Girths - elastic v non elastic, leather v synthetic

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 December 2010
Messages
1,299
Visit site
Hi, I'm currently using an Aerborn waffle atherstone humane girth, but I'd like to experiment with another just in case it is causing her some issues.

My mare is sensitive and I have only ever used the waffle synthetic type girths, so have been looking at the Aerborn waffle atherstone, with elastic both ends, and also the Dever synthetic with elastic both ends. Anyone use these?

I haven't tried the neoprene ones, and likewise, a leather atherstone with elastic both ends, so if anyone has any experience with those, info v welcome.

Also, if I am currently using a 44" in the humane, should I go for the same size or smaller with an elasticated?
 
I like leather girths, never had a horse rubbed by one and strong elastic on both ends or centrally.

I'm always wary of humane girths. If one strap gave you'd have nothing left to hold the saddle on. All other designs you would.

If your 44" fits fine then I don't see why you'd need a size change for an elastic girth.
 
I wanted a girth that was elasticated both ends as I felt that despite my horse finding my lovely leather atherstone girth comfortable, being elasticated just one side it was pulling my saddle to one side.

I swapped to an aerborne waffle atherstone elasticated both ends jobby and my boy couldn't have made it clearer that he wasn't happy!! - biting me when I tacked him up etc etc.

I then bought a wintec elastic girth (one that is elasticated all the way through) on reccomendation, despite my concerns and haven't looked back :)

I think our preferences kinda go out of the window. Listen to your horse and try and understand what it is about the girth they do / don't like.

The double elasticated ones are very easy to overtighten and the sythetic atherstone ones tend to have a lot of stitching and seams / binding that some horses find uncomfortable... The wintec one has none of these and is by no means easy to overtigten. it will only go up as far as it will go.. you can't stretch it!
 
I agree the wintec one is very good and has none of the issues of the very ill named 'humane girths' which are anything but!

The other one which is excellent esp with sensitive types is the Kieffer Neoprene one, really good quality, my oldest one is still going after 10 years and it washes like new and the brass buckles etc are v good quality. Lovely girths.
 
Bought the Wintec, the one that is elasticated all the way through and been very happy with it.
I've had more expensive/leather/fandangled girths - but this one I'm very happy with and it was only £15.00!
 
Can anyone post a link to the Wintec ones pls? I've been looking for ages but can only find the shaped ones that don't seem to be elasticsted throughout
 
I've always said the Wintec ones can't (and clearly don't!!) stretch. They seem to suit some horses.

GinaGeo said:
I like leather girths, never had a horse rubbed by one and strong elastic on both ends or centrally.

I'm always wary of humane girths. If one strap gave you'd have nothing left to hold the saddle on. All other designs you would.

If your 44" fits fine then I don't see why you'd need a size change for an elastic girth.
Click to expand...

Agreed. For the usually tricky wide horses that I fit I use a wide padded Atherstone, the central thicker piece of leather is also wide and shaped, not like many that have a thin band. The thinner band means that pressure isn't spread very well, and therefore there is also a lack of grip as well as comfort.

The elastic should be very strong and at both ends or in the middle - weaker elastic either gives too much or bottoms out and gives no stretch.

The only other girth that seems to be almost as good, with little or no down side, is the proper soft woollen (mohair for the best ones) string girths, they seem to have some give, are nie and wide and soft, and suit some horses very well.

My theory on elastic for wide horses is that not only are they kinder, alllowing the ribcage to expand, but when the ribcage contracts, a non-elasticated girth will give a moment of slack (leading to instability) unless it is girthed to the point of asphyxiation!
 
Thanks all, really helpful stuff!

I'm going to experiment with an airborn atherstone with elastic on both ends, as they seem to be the most reasonable, plus it makes it a more fair test if i'm only changing the way it is fastened rather than the material it is made from ( frustrated scientist here...) I would like a leather one ultimately but we'll see how we get on.

I had a wintec elastic one that looked different to that one, it was more shaped but didn't have any obvious elastic that I could see, even though it was printed on it? V confusing!
 
I've got an Aerborne "humane" girth but its not made of waffle material its made of synthetic (same stuff as the Wintec girths) which is a lot thicker and so doesn't cut in like the waffle material does. My mare seems to like this, but the thing I don't like about these girths is that if one buckle comes undone then basically the whole girth drops and you can drive a bus through it. Someone else has mentioned this and it is an issue with these type of girths.

My traddie cob has got a Thorowgood cob girth (synthetic) which seems to suit him; these types of non-elasticated girths are good for cob types with a flat back and low withers - having used an elasticated girth on him in the past it moved around a lot AND gave him a sore in less than an hour's ride, so not a good idea.

IMO you won't get a better general purpose girth than the good old-fashioned Wintec synthetic one. They wear very well, are easy to wash and care for, and the saddle stays where it should.
 
I only use the Aerborn atherstone elasticated both ends girths now. They are also really easy to clean, which I find a bonus :)

Have used all the other widely available types, synthetic, fabric, leather. All were apparently fine as far as the ponies were concerned, but I like these Aerborn ones best now.
 
I have genuinely never, in four years of professional saddle fitting, seen a non-elasticated girth work better than the RIGHT design of elasticated one. And I genuinely think they're rather unkind for horses. I know lots of people then talk about the risk of overtightening an elasticated girth but if the elastic is strong, and people actually check the tightness of the girth before and after altering it, there is no risk. All equipment can be used incorrectly, it is up to us to learn how to use it properly/

The humane girth is not only a risk in terms of safety but can make some horses sore underneath the dee ring - there is a lot of pressure concentrated there on some very sensitive muscles.
 
I use a stubben cord girth as mentioned by sbloom above. It is lovely and soft, nice and wide and doesn't rub my sensitive mare. Highly recommended.
 
. . . and just to be different . . . Kal goes in a neoprene Stubben, elasticated at one end. I swap which side I fasten the elasticated side to the saddle regularly and am careful not to overgirth (both in general and on one side versus the other) and it suits him fine . . . doesn't pull the saddle over, doesn't seem to pinch and is washable ;).

We also have two leather girths - one old, non-elasticated leather one that came with him, and a padded leather Atherstone (elasticated at one end) - he hates both with a passion.

So . . . I reckon it's down to what suits your horse, your saddle and you.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
.
So . . . I reckon it's down to what suits your horse, your saddle and you.

P
Click to expand...

Thats just it!

One word of caution to the OP, the aerborn elasticated both ends one is VERY easy to do up and thus very easy to overtighten... I could get it done up 4 holes tighter than my current wintec one :O What size are you after? I think I have a 52 inch one that needs a home if you're still keen ;)
 
CBFan, thanks for your kind offer, but I need a 44in, 52 would go round my little mare twice! I'll be aware of that, the thorowgood ones were the same, but only on one side. The one i've bought was only 18 quid, I just want to see if the humane one is causing a problem, and if that is how it seems then i'll look for a nice leather one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top