Girths for the erm 'round' horse?

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LadyRascasse

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So I have a low withered flat backed xtra wide horse my saddler has recommended the Stubben cord girths but on research there seems to be a lot of negativity about them? I have also come across the thorowgood cob girth are these any good? Or any other suggestions, he is only young so I don't want him to have an bad experiences with saddles or girths.
 
where's his girth crease falling? I find that can be a fitting issue with barrelly types? One of mine needs a shaped for a forward girth crease because of this, otherwise the saddle is quite capable of sliding forwards or backwards, whichever would be most inconvenient!
 
We have a stubben cord girth on our highland. No complaints about it, it fits really well and because it has really long pieces attached to the buckles, it fastens well to the 1st and 4th girth straps.
 
Had a Stubben one and the only complaint I had was when using it on a saddle with 2 girth straps only the metal part at the buckle was so wide they rode up against each other and made a lump that made me and him sore. With our other horse with 3 girth straps it went on the 1st and 3rd and was fine.

I am a Fairfax convert, but I guess you won't want to hear that!
 
I have a stubben cord girth for my Arab.
I also have a curved leather one, cos he has a very forward girth groove....but for some reason he doesn't like it, despite the padding and the elastic inserts.

What's the negative feedback you've heard? No complaints about mine...
 
There were a few threads on here about them pinching and making horses girthy. I was considering using a girth sleeve with the stubben cord girth is this something you can do?

As for girth groove, I am not entirely sure, until his new saddle arrives I wouldn't know how to check, I can post a photo if someone will be able to tell me? I am used to thoroughbreds, theses native X are so different :)
 
I have both of these!
Never had a problem with the stubben cord girth rubbing or pinching, my cob is fairly sensitive. Great for keeping the saddle still on round cobs. Just be careful if you wash them in the washing machine, they shrink easily!
Bought the thorowgood cob girth to use for events as don't really like the look of the cord girth, this one looks more comfy, but does seem to have a little more stretch compared to the stubben one so maybe not quiet as good.
 
LadyRascasse said:
As for girth groove, I am not entirely sure, until his new saddle arrives I wouldn't know how to check, I can post a photo if someone will be able to tell me? I am used to thoroughbreds, theses native X are so different :)
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You could probably pop a bit of elastic around him and take him for a walk.... see where it creeps to. My lunging roller wants to go to the right place so should give some indication. My particularly round chap... an ordinary girth either want to sit virtually under his elbow (ie he has quite a forward girth groove) or alternately make a bid for freedom the other way (so we have to wear a functional breastplate for jumping or vigorous galloping). And he's both thin skinned and sweaty. TBH he varies, sometimes any girth makes him a bit sore by the armpit and he has to wear a sheepskin liner for a bit, sometimes he seems super happy. I've found countour shaped leather ones best overall. Given his sweaty nature I can't imagine a cord one not being a chaff-y nightmare.
Mine does have a massive shoulder too, so if yours is less hulking you may have far fewer problems. I also find a dressage cut saddle much better than GP for getting the girth to stay put. YMMV obv.
 
I used a flexi girth on my round and sensitive skinned Welshie. She liked it and we got on well with it (I could get on from the ground without the saddle slipping) until we changed saddles, then it didn't fit at all as my new saddle has girth straps at a different angle.

I tried a cord girth on her, I found it was too wide.
 
I have a couple of flat-backed podgies, lacking withers, which are like trying to keep a saddle atop a barrel. I find winching the girth up very tightly using an aerborn 'humane' girth does the trick.
 
The Stubben cord girths are great - they are nothing like the old-fashioned nylon girths that do have a bit of a reputation.

I use them everyday on my sensitive Welshie - no problems at all. Check the sizing though as they are in metric sizes which is not exactly equivalent to inches (for example 115cms is shorter than 46"). I wash them in the machine at 30 in a washbag and then hang them to dry - mine haven't shrunk.
 
Interesting thread, having issues with my saddle sliding forwards on my fell, trying one of these girths as an option sounds a cheaper first attempt than a new saddle!
 
Another vote for professional choice, they keep my saddle secure even when fatty puts in a cheeky buck! I also have a couple of hy neoprene girths too and they work just as well, nice and wide so spread the pressure really well. I have tried all manner of girths; waffle weave, anatomical, shaped, comfort, blah blah and these are the two that seem to work for us. Been a blooming expensive search!
 
I use the Thorowgood non-elastic cob girth and always have over the last 10 years with my rotunda :) When his saddle slipped a bit forwards in the summer with his summer belly when we used to jump I got a Stubben cord girth at the recommendation of my saddler and that together with a Limpet pad solved that problem. The Thorowgood ones are really comfy, nice and wide and also shaped and easy to clean.
 
Thanks guys, keep the suggestions and stories coming :) Saddle should arrive today so will be interesting. I can't use any with elastic as the saddle just rolls on him and make me feel very uncomfortable.
 
This is really intersting as I'm worried about my girth. I use an aerborn humane girth as she can be funny about having the girth done up but as she is so fat it seems to bunch up behind her elbows and I'm worried its going to make her sore as we start doing more. Which of all these recommendations would be best for this issue do you think?
 
I have a flat backed, roly poly warmblood, everything goes up her neck and pulls the girth to right up behind her elbows.
Long story short, I have now bought an H girth from WOW to try (she has a wow saddle)
I did buy a professionals choice girth but it rubbed her raw and gave her nasty girth galls, now I can't seem to sell the damn thing, I am collecting girths!
 
flosskins said:
This is really intersting as I'm worried about my girth. I use an aerborn humane girth as she can be funny about having the girth done up but as she is so fat it seems to bunch up behind her elbows and I'm worried its going to make her sore as we start doing more. Which of all these recommendations would be best for this issue do you think?
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I've never had rubs with an aerborn - even on ponies which are prone to rubbing with other girths. I think the balancing of the straps has something to do with it (as well as making it easier to do up!)
 
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