Forward girth groove - anatomic girth option

[Scot123]

Hello. Have been researching various anatomic/curved/contour girths for some time... They start at about £75 for the Shires. Has anybody tried the Claridge House Leather Anatomic Girth? Would love to hear thoughts on it as it's £40 and the others (Prolite etc) seem to have mixed reviews anyway?

PS: It's for a chubby pony with a very forward girth groove!

 

[ester]

Struggled and much experimented! Mine seemed to get more forward the more weight he lost!

Harry dabbs waffle one worked quite well but the binding splits so wanted to upgrade, still unconvinced he gets on with leather, prolite got gappy at the sides (concluded he did need elastic). I had resisted for years trying a pro choice one despite people raving on here, I really thought he wouldn't cope with it having no shape but have been pleasantly surprised, used exclusively (albeit it only for hacking 2/3 times a week) for the last 6 odd months, through the dangerous coat change times and no rubs!

I did acquire a caldene anatomic one but he broke before I got to properly trial it so if a 105cm would be helpful to try let me know!

 

[Scot123]

I think a lot of people have gone through the pain of trying to find an anatomic girth that works for them!!

Yes, I tried Harry Dabbs but pony wasn't too happy - a bit thick/unforgiving...

Thank you for the offer of the trial, that's very kind. Unfortunately too small for my tub bucket!

So the prochoice one is working for you? I don't see how it can help/work with a forward girth groove? But you find it OK?

Thanks!

 

[Shooting Star]

The prolite had an amazing affect on my boy and he wasn't afraid to show the saddle fitter just how much he liked it with some stonkingly huge paces where he demonstrated a significantly less enthusiastic shuffling gait in a standard girth just 5 mins before - smug git, but at least a new girth was a lot cheaper than a new saddle

 

[ester]

I know, I couldn't either, I bought a cheap one off ebay first for £20

Essentially the 'grip' keeps the girth held back, then the actual stiff webbing isn't that thick and the lining/edge is super soft so with mine he just pushes the edge behind his elbow back a bit but nothing rubs. Ever since I have been on this forum (8 years, had the pony 11!) it has been suggested and I have poo pooed it but if you can pick one up 2nd hand it is worth a go I think. I would have love to have known if he'd have done a days hunting in it at coat change time but nothing suggests he wouldn't, no less than others anyway. I used it all day in the new forest in june

As he has got older his elbows have also gotten baggier which doesn't help, I had the prolite on trial from a saddler and even she said he had baggy ones!

The trouble I was also having when looking at leather was that with the shorter versions the elastic ends up proportionally long and with most I was going to end up with the leather/elastic join on him rather than under the saddle flap which never seemed a great idea. The lady at paul jones saddlery was going to do me a bit of a bespoke one but we lost contact somewhere along the way! (they aren't badly priced for nice leather ones though)

This is his shape, as you can see not overweight as can see ribs but forwards groove!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I know, I couldn't either, I bought a cheap one off ebay first for £20

Essentially the 'grip' keeps the girth held back, then the actual stiff webbing isn't that thick and the lining/edge is super soft so with mine he just pushes the edge behind his elbow back a bit but nothing rubs. Ever since I have been on this forum (8 years, had the pony 11!) it has been suggested and I have poo pooed it but if you can pick one up 2nd hand it is worth a go I think. I would have love to have known if he'd have done a days hunting in it at coat change time but nothing suggests he wouldn't, no less than others anyway. I used it all day in the new forest in june

As he has got older his elbows have also gotten baggier which doesn't help, I had the prolite on trial from a saddler and even she said he had baggy ones!

The trouble I was also having when looking at leather was that with the shorter versions the elastic ends up proportionally long and with most I was going to end up with the leather/elastic join on him rather than under the saddle flap which never seemed a great idea. The lady at paul jones saddlery was going to do me a bit of a bespoke one but we lost contact somewhere along the way! (they aren't badly priced for nice leather ones though)

This is his shape, as you can see not overweight as can see ribs but forwards groove!

your horse is shaped just like one of my Arabs I use a kentaur leather anatomic girth and I really think it works it just doesn't budge and he seems very happy in it. and a lot of people comment on my horses fat belly but he also is not overweight it's just his shape, I also read that whorls on the belly can influence the shape and my horse has 2 either side at the back of his stomach.

 

[ester]

One of F's issues is being only a 42" meant we were always a bit further restricted on brands when I was first looking year and years ago, I remember spotting the kentaur then and they only did a 46" upwards now people are cottoning on and I think they do smaller too now

Mum's mare is PBA and much worse as bigger rib cage and built downhill with no shoulder! She has an ideal affinity F2 that has never rubbed, how we ended up with two!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Hello. Have been researching various anatomic/curved/contour girths for some time... They start at about £75 for the Shires. Has anybody tried the Claridge House Leather Anatomic Girth? Would love to hear thoughts on it as it's £40 and the others (Prolite etc) seem to have mixed reviews anyway?

PS: It's for a chubby pony with a very forward girth groove!

Well, is he overweight and undermuscled, which tends to allow the saddle to slip forward, and rub.
or is he always going to have this forward girth groove, in which case it is worth thinking about another girth strap behind the standard one, or even a crupper, if he is more of a lead rein , Thelwell type.

 

[Pinkvboots]

One of F's issues is being only a 42" meant we were always a bit further restricted on brands when I was first looking year and years ago, I remember spotting the kentaur then and they only did a 46" upwards now people are cottoning on and I think they do smaller too now

Mum's mare is PBA and much worse as bigger rib cage and built downhill with no shoulder! She has an ideal affinity F2 that has never rubbed, how we ended up with two!

I didn't know that with the sizing I don't even know what size mine is will have to look, the problem I had with mine is he has a good wither but with quite a dip in his back a forward girth groove and large shoulder the only good thing is the saddle sort of sits in the dip and doesn't move, but the girth did and rubbed his elbow but with the Kentaur solved this.

although this shape can cause problems I have one that is flat backed no wither normal girth groove but had trouble with saddles just rolling from side to side so nothing is perfect.

 

[Scot123]

There's some good suggestions there - thank you all, a few to look at I hadn't considered. Exploding chestnuts - he will always have a forward girth groove but yes, currently worse due to overweight and a bit undermuscled.... would that influence the girth you'd maybe suggedt?

 

[fornema]

I have one with a very forward girth grove combined with the fact she takes a 16/18" dressage girth and a 38/40inch on her jump saddle. I have an atherstone girth on her jump saddle which keeps the saddle still, on her dressage saddle she has a Horze anatomical dressage girth which although isn't perfect is the best of a bad bunch after trying many.

 

[Fame]

I have the fairfax one for my dressage saddleas it was The best fit on my mare no rubbing etc.

I tried Passier and prolight one which are great quality but didn't solve my problem 100%

 

[chaps89]

I have an ideal leather anatomical girth which I bought through saddles direct and they arranged for it to be altered for me and made without the elastic which helps on my round pony! In the meantime they let me have one with elastic on trial so good vote for their customer service as well as the girth. Bit more expensive than you were perhaps looking for but if they still do the trial option at least you could give it a go before purchasing?

 

[Scot123]

I have an ideal leather anatomical girth which I bought through saddles direct and they arranged for it to be altered for me and made without the elastic which helps on my round pony! In the meantime they let me have one with elastic on trial so good vote for their customer service as well as the girth. Bit more expensive than you were perhaps looking for but if they still do the trial option at least you could give it a go before purchasing?

The option of a trial would be great. I don't mind the idea (so much!) of shelling out a lot for the girth, but to do that and then it doesn't work for us is a real nuisance. I'll have a look at them - thanks.

 

[SuperH]

I also struggled with this, mine is a 42" and most girths seem to start at 44" which didn't help. In the end we dropped on a Jaguar leather girth with a good forward cut, they aren't about any more but you may find one second hand. Another option is getting a one made, this is what I was planning on doing (although I understand you may be reluctant if you don't know if it will suit them or not once it arrives), I thought if we didn't get on with it there always seem to be lots of people wanting the same type of thing so I thought I may be able to sell it on at not too much of a loss.