Dressage / short girth recommendations

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Widgeon

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I'm looking for something pretty specific and there are just so many out there I thought I'd ask for help. I have a professionally fitted dressage saddle sliding back; horse has huge shoulders and not much of a girth groove. His GP girth works a treat, and that's a leather stud girth (but I don't like his GP saddle hence the dressage saddle). The stud girth is nice and wide, doesn't let the saddle slide, and distributes the pressure evenly so doesn't need girthing right up. So I want the equivalent short girth.

Dressage / monoflap length (30")
Leather, preferably black
Stud girth or very wide anatomical shaped
Really stiff elastic both ends
No more than £80, although I am also looking second hand

I've been considering the Shires Velociti Lusso short girth but are there any other mid-range suggestions? I've heard a lot on here about Professional's Choice but I just don't have that much money for a girth when it's only part of the solution. And if anyone has a suitable candidate lurking in the tackroom feel free to give me your sales pitch.
 
The only girth that stopped Louis saddle moving was a Flexigirth I have a short one on his dressage saddle.

His saddle tended to slip forward though his got a very flat back and us very barrel shaped typical Arab really, they are not anatomical though so may not work for you.

I use a Kentaur leather anatomical girth on Arabi they are lovely girths and they do a few different type so one of those may suit.
 
For slipping back the solution is usually different to slipping forwards, usually you want wide, and grippy, though shaping like the Mattes Athletico can work too (I moderate a used group on FB called Buy and Sell Mattes UK).

I usually recommend Le Tixerant for this issueand you can sometimes find them second hand. Whenever I see slightly less expensive ones they often have an issue, there was, I think, a nice looking Le Mieux one, very firm and nicely shaped, but the firmness was coming from a layer of metal mesh inside the girth. That would be fine if the girth had been manufactured to be curved from the off, but they'd made it flat, so as you curved it around a horse the metal wrinkled! I was appalled and advised the customer to complain loudly.
 
My native really likes his Shires anatomical anti chaffe girth - he has big shoulders and a forward girth groove so stability hasn't always been easy, especially as we have lots of hills! He's quite sensitive and has zero complaints about this one.

I have the GP version but sure they do dressage options - it was well under budget too!
 
I bought a Collegiate memory foam dressage girth last week, feels really soft and well made for the price. I thought I’d buy a sheepskin cover if needed but she seems happy with it.

www.viovet.co.uk

Collegiate Memory Foam Dressage Girth

Collegiate Memory Foam Dressage Girth is available online with fast delivery from VioVet, the trusted supplier of veterinary medication, foods and animal care products.
www.viovet.co.uk www.viovet.co.uk
 
sbloom said:
For slipping back the solution is usually different to slipping forwards, usually you want wide, and grippy, though shaping like the Mattes Athletico can work too (I moderate a used group on FB called Buy and Sell Mattes UK).
Click to expand...

Yes absolutely, wide and grippy is what works for us! I will have a hunt for Le Tixerant.
 
Hormonal Filly said:
I bought a Collegiate memory foam dressage girth last week, feels really soft and well made for the price. I thought I’d buy a sheepskin cover if needed but she seems happy with it.

www.viovet.co.uk

Collegiate Memory Foam Dressage Girth

Collegiate Memory Foam Dressage Girth is available online with fast delivery from VioVet, the trusted supplier of veterinary medication, foods and animal care products.
www.viovet.co.uk www.viovet.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thank you - I have been very happy with memory foam in the past but in this particular situation I need leather so that it's spreading the pressure evenly. My current girth is memory foam but what's happening is that it slips back until all the pressure is distributed through the webbing, which is obviously bad :-(
 
Thanks @sbloom and @Britestar ! I dug out an old Griffin grip nummnah and found just the right second hand Le Tixerant girth on FB Marketplace, which arrived yesterday. Off I went up to the yard to find that darling horse had ripped one of his shoes off (he was only shod on Wednesday). I still managed half an hour's walk and trot in the arena though, and he went beautifully, saddle shifting MUCH less than before - previously it would wiggle backwards even just hacking three miles in walk. So I'd call that a big win.
 
Widgeon said:
Thanks @sbloom and @Britestar ! I dug out an old Griffin grip nummnah and found just the right second hand Le Tixerant girth on FB Marketplace, which arrived yesterday. Off I went up to the yard to find that darling horse had ripped one of his shoes off (he was only shod on Wednesday). I still managed half an hour's walk and trot in the arena though, and he went beautifully, saddle shifting MUCH less than before - previously it would wiggle backwards even just hacking three miles in walk. So I'd call that a big win.
Click to expand...

Brilliant news. Hope it carries on being a success.
 
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