Help.. Girths (again, sorry )

Meredith

Meredith

riding reluctantly into the sunset
Joined
21 February 2013
Messages
14,139
Location
the sat-nav is wrong, go farther up the hill
Visit site
Has anyone used or know about these 3 girths or has any other recommendations that will help?
Reason for asking below. If you are interested.

The saddler has given me to try

a Shires Memory Foam..... https://shiresequestrian.com/produc...eUNWYv-9TS8mN5JeVTHqHGEZNSYZTsx1Ow7MxYRuqiVm5

a Prolite long narrow........ https://www.prolitepads.com/products/prolite-girths/19-long-girth-narrow

a Wintec Cair Miracle ..... https://www.thesaddlebank.com/product/wgmirxxxxx-wintec-miracle-long-girth/

I thought we'd got it cracked saddle and girth-wise but F has changed shape again. The saddler came today. Since hock injections, asymmetric shimming and girthing his wither shape has improved. This meant a slight alteration in saddle shims. Great I thought when the saddler showed me.
but
The Stubben cord girth which is fine for normal hacking etc doesn't stop the saddle from slipping forwards on steep downhills. We found the Dever Competition Girth ( the one with the removable neoprene liner ) worked fine, until it didn't!
The Dever is straight and after use it has started to fold at the edge where an anatomical girth is shaped for the elbows. I don't want to find F has sores behind the elbow so a new girth is needed.
 
Having had elbow issues…

Mums mare slipping forwards issues + elbows (poor conformation) was better in an ideal f2 affinity

Franks didn’t slip forwards (Welsh shoulders) but forwards groove and very prone to long thin elbow rubs, didn’t seem to cope with leather for him Harry dabbs waffle option worked best (but the binding does split) nowadays I would try the pro choice anatomical version on him (had the straight version and that worked well from a rub point of view but I think the anatomical would be better (current share has one)
 
I have used the Shires Memory foam girth that you have linked in your post and I found that it was a really lovely girth. I used it on Baggs who is my 20 year old Appaloosa cross and we've had trouble in the past with saddles slipping/not staying put/ him getting sensitive in the girth area and behind the shoulders.

I loved how it moulded to him and really helped regarding the issues I was having.

I did find that it sometimes took a while to dry if we'd done a particularly long/fast ride or decent schooling session and I had to wash it after each ride as otherwise it would irritate Baggs the next time I would use it x
 
ester said:
Having had elbow issues…

Mums mare slipping forwards issues + elbows (poor conformation) was better in an ideal f2 affinity

Franks didn’t slip forwards (Welsh shoulders) but forwards groove and very prone to long thin elbow rubs, didn’t seem to cope with leather for him Harry dabbs waffle option worked best (but the binding does split) nowadays I would try the pro choice anatomical version on him (had the straight version and that worked well from a rub point of view but I think the anatomical would be better (current share has one)
Click to expand...

Thank you.
I've tried the H Dabbs waffle on F's previous saddle and he said a definite No.
I'll look at the Affinity and the Pro Choice.
 
I’ve got the shires memory foam (but with elasticated ends). It’s nice enough, but my horse prefers the shires supafleece. His fancy WOW free space is gathering dust 😒
 
Thank you all.

Nocturnal said:
I’ve got the shires memory foam (but with elasticated ends). It’s nice enough, but my horse prefers the shires supafleece. His fancy WOW free space is gathering dust 😒
Click to expand...

I tried a borrowed one today. The saddle felt high because of the new shims but soon settled. The girth didn't look quite right to me. Everyone else thought it looked fine. The elastic felt weak when I tightened it compared to the Dever.
When riding I felt a little wobbly somehow but it wasn't the saddle. I found when I dismounted that there was a bulge in the centre between the 2 webbing straps. I wondered if the girth would get a permanent crease with more use and maybe rub.

I'm not happy with fleece for F. His coat wove into a wool numnah and caused it to go lumpy.

Gloi said:
I found the Shires memory foam caused more sweating under it than other girths.
Click to expand...

I didn't ride long or fast enough to find out. F does get sweaty under the Dever.

ester said:
I always wonder about memory foam given how much it compresses when warm and girths being kind ng enoughwarm spots
Click to expand...

It is very soft. See above about my worries about creasing.

On Friday I'll try the Wintec Miracle Girth.

To be continued......
 
Meredith said:
Thank you all.



I tried a borrowed one today. The saddle felt high because of the new shims but soon settled. The girth didn't look quite right to me. Everyone else thought it looked fine. The elastic felt weak when I tightened it compared to the Dever.
When riding I felt a little wobbly somehow but it wasn't the saddle. I found when I dismounted that there was a bulge in the centre between the 2 webbing straps. I wondered if the girth would get a permanent crease with more use and maybe rub.

I'm not happy with fleece for F. His coat wove into a wool numnah and caused it to go lumpy.



I didn't ride long or fast enough to find out. F does get sweaty under the Dever.



It is very soft. See above about my worries about creasing.

On Friday I'll try the Wintec Miracle Girth.

To be continued......
Click to expand...
Interesting you say that, I also found it a bit wibbly, but at the time put it down to Spudward having put on a bit of tub. But now that I think about it, there’s been no wobbling with the other girths.
 
Same shape, I've had a lot of success with the Arma Anti Chaffe girth. Nice low profile and it doesn't seem to curl up or bulge like some of this design tend to do. It's soft and doesn't rub. It's standing up to quite a bit of use so far and the quality is very good for the price. I have a lovely leather girth in the same shape, soft leather, beautifully made, but both horses I've used it on object. Too bulky. They both go nicely in the Arma.
 
When we started having girth issues I was like at the RS we’ve 40 ponies in a big standard cottage craft job and they’re all fine 🤦‍♀️
 
Second girth today. The Wintec " Miracle ".
I'm hoping for one anyway!

Firstly I don't like the look of it. I find it alien, all fat , squidgy and inflated. I couldn't decide if it was straight or very slightly ' anatomic '. There is no elastic.
F didn't object to be girthed up. His strides seemed longer than with the Memory Foam girth. His trot was better too and there was less of his usual imitation of a banana shape. He walked out much better on the way home too. I felt a bit wobbly at first but not by the end of the ride. There were very faint scurf marks where the shaping would be on a proper anatomic girth. We went up and down some slopes not steep but the saddle didn't slip.
I have other concerns too. There is stitching lengthwise down the centre. I think this holds the stiffer inner in place. Will the stitching encourage a fold and make the pressure narrower and more concentrated? Because it us so fat when hung up like as an upside down ' U ' will it create crosswise creases? Will it crease crosswise with use?

My friend said 'It'll be ****'s Law. You hate it. F will like it best '.

For Sunday's fun ride a dilemma. Do I try the Miracle again or use the as yet untested Prolite?

I forgot to mention on Wednesday that the Memory Foam also had 2 scurf marks. They were more visible than those on the Miracle. The saddle didn't slip.
 
I've had two cobs who both had forward girth grooves, I found leather or sheepskin lined girth were the only ones that didn't seem to rub them. J has an Affinity F2 after after recommendation on here a few years ago and it works really well for him. Sheepskin isn't the best option now as we go on the beach a lot and it's a pain the get the sand out of it.
 
ester said:
the miracle girths do have elastic but its sort of inside and quite strong. (I do quite a lot of combing of sheepskin 🤣)

not sure about using the prolite for the first time on a fun ride.
Click to expand...

I didn't realise the Miracle was elastic I've looked at the website. It says it has an advanced elastic design. Have you used one?

That's the dilemma. I have the 2 girths to try and don't have too much time with them. I will probably use the Miracle on Sunday, try the Prolite next week and if it's OK use it on the fun ride next Sunday. 🤞🤞🤞 for good weather.
 
ester said:
Having had elbow issues…

Mums mare slipping forwards issues + elbows (poor conformation) was better in an ideal f2 affinity

Franks didn’t slip forwards (Welsh shoulders) but forwards groove and very prone to long thin elbow rubs, didn’t seem to cope with leather for him Harry dabbs waffle option worked best (but the binding does split) nowadays I would try the pro choice anatomical version on him (had the straight version and that worked well from a rub point of view but I think the anatomical would be better (current share has one)
Click to expand...

I've looked at the Affinity f2 and the Pro Choice VenTech Contoured Jump Girth ( fancy name for anatomical I think ).
I like the look of the Pro Choice. The f2 looks as if the bulge part would be too wide for F. He is narrow at the front of his ribcage.
thanks
 
Wintec Miracle girth report after the fun ride.
A couple of pretty steep ups and downs on this ride. The saddle did slip forward slightly but the girth didn't move.
When untacked F had edge lines in his coat where the hair had been pushed apart. The girth was scurfy in the places as on Friday. The fat edges must somehow roll against the skin or hit the back of his elbows because they also had scurf marks.
F is very wrinkly there. He was sweaty under it considering the work he'd done and the temperature.
There were also 2 or 3 crosswise folds roughly near the centre. It seems to me that when folded horse shaped the inner should be smaller than the outer. This would mean it would always be U shaped but there wouldn't be any creases.
I can't say that I felt F objected to this girth but I somehow I just can't bring myself to like it.
 
Meredith said:
I've looked at the Affinity f2 and the Pro Choice VenTech Contoured Jump Girth ( fancy name for anatomical I think ).
I like the look of the Pro Choice. The f2 looks as if the bulge part would be too wide for F. He is narrow at the front of his ribcage.
thanks
Click to expand...
mums mare was very narrow shouldered but I don’t really have any great photos of her wearing it.

Can do pics/measurements of the pro choice on wed if that helps? The elastic on it is firmer than the standard straight versions at I do feel it makes the whole set up feel quite secure.
 
ester said:
mums mare was very narrow shouldered but I don’t really have any great photos of her wearing it.

Can do pics/measurements of the pro choice on wed if that helps? The elastic on it is firmer than the standard straight versions at I do feel it makes the whole set up feel quite secure.
Click to expand...

Oh, yes please to measurements. That's very kind of you.
I 'think' my saddler believes the Prolite narrow would be best. I'm not sure she knows about the PC contoured. I'm to update her when I've ridden in all 3 so will ask her about it then.
 
I've used the Prolite about 3 times. It didn't move and F didn't object to it. I think it 's the best of the 3 but possibly a little wide for F. When I washed it after the first ride, carefully and only the centre, it took ages to dry. It seemed to hold the water. After the other rides I've wiped only it but am concerned about the drying time and sweat being left in it. If I rode on consecutive days I'd probably need 2. Expensive at nearly £100 each.
 
Meredith said:
I've used the Prolite about 3 times. It didn't move and F didn't object to it. I think it 's the best of the 3 but possibly a little wide for F. When I washed it after the first ride, carefully and only the centre, it took ages to dry. It seemed to hold the water. After the other rides I've wiped only it but am concerned about the drying time and sweat being left in it. If I rode on consecutive days I'd probably need 2. Expensive at nearly £100 each.
Click to expand...
Yeah I’ve found this, I recently got a prolite the saddler recommended, my horse hates it! She has become really girthy doing it up, so gone back to her original girth and the girthiness was instantly better! But I also found it holds sweat and water…so that’s £90 down the drain 🙄
 
Bobthecob15 said:
Yeah I’ve found this, I recently got a prolite the saddler recommended, my horse hates it! She has become really girthy doing it up, so gone back to her original girth and the girthiness was instantly better! But I also found it holds sweat and water…so that’s £90 down the drain 🙄
Click to expand...

I couldn't ' like ' your post as you've confirmed my worries.
A random thought. Did I dream or read that the prolite goes hard?
 
Exactly the same with my horse who's very picky with girths! He liked the prolite for about 4 weeks then suddenly hated it - can't manage to sell it either
 
Meredith said:
@ester and I have compared the Professionals Choice contoured and the Prolite long standard width. The P C has elastic and is generally wider including the ' bulge '. I like the removable liner idea.
Click to expand...
Yes I’ve got the professional choice ventech girth and mine is infinitely better with this one! I’ve gone back to it as she seemingly hates the prolite!

She actually came to us with a horrible hard prolite girth when we bought her with her ill fitting saddle, changed the saddle and went to the ventech girth and she was a lot better, very little girthy behaviour. New saddle fitter suggested the prolite due to the shape etc but she really doesn’t like it! This one is softer than the one she came with a few years ago but it is getting harder than when we first got it.

And yes you see loads for sale on eBay, Vinted etc…i wonder why?! 🥴
 
@Bobthecob15 I use a Stubben cord girth for hacking but needed something else because F's saddle slipped on steep downhills on fun rides. I used the straight Dever girth with removable neoprene then. It's the same as the straight Ventech. The edges behind F's elbows folded over. I thought it would rub hence my investigations on the saddler-suggested girths.
 
It’s interesting that you’ve had issues with the dever folding back but not the Stubben bunching up (that was my issue with it)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top