Girth recommendations for sweaty horse

[Pippity]

Despite being clipped, Blue's still getting very sweaty under her girth. It's just a cheap synthetic girth (Shires shaped anti-chafe) so I suspect either a better quality synthetic or a leather girth would help. However, it mustn't be elasticated which is where the problems seem to start with finding one!

I've been considering the Stubben cord girth, which looks very breathable, but I'm not sure how it would cope with having breastplate and exercise sheet straps under it. (We wear a lot of hi-viz when hacking.)

Budget is up to £80 (but would go a bit higher for something with multiple rave recommendations), size is 50", and I'd prefer brown.

 

[be positive]

https://www.risleysaddlery.co.uk/Girth5/Leather-Balding-Girth.aspx

Unless you need something wide these are good to allow airflow although not as popular as they used to be possibly because they do not have elastic.

 

[dogatemysalad]

The Stubben cord girth was really good for our hot boy, but his tack was very minimalist as he didn't require anything to be attached to the girth. I'm not sure it would be suitable for attachments though. Leather girths are better than synthetic for sweaty horses and sheepskin girth sleeves work well.

 

[Pippity]

https://www.risleysaddlery.co.uk/Girth5/Leather-Balding-Girth.aspx

Unless you need something wide these are good to allow airflow although not as popular as they used to be possibly because they do not have elastic.

The trouble with the balding is, despite being a common little cob, she has very delicate skin and I believe the baldings can be quite rough unless they're REALLY good quality leather.

 

[Meredith]

I have used Stubben cord girths always with a breastplate and never had any problems. My exercise sheets didn’t have girth fastenings so can’t comment on that.

 

[MaxboleyBlack]

I have a 50" prolite GP Girth for sale only been used a handful of times, but it is black

 

[jj_87]

i really rate the sheldon copies of the Professional Choice Anti slip girth, it has layer which is not only no slip but washable! https://www.tackshopuk.com/product-page/sheldon-anti-slip-synthetic-girth

 

[Pippity]

i really rate the sheldon copies of the Professional Choice Anti slip girth, it has layer which is not only no slip but washable! https://www.tackshopuk.com/product-page/sheldon-anti-slip-synthetic-girth

Sadly, it's elastic.

 

[pansymouse]

I use an old fashioned cotton lampwick girth which is lovely and breathable and washes very easily. I only want another because I'm not keen on the colour.

 

[Andrew657]

Calcutt and Sons do a leather atherstone girth (haven't seen it/no picture on web) in two versions one says it's with elastic - so presumably the other hasn't

 

[daydreamer]

I use a stubben cord girth and it really helps to minimise sweating. I haven't used it with any breastplates etc but i would have thought it would be ok. You can often pick them up fairly cheaply on ebay.

 

[AGray825]

My sweaty girl gets on really well with her stubben cord girth
I sometimes pair with a wide sheepskin girth cover when she's clipped

 

[sbloom]

The trouble with the balding is, despite being a common little cob, she has very delicate skin and I believe the baldings can be quite rough unless they're REALLY good quality leather.

And they really are narrow, do you want that little area to spread pressure across (and there can be a lot of pressure on the sternum)?

I like the Stubben girths and carry a couple of demos. They suit those with a little bit of space, not those that have what I call deep "pouchy" girth grooves where the girth can fold over and pinch. Not heard of any issues with putting various straps around the girth. Not sure why you're discounting elasticated girths but I hear a lot of recommendations from general saddle fitters, plus supposed research, that says that elastic causes instability. Not universally true by any means, my colleagues and I have 60 years' collective experience fitting a particular brand and style of saddle and we have probably 90% of customers in girths with elastic both ends and they work much better than most fixed girths, excluding the Stubben which seems to be unique. It does tighten gradually, a bit like an elasticated girth, so I think that's the reason it works for us.

 

[Pippity]

I like the Stubben girths and carry a couple of demos. They suit those with a little bit of space, not those that have what I call deep "pouchy" girth grooves where the girth can fold over and pinch. Not heard of any issues with putting various straps around the girth. Not sure why you're discounting elasticated girths but I hear a lot of recommendations from general saddle fitters, plus supposed research, that says that elastic causes instability. Not universally true by any means, my colleagues and I have 60 years' collective experience fitting a particular brand and style of saddle and we have probably 90% of customers in girths with elastic both ends and they work much better than most fixed girths, excluding the Stubben which seems to be unique. It does tighten gradually, a bit like an elasticated girth, so I think that's the reason it works for us.

My saddle slips with an elasticated girth and doesn't with a non-elasticated girth so, in my case, that recommendation is true! I'm aware that means the saddle probably isn't a perfect fit (as is my saddle fitter) but my horse was extremely one-sided at the time and it was something of a bodge, along with shims, to get the saddle to stay in place. She's still fairly one-sided (although physio and vet are helping me work on that) so I'd rather stick with non-elasticated for now.

She's carrying a bit of podge at the moment (a month off work while the grass was lush!) which might cause an issue but she generally has a pretty flat girth groove, so hopefully we'll get away with the Stubben.

 

[irishdraft]

I love the stubben cord girth I use a martingale sometimes with it never had a problem I cannot imagine why you would with any attachments tbh.

 

[Goldenstar]

I used the stubben girth’s for years I think they would be fine but we use Atherstone girth’s for hunting with panelled saddles they come without elastic as well as with .