline!
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Vet said that its quite deep but not too serious. She has some bute for the next 24 hrs, antiflamatries as its quite swollen and AB's to prevent infection. He has instructed to keep her in for a few days and no riding for 10days - 2 weeks
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Poor pony.

He also said that due to where the injury is she may not take to being ridden again for anything up to six weeks as the gash is quite deep and the pressure of the girth may well feel uncomfortable. YO suggested to the vet that we use a sheepskin girth sleeve when I start riding her again and see how she goes with that - she said provided the skin isn't broken then he thought it was a fantastic idea
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Ok, so my next question - have had a quick look on ebay and there is a lot of faux sheepskin but I don't think this will be padded or soft enough so it seems there are 4 others which are worth considering. Which would you use and why?

Mattes girth sleeve

Stephens girth sleeve

Lemieux girth sleeve

Bartl girth sleeve
 
HI, I had to invest in one of these last year when my horse developed a girth sore. It turned out to be that basically he doesn't have a lot of room in the girth area so ended up in the end, going the string girth route but did try a couple of sleeves.
The prolite one was good but quite bulky so didn't work for my chap but does offer fantastic protection and is quite wide......I then purchased a pure sheepskin one from Frogpool Manor which was less bulky and fantastic. It was only £15 (!) and was better than the Nuumed ones I looked at or others nearly double the price. If you go the sheepskin route, give Frogpool Manor a call (they do mail order) and confirm that it is made by Cottage Craft I think, and is genuine sheepskin, think they come in cream and black. If they confirm its by Cottage Craft you may be able to source one locally to you but it was fantastic value for money. Good luck
 
I am glad this has been posted, been after a new girth sleeve for my old boy. Currently using a prolite one . My problem is my baggy, thin skinned horses girth area. I always pull his legs, make sure his girth is done up tightly enough and still he has slightly sore patches on each side
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This has only occoured over the last year or so. His skin has not alot of elastic in it, you can litterally grab a handful of it in that area
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I was wondering about a real sheepskin one as my prolite one had nearly had it ? Anyone else in a sinilar situ ?
 
I've got a nuumed sheepskin one. Its lovely. Very thick. It fits over my zigzag girth too! A bit tight of course!

The only downside is you cant put it in the wash. And it takes about 3 days to dry naturally. You also have to stretch while it is drying. So I cant wash it every day.

Nuumed do thick wool covers that are washable though. Not sure they are as thick and strong but they are pure wool. Bearing in mind your horse has a nasty injury I would be tempted to go for a couple of washable ones. I will probably buy another later in the year and will go for a washable one next time!
 
I have two of the Stephens ones. Gen is SUPER sensitive in his girth area and no matter what girth I used it rubbed him.

These are wonderful. They fit the girth lovely, they dont move about and above all I shove them in the washing machine on a wool wash and they come out like new. They take about a day to dry naturally. Mine are washed once a week and I have had them for about a year now. They still look like new.

Cant recommend them enough.
 
As the owner of a chestnut TB with paper thin skin, real wool I find is best - the nuumed are great because they wash well and dry quickly beaused the wool is knitted onto a fabric back, but the lambskin, sheepskin ones give better protection from rubs as the actual skin behind the woll gives extra protection. I find they take days to dry slowly and naturally, but once dry a brush them with one of those wire terrier brushes and they come up like new. I think I have all the makes, but prolite, and each is best for certain things, I just need to find a cure for the 'crunchy' lambskin that eventually happens!
 
The cottage craft proper sheepskin ones are fabulous value for money at about £15 for the longest one, come in cream, black or brown. Every bit as good as the more expensive ones IMO. Also means you can have more than one making it easier to keep them clean.
 
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