Girth for fat horse with forward girth groove

[Daniel_Jack]

My girl is a bit chubby at the moment due to decreased workload (rehab for suspensory issues).

She has a very, very wide rib cage but is relatively narrow in front. This causes her girth to slide forward to the narrowest part which affects saddle position and impinges the movement slightly.

I need to find a girth that will stay in place - almost like a non slip, gel style like the acavallo pads!

Any suggestions? I don't mind spending a bit if it fixes the issue but having previously paid a fair bit of a leather anatomical girth that horse hated I'm slightly reluctant! It's a dressage saddle I have. TIA

 

[Wizpop]

I feel your pain as have almost the same situation with shape of horse and being out of work! I’ve tried different things and unfortunately I don’t think the situation ( for me) is going to change until my horse loses her big tummy and gets more developed in her shoulders- if that last bit happens. I’ve tried various girths with limited results and bought an Acavallo pad. I couldn’t bring myself to put it next to her skin though as the saddle moves forward quite a bit at the moment and the thought of the pull on her hair........tried it on top of numnah and no real difference. So just trying to save you some money from my failed attempts!
I know my saddle fits ( excellent WOW saddle fitter) and my last resort is the WOW foregirth which we are fitting tomorrow. (It’s not actually a girth as such, more of a panel that fits under the saddle flap and holds the front girth strap further forward)
Only hope I can really offer is to say my saddle fitted better when she wasn’t as fat and maybe that will be your best solution?? Anatomical girth might be more comfortable when she’s slimmer???

 

[ester]

pro choice ventech has 'stick', I put off getting one for ages because it wasn't shaped/anatomical for my forward groove/big rib cage beast who never get on with leather - always rubbed regardless. There are cheaper options of the pro choice from bridleway/others.

Alt if yours also doesn't get on with leather is the harry dabbs waffle curved option, had good success with this too but the binding does go after a time.

The other similarly shaped beast is fine with leather and has had an ideal affinity F2 for a long time.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use a kentaur anatomical leather girth on mine makes a huge difference.

 

[cobden]

Nothing helpful I’m afraid but the title did make me giggle as it describes my mare exactly ????

 

[Wizpop]

Another thought- have a look at the WOW H girth. Eye watering lay expensive but you might get a second hand one. They are designed for saddles that move and you don’t need a WOW saddle to use it. Good luck!

 

[MereChristmas]

I have been advised to try the Harry Dabbs curved waffle girth for my large barrelled forward girth groove pony.
I have only used it a few times since last week attached to the point strap and 3 of 4.
Fingers crossed, so far, so good.
If it works well I would consider buying a leather version later as the synthetic edges wear I believe. I would need to be reassured that leather holds as well as the synthetic though.

 

[sbloom]

If your girthing is a long way back on the saddle even a shaped girth may not help, worth talking to your saddle fitter (and in fact with every saddle issue it's always the first thing to do), the Dabbs girth is very good for the price (draping it the right way, ie the same way it curves on the horse, when you store it will help stop cracking). As a specialist fitter of your shape of horse I personally find that the right saddle in a flat enough tree, well fitted, with a point strap, tends to mean a shaped girth isn't needed.