Girths - Leather or Synthetic

I always have used a leather girth. Just make sure if you do get one that the leather is nice and soft, which you might have to pay more for, but well worth the money and if you look after it will last for years.
 
Definitely leather, I had a synthetic for some time but have switched and it's much better. I have a Harry Dabbs / Jaguar dressage girth, shaped and elasticated both ends. It was second hand on ebay for £35.
 
I have both.

The synthetic I have is a wintec - top quality girth and so easy to just wash off with warm soapy water when grubby.

The leather I only use for showing - Jeffries - top quality but not something I would use day to day as I want to keep it pristine!
 
Kal wears both . . . the girth for his jumping saddle is a Stubben neoprene which is nice and soft against his skin and easy to clean after going cross country . . . his dressage girth is leather and is also soft (because it's been cleaned and conditioned endlessly) and doesn't require cleaning as often because it doesn't have to stand up to galloping through water/mud, etc.

I'd say, as long as the girth fits and doesn't pinch and suits the horse and its way of going then it shouldn't matter much what it's made of. The girth is there to do a job . . . if it does the job, use it.

P
 
I like the really soft shaped leather girths use them on both my horses, only ever known it to rub one of mine after I clipped him then he had a week off due to the snow, didnt break the skin just hair rubbed off and it was fine after a few days.
 
ebonyallen said:
I always have used a leather girth. Just make sure if you do get one that the leather is nice and soft, which you might have to pay more for, but well worth the money and if you look after it will last for years.
Click to expand...

Agreed, though if your horse is comfy in a synthetic girth, and the saddle is stable, then no problem with whatever you choose. Obviously if you're buying a new girth, you won't know :). I fit wide horses and ponies as a speciality, and although I see string girths working quite well, very occasionally when ours don't, I only recommend wide, soft padded Atherstones. Ours has a wide shaped centre band, I find the ones with straight narrow bands actually have quite a narrow grip/pressure area and aren't as nice for the horse and don't help as much with saddle stability. Oh and good strong elastic at both ends, not one end, and not too stretchy.
 
sbloom said:
Agreed, though if your horse is comfy in a synthetic girth, and the saddle is stable, then no problem with whatever you choose. Obviously if you're buying a new girth, you won't know :). I fit wide horses and ponies as a speciality, and although I see string girths working quite well, very occasionally when ours don't, I only recommend wide, soft padded Atherstones. Ours has a wide shaped centre band, I find the ones with straight narrow bands actually have quite a narrow grip/pressure area and aren't as nice for the horse and don't help as much with saddle stability. Oh and good strong elastic at both ends, not one end, and not too stretchy.
Click to expand...


My gelding is currently in the soft synthetic straight type like the Wintec ones but not shaped - it has just started to slightly rub him after being on him for more than 5 months ?? I was going to fit a girth sleeve - what do you think - or change to leather ??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top