Chris Lammfelle long girths

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onemoretime

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Im looking for a new girth for my GP saddle and came across the Chris Lammfelle sheepskin lined girth and liked the look of it. Just wondered if anyone on here
had any experience of them, quite pricey £139 but if good I dont mind.
 
That's not expensive for good sheepskin, Christ generally makes good quality stuff, but not seen them in the flesh. All depends if the rest of the design works for you and you can care for it adequately (leather wash, not wool wash, wool cycle in the washing machine, and dry away from direct heat which can take some time...unless otherwise recommended!).
 
I've got 2 (and a dressage version) though the design may have changed slightly.

They are lovely and wide, very soft, backed onto nylon so washable in the machine on a delicate wool wash with specialist sheepskin soap.

The tiniest of quibbles is the black one I have has faded slightly but it is about 15 years old

My old saddle fitter was very impressed when she saw it in the flesh.
 
sbloom said:
That's not expensive for good sheepskin, Christ generally makes good quality stuff, but not seen them in the flesh. All depends if the rest of the design works for you and you can care for it adequately (leather wash, not wool wash, wool cycle in the washing machine, and dry away from direct heat which can take some time...unless otherwise recommended!).
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I would wash it by hand as I have a Merano sheepskin dressage girth with quilted backing and I wash that in the same way. I believe the Chris Lammfelle girth has a quilted backing not leather.
 
criso said:
I've got 2 (and a dressage version) though the design may have changed slightly.

They are lovely and wide, very soft, backed onto nylon so washable in the machine on a delicate wool wash with specialist sheepskin soap.

The tiniest of quibbles is the black one I have has faded slightly but it is about 15 years old

My old saddle fitter was very impressed when she saw it in the flesh.
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My Merino dressage girth that I bought on EBay is very wide (could be the same one as yours) and lovely sheepskin, it was £25 new. I am very pleased with it and wanted a long one for the GP saddle but they are no longer selling them hence why Im looking at the Chris L one. If yours has lasted 15 years then that is very good.
 
onemoretime said:
My Merino dressage girth that I bought on EBay is very wide (could be the same one as yours) and lovely sheepskin, it was £25 new. I am very pleased with it and wanted a long one for the GP saddle but they are no longer selling them hence why Im looking at the Chris L one. If yours has lasted 15 years then that is very good.
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Mine are definitely the Christ ones, they have a little label with the name.

The backing is nylon, I can get a picture on weds when I'm next up at the yard.
 
criso said:
Mine are definitely the Christ ones, they have a little label with the name.

The backing is nylon, I can get a picture on weds when I'm next up at the yard.
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Thank you, a picture would be useful. The merino wool dressage girth I have came from Australia. They have a site called Merauno but when I went on it both Paypal and my credit card were blocked by the system. I wondered if it was to due with the import tax.
 
Sheepskin IS leather, hence the washing instructions. Wool fleece isn't attached to leather/suede even if it's something like a Nuumed numnah, hence it can be washed in the same stuff as your sweaters.
 
sbloom said:
Sheepskin IS leather, hence the washing instructions. Wool fleece isn't attached to leather/suede even if it's something like a Nuumed numnah, hence it can be washed in the same stuff as your sweaters.
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Ah yes I know what you are saying. I thought you meant that the sheepskin was attached to a leather girth. Well Ive sent for one so wait to see what its like.
 
criso said:
I misunderstood too as I've seen leather and Sheepskin girths.

I'd be wary of putting a leather girth in the washing machine but on the right cycle my Christ girths and saddlecloth do fine.
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Sure, a leather girth is very different to a sheepskin girth, which may or may not have leather parts to it. Sheepskin's base leather is thinner, split leather ie suede, but it's still leather. Produced on the understanding it will be washed and so tanned/prepared in a particular way, unlike a leather girth (though I regularly fairly-soaked my leather girth when cleaning). And not vegetarian obviously. There are washable leathers which are produced differently again. But wool fleece such as in Nuumed products is absolutely NOT sheepskin and only needs wool wash.
 
criso said:
I misunderstood too as I've seen leather and Sheepskin girths.

I'd be wary of putting a leather girth in the washing machine but on the right cycle my Christ girths and saddlecloth do fine.
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I will wash it by hand. I wash my Le Mieux half pad by hand in a Wool & Silk liquid by Persil and it comes up beautiful and soft. Glad someone else misunderstood that as well 🤪
 
criso said:
The only thing I would say is echoing @sbloom, don't use things like wool and silk or woolite on sheepskin.

Mattes do the Melp one or Christ their own C7 for Sheepskin.
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Ah many thanks for that Criso. Just out of interest what does it do to sheepskin? Just sent for some Melp. Many thanks for your help.
 
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onemoretime said:
Ah many thanks for that Criso. Just out of interest what does it do to sheepskin? Just sent for some Melp. Many thanks for your help.
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If you use the wrong stuff it will become dry and stiff, and it may damage more easily eg losing fleece. Le Mieux and possibly others recommend human hair conditioner, Mattes absolutely do not and only recommend Melp. Another proper leather wash should be fine but it's never a bad idea to follow manufacturer's instructions.
 
sbloom said:
If you use the wrong stuff it will become dry and stiff, and it may damage more easily eg losing fleece. Le Mieux and possibly others recommend human hair conditioner, Mattes absolutely do not and only recommend Melp. Another proper leather wash should be fine but it's never a bad idea to follow manufacturer's instructions.
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Many thanks for your help and advice. I think my Le Mieux half pad is Merino wool with no skin just the wool fleece hence why it washed up well with the wool & silk liquid. I will wash both the Christ girth and the half pad in the Melp from now on. Thanks.
 
onemoretime said:
Many thanks for your help and advice. I think my Le Mieux half pad is Merino wool with no skin just the wool fleece hence why it washed up well with the wool & silk liquid. I will wash both the Christ girth and the half pad in the Melp from now on. Thanks.
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Have a look at the edge of the fleece and peel it back, sheepskin is suede/leather, wool fleece is in a knitted backing.
 
sbloom said:
Have a look at the edge of the fleece and peel it back, sheepskin is suede/leather, wool fleece is in a knitted backing.
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It would appear that both the Merino wool girth and the Le Mieux half pad are on a thin piece of suede. I just washed the black half pad in Melp and it has come up really well. Many thanks for your help.
 
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I've used these for quite a few years now, and love them: the crescent-shaped ones really suit my mare's shape. After wrecking one by being a bit rough on it with washing and brushing, I've learned how to deal with them better, and tbh, I rarely wash them now, but brush them lightly with a shedding blade. This seems to keep them nice and fluffy, without tearing the fleece.
 
spookypony said:
To clarify, for online searches: "Christ" is the brand name. "Lammfelle" just means "lamb fleeces". https://www.wernerchrist-horse.com/ is the homepage, where you can see all the brand's products: they do riding pads and all sorts.
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Yes their pads are very popular with Total Contact Saddle users. I have sold a few of them in the past. Got a girth to sell that i am going to Ebay soon.
 
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