Grippy but soft girth?

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MagicMelon

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Does this exist? I posted a while ago as my leather curved girth suddenly decided to start rubbing my mare behind a shoulder then she swelled up underneath after an event, so Ive given up with it. Ive been using my straight neoprene girth lately which seemed fine at home (saddle not going up her neck like I thought as she's got a very forward girth groove so I was wary about using a non-curved girth). However, the problem with this girth is that although its nice and soft so no rubbing, it has elastic both ends and is letting the saddle rock side to side when I was trying to jump. I have no other short girths left (must be short style) so I'm going to have to buy a new one. But what do I go for? Is there such a thing as a grippy but comfy girth for a sensitive skinned horse with a forward girth groove? Is it as simple as going non elastic (not that there are many!)? Opinions and girth suggestions please! Can't be expensive either...
 
I find the wintecs particularly slippy on my round Welsh. I'm not sure of any that are soft and grippy- maybe professionals choice?
 
Can't be expensive? I spent a small fortune on saddle/girth, because I want the horse to be comfortable and because he goes better in comfort. I don't think you need to spend tons, but certainly it's an important thing.

Mine has the Stubben type, non-elastic string girth. Everything else rubbed his very pink sensitive skin. Or buy whatever and put sheepskin over it. If the saddle is moving, does it need re-fitting? Had mine done and it completely resolved the movement. Alternatively, a breast plate might help.
 
I just bought a wintec elastic yesterday. The same one Kezzabell2 is talking about. Tried it last night on my cob, and no chafing or slipping so far...
 
cinnamontoast said:
Can't be expensive? I spent a small fortune on saddle/girth, because I want the horse to be comfortable and because he goes better in comfort. I don't think you need to spend tons, but certainly it's an important thing.

Mine has the Stubben type, non-elastic string girth. Everything else rubbed his very pink sensitive skin. Or buy whatever and put sheepskin over it. If the saddle is moving, does it need re-fitting? Had mine done and it completely resolved the movement. Alternatively, a breast plate might help.
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I know a girth is important, but at the same time I wasn't expecting to have to shell out for a new girth this month (along with new tendon & fetlock boots as some mice had them for dinner and I've just paid a £400 vets bill...) so can only buy what I can afford ;) I've got a Stubben string girth which I love but its a long version so wont work with my WOW, I cant find a short version (unless you know different?). She wears a breastplate so it hasn't helped. It shouldn't need re-fitting as it was done lately, she was an extremely difficult horse to fit a saddle to - this is by far the best we managed (every other saddle shot up her neck!).

- Will have a look at the Wintec one, thanks!
- carolineb, can you PM me with how much you want for yours and I'll google it meantime ;)
 
I have one that has a removable rubber type slip thingy
its Velcroed on the girth for was wash. The girth doesn't have to be done up so tight as its very grippy. It was recommended by my saddler
 
I've never had any issues with mine slipping!! I have changed girths recently to a harry dabs curved girth, as I had to move my girth back to strap 2 and 3 rather than 1 and 3 and the wintec didn't slit right when it was further back, need more curvy! but I've never struggled with slipping of a girth :/ I would also use a wintec if a horse had issue with a girth that has rubbed them.
 
I've got one of the Pro Choice ones, and it's fantastic. It's too short for Alfs "deep" girth though - so if you're after a 48", I may be able to help!
 
I have two short neoprene girths that have no elastic. One is definitely by Jeffries but I can't remember what the other make is.
 
My saddler (whom I've recommended to many as he really knows his stuff) only sells the straight Wintec elastic girths (and Farifax ones). His opinion is that shaped (chafeless) girths put too much pressure on the narrowed sections so can cause more problems than they solve.
 
annagain said:
My saddler (whom I've recommended to many as he really knows his stuff) only sells the straight Wintec elastic girths (and Farifax ones). His opinion is that shaped (chafeless) girths put too much pressure on the narrowed sections so can cause more problems than they solve.
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but the "narrow" section on these girths are still a lot wider than a lot of girths out there! and the curve in them is very minimal, unlike some curved girhts I have seen
 
The new Prolite one that's like the Fairfax is lovely. Nice and soft, doesn't slip and suits my mare's very forward girth groove.
 
another Wintec fan-my old boy approved and although they sweat in them a bit, never had one rub or slip-both with the Wow and the long version with saddle on the (barrel-like) Exmoor pony.
 
Kezzabell2 said:
but the "narrow" section on these girths are still a lot wider than a lot of girths out there! and the curve in them is very minimal, unlike some curved girhts I have seen
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I'm only passing on the advice he gave me. It's not so much the width of the narrow part, it's the fact they usually have two strips of webbing which cross and are stitched in place at that point. He says this creates the pressure.

Also, the waffle material is pretty flexible and one piece folded over and stitched in the middle of the outside is nice and soft on the edges but the chafeless ones, due to the shape have to be two pieces stuck together with binding on the edges. The binding material isn't as flexible, so where the girth moves and flexes the binding creases and eventually cracks. This leaves jagged points which can rub or catch.
 
annagain said:
I'm only passing on the advice he gave me. It's not so much the width of the narrow part, it's the fact they usually have two strips of webbing which cross and are stitched in place at that point. He says this creates the pressure.

Also, the waffle material is pretty flexible and one piece folded over and stitched in the middle of the outside is nice and soft on the edges but the chafeless ones, due to the shape have to be two pieces stuck together with binding on the edges. The binding material isn't as flexible, so where the girth moves and flexes the binding creases and eventually cracks. This leaves jagged points which can rub or catch.
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Yes the binding does crack, but then you replace them. It depends what size your horses elbow are/where the girth groove is. I cannot put my lad in any sort of straight girth without him losing hair in a line on the back of his elbows.
 
Thanks everyone - will have a look at all mentioned. I just searched "Pro Choice girth" in Ebay and underneath the girths it came up with some very odd listings... (try it, yikes, he he!).

Wish the horse could just tell me what was comfiest for her! So nobodys noticed much difference between slippage and elastic? I thought I read somewhere that elastic is bad when slippage is involved, maybe the material of the girth is more important though.
 
banana girth is even better!

fwiw the elastic on the HD girths is triple and not as stretch as the double on my aerborn ones.
 
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