does anyone use NON elasticated girths anymore?

A few owners of very wide cobs etc do as they feel it gives more stability - I find that with the right saddle the very widest flattest horses and ponies benefit from a good elasticated girth - leather wide padded Atherstone with STRONG elastic (some is just too wishy washy) at both ends - both in terms of stability of the saddle and in that it it much kinder to the horse.
 
I would, but it's next to impossible to get one these days, everything has elastic at one or both ends.

I long for my old Cottage Craft padded girth from 25+ years ago <sigh>
 
Pitch Black said:
I would, but it's next to impossible to get one these days, everything has elastic at one or both ends.

I long for my old Cottage Craft padded girth from 25+ years ago <sigh>
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I've just picked up a couple of Cottage Craft-a-likes from my local saddler in the bargain bin!

But on the other hand, I've bought a nice Wintec girth with the elastic in for my new pone and I'll see how that goes.

I'm going to investigate those "fat pony" girths for our Welsh A. She does rather fit the bill...
 
I only use the Aerborne Humane girths.

I will never ride with an elasticated girth, I hate them with good reason!
Many years ago I was asked to show jump a mare for a friend who had been kicked at the show. This was a big fronted mare with a deep girth. I tightened the girth once mounted noticing that it was elasticated.
Jumped the mare and going through a double had the feeling that her front was getting longer!
The saddle slipped right back and I took a fall and the mare was in a real panic because the saddle was right under her belly. Could have been a serious accident but luckily the mare was caught and settled rapidly once the saddle was removed.

So, no I will not use an elasticated girth unless the horse is wearing a breast plate/girth.

I think it is easy to over girth with elastic inserts than without.
 
I have elasticated and non-elasticated for different purposes. You're not meant to use elasticated ones for horseball, for obvious reasons. I have bought plain leather ones and cottage craft type ones in the last couple of years which I use for that. Don't have anything against elasticated ones though - often use one for jumping...
 
I dont like elasticated ones either! We use the 'fat pony' girth like the one above too although I've never heard them called that! He is a fat cob though :D!!
 
I use a anti-chafe one on Sophie as she is barrel-shaped:) and my saddle fitter says her saddle slips onto her shoulder with a elasticated girth.
 
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Foxhunter49 said:
I only use the Aerborne Humane girths.

I think it is easy to over girth with elastic inserts than without.
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I'm the same, I only use Aerborne Humane girths for my round ponies and they work a treat.

I have also felt that i've over girthed when having to use elasticated girths in the past.
 
Have sold all my elastic ones. Do not like them! They maybe rider friendly,as you can do them up much easier.However,as Foxhunter said,they are too easy to over girth in,and can cause the saddles to slip.An old master saddler told me he thinks they are dangerous for the above reasons and is a modern invention to make the rider's life easier but without thought for safety or the horse.. Years ago,we never had such things for sure,it was string or leather! Show my age now!!
I use atherstone or balding leather girths on all ours.
 
i use an aerborne humane girth mainly. i bought a smart elasticated leather look girth for showing, and use it day to day... although it is a bit of a fat girth, so dont use it as much as the humane one. ;)

no preference tbh. i also have a lovely leather balding girth which i love, but hardly use! :o
 
I Use the Wintec non chafe girth. Never ben a fan of the elastic ended ones, particuarly the ones which only had one elastic end. I did use the humane girth but got put off when I realised that if one girth strap snapped, your entire girth would be completely loose :O
 
I stand by everything I have said. STRONG elastic, and even better, centre elastic, is hard to over tighten unless you are really not thinking about what you're doing, and non-elasticated girths really do affect horse's breathing and ribcage. The elastic should be relaly hard to stretchn between your hands - sadly most elasticated girths, especially budget ones, have very weak elastic. If saddles are slipping then there is a degree of instability in their fit - I find the greatest success with the type of girth I describe and I fit the trickiest horses and ponies - natives and cobs make up the vast majority of my customers. I've yet to see a non-elasticated girth work better on the horses I see.

It is possible for any girth to become loose and the SJ accident was unfortunate. Saddles can move back for all sorts of other reasons and it is unlikely to be solely down to the choice of girth - using the right billets helps.

I wonder what the humane girth users would do if a billet breaks? This design also places a lot of pressure on that big D ring - normal girths do not place as much pressure on one spot.
 
I don't like elastic girths and humane ones are bloody dangerous and are banned by our local pony clue due to a nasty accident. Look at the way they go onto the girth straps off the saddle!! if the girth breaks where the girth gos onto the saddle
there is no back up and the whole girth comes off. At least with normal girths u have 2 straps, 1 for back up. Nasty accident locally due to one off those girths. Local tack shop has stopped selling them as well
 
I use the synthetic Cottage Craft ones for everything. They are non-elasticated and are nice and soft and are about the only thing which doesn't rub my boy as he has very sensitive skin!
 
I gave up my elastic girth on the advice of my saddler and physio. They both say they are the work of the devil.
I use a humane girth as I secure one buckle to a balance strap. Haven't found another girth that had the range to do that.
 
Pitch Black said:
I would, but it's next to impossible to get one these days, everything has elastic at one or both ends.

I long for my old Cottage Craft padded girth from 25+ years ago <sigh>
Click to expand...

i have a couple of these, and also areborn (sp) do non elasticated.

personally i dislike the elastic girths.
 
I don't - I have a flat backed, no withered native pony who can be sharp and spooky. I am much more secure in a non elasticated girth, I use either Cottage Craft or Wintec non elasticated girths :)
 
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