Elastic girth - yes or no?

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KINDMARE

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i am toying with the idea of changing my horses' girth from a non elastic girth to one with elastic both ends. She is a bit grumpy with girthing, but totally fine with brushing rubbing and touching in the area. Saddle checked by 2 master saddlers, etc etc. So its just to see if it will make a difference? I'm just slightly worried about saddle slippage having never used one on any of my horses. The saddle doesn't slip at all with a non elastic girth.
Do people prefer them over non elastic?
 
KINDMARE said:
i am toying with the idea of changing my horses' girth from a non elastic girth to one with elastic both ends. She is a bit grumpy with girthing, but totally fine with brushing rubbing and touching in the area. Saddle checked by 2 master saddlers, etc etc. So its just to see if it will make a difference? I'm just slightly worried about saddle slippage having never used one on any of my horses. The saddle doesn't slip at all with a non elastic girth.
Do people prefer them over non elastic?
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There’s a piece of research in Horse & Hound today about horse comfort - over tightening is the culprit for girth discomfort, affecting their way of going as well as state of mind.
 
Exasperated said:
There’s a piece of research in Horse & Hound today about horse comfort - over tightening is the culprit for girth discomfort, affecting their way of going as well as state of mind.
Click to expand...
OOOH thanks - ill take a look. Yes - i do wonder if i have overtightened - i have been making a proper effort not to just lately.
 
I know most saddle fitters don't like them but I think it does depend on the horse too and the saddle?

We had a non-elastic one but my daughter really struggled to do it up herself, so we went back to the elasticated at both ends version. She is independent doing it now and the pony seems less girthy in it too compared to the non-elasticated version we had.
 
Use whatever your horse likes - I took my cheap and cheerful neoprene/elastic girth to a fitting and saddler told me to spoil the boy with a proper leather one… he absolutely hated it, I took both to my next appointment and he agreed, stick with whatever he’s happy with 😂
 
Most regular saddle fitters seem to say never to use elastic on girths on round horses but, as a specialist fitter of solely wider horses for 12 years, and as a huge part of my business for 16 years, I prefer elastic, the only exception being Stubben cord girths. I find those non-elastic girths are nearly all overtightened but they went for these girths, ironically in part, to avoid overtightening!

The elastic, and being VERY aware of how tight it should be, affects so many muscle groups including, probably most importantly, the diaphragm which is key to healthy equine movement. Feel all around the girth when tightening on the ground and work out if the tightest spot on your horse is sternum or sides. Use this as a basis for how tight your girth should feel on the sides, and absolutely get the fitter to show you how tight that design of girth should be, on your horse, when you lean down to check it.

NEVER overtighten your girth for more than a few minutes eg for a cross country course, and never check whether you CAN tighten it as the indicator as to whether you SHOULD.
 
sbloom said:
Most regular saddle fitters seem to say never to use elastic on girths on round horses but, as a specialist fitter of solely wider horses for 12 years, and as a huge part of my business for 16 years, I prefer elastic, the only exception being Stubben cord girths. I find those non-elastic girths are nearly all overtightened but they went for these girths, ironically in part, to avoid overtightening!

The elastic, and being VERY aware of how tight it should be, affects so many muscle groups including, probably most importantly, the diaphragm which is key to healthy equine movement. Feel all around the girth when tightening on the ground and work out if the tightest spot on your horse is sternum or sides. Use this as a basis for how tight your girth should feel on the sides, and absolutely get the fitter to show you how tight that design of girth should be, on your horse, when you lean down to check it.

NEVER overtighten your girth for more than a few minutes eg for a cross country course, and never check whether you CAN tighten it as the indicator as to whether you SHOULD.
Click to expand...
Thank you sbloom - that is a very helpful post - i shall do as you advise.
 
I have one horse who really likes a Flexigirth after years of trial and error with girths. The elastic is the main panel so it gives over the stomach rather than stretching at the buckles which seems to be the thing he likes. The elastic was strong enough that i never feel that I am overtightening it and it always seems to sit nicely.
 
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