Fairfax Girth H&H Co-buy...

kerilli

kerilli

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Mine arrived today, completely out of the blue, was expecting an email first so it was a very nice surprise. It is really beautifully made, lovely and padded and contoured.
Tried it out on Ellie who hasn't been sat on for many months and is just coming back into work, hopefully. She definitely seemed more relaxed than I expected, and when she got a bit quick on the lunge she chilled immediately, usually she'd accelerate and be daft for a bit. When I got on she was totally relaxed from the start, absolutely no tension at all, at any time, which is far better than I was expecting. (Last time I rode her she made a brief but fairly determined attempt to bronc me off!)
So, so far so good with that one.
Unfortunately Katy's put on so much middle-aged-spread, or maybe baby-weight, that it's an inch too short for her vast girth, so she needs a diet before it'll do up!
Trying it on Daisy tomorrow...
Anyone else got theirs yet?
 
I got mine at Burghley and i'm now a convert. Horses are so much more relaxed and freer through the shoulders. H&H need to do a co-buy for the short stud girth!!!
 
Can you peeps tell me, when you lie the girth flat on the floor, do the buckles point towards/away from you, not straight out sideways?

My friend has been using a "curved" dressage girth on her horse which isn't "curved" at all, it just has a kink in the middle, and most curved girths seem to be the same. That made the back edge of the girth dig into his stomach. What he needs is a true curved girth with buckles that point like a banana.

I wonder if most of the result produced by the Fairfax is coming from the fact that these girths are truly curved?

I also wonder how much of the effect of the short one is because they recommend buying it two inches longer than usual. I made my friend put a longer girth on her horse on Monday when I saw that he was bumping his elbows on the buckles and the effect was absolutely astonishing. Using really short dressage girths seems to be a bit of a fashion at the moment and I wonder how many other horses have stilted paces just because they need a longer girth with a proper curve.
 
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Ahh i had a delivery note saying that they had tried to deliver something yesterday.......I wondered what it was! Ooh excited now! Pleased to hear that the early findings have been good.
 
I saw a Fairfax girth the other day, and was a bit confused I have to say? It seemed quite thick & hard, and the edge seemed not all that different? I expected more of a 'wedge' shaped edge in a sense with it being descriped as allowing the horses body to move under it more easily... but it just seemed like it was extended in a way that unless the leather was super soft, would probably not help? I think what really allows the girth to 'float' is what cptrayes says... the girth being tighter at the back than the front? It makes sense in my head anyway as it creates that bit of space to allow the movement, providing that you don't over tighten the back/both straps which would be uncomfortable for the horse.
I don't know, I can't buy one for Dan anyway as apparently he's too narrow, so it makes no difference to me. But it wasn't exactly what I expected from the comments I'd read, and I honestly couldn't see how it would be an awful lot different to some of the other shaped girths out there. I'm still sceptical (it is a lot of money...) and would like to see some more of the science really :p
 
Quite a bit of work was done on the positioning of the buckles and yes they are at a slight angle (I have the dressage one).

Most girths that I have tried, including shaped ones, tend to be tighter on the 2nd buckle... in fact I know some people that have to girth up an extra hole on the front one. The fairfax seems to have equal pressure on both. Or at least it does on my horse.
 
cptrayes said:
I also wonder how much of the effect of the short one is because they recommend buying it two inches longer than usual. I made my friend put a longer girth on her horse on Monday when I saw that he was bumping his elbows on the buckles and the effect was absolutely astonishing. Using really short dressage girths seems to be a bit of a fashion at the moment and I wonder how many other horses have stilted paces just because they need a longer girth with a proper curve.
Click to expand...

This why I have a long string girth on my dressage saddle - it transformed my mare. Although I can't comment on the Fairfax as never even seen it in the flesh, so to speak.
 
I had my mare in a normal wintec dressage girth with sheepskin cover.
I bought my other horse a professional choice girth in the next size up and tried it on her and the difference is astonishing! She actually feels like she is lifting up through the back more and longer stride length and definitely less tense through the back! Makes me think there is definitely something behind different makes of girth. Am keeping my eye out for the fairfax short girth deal!
 
but it's an absolute no-brainer to make sure that a short girth is of the correct length so that the buckles lie well out of the way of the horse's elbows, that's got nothing to do with the make of girth! Short girths come in loads of different lengths to avoid exactly that problem. it's the first thing you check when you girth up a dressage saddle, no?
the curve and the shaping round the armpits are very nice on the Fairfax, it is obviously very well thought-out.
I think the '2" longer' recommendation is purely to take into account the extra length taken up by the padding, compared to most girths.
 
I missed this one but how much did you manage to get them for in the end via co buy? was it a huge saving??

Ive just signed up for it so looking forward to seeing what goodies we get in the future :)
 
I missed this as well but decided to buy a Short girth for my dressage saddle - (short no dressage as I sometimes ride in draw reins and wanted the option of the D ) and there was about £10 difference in price)

After my post I spoke to Fairfax and they explained if its in the way of your leg- its too high, and in the elbow to short. She also said that as one of mine was too narrow in the chest- Pony size is in design/testing/making and *should* be available in the new year poor bank balance.

There is a 4week wait on them - so obviously popular- but they kindly said I can exchange if size is no good! Very interesting to hear outcome. Feeling a little better about the money now !
 
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