Humane girths?

I use Humane girths & love them. I only bought one as when I had a saddle made for my haflinger the saddler recommended I use them as they don't mark the saddle. :D
 
I've got one and love it. I like the small adjustments it lets me make, it's a heck of a lot quicker if you just need to make a quick adjustment, and my horse seems happy in it.

There are safety drawbacks, though - if it breaks, or if the horse moves while you're tightening it, you effectively have no girth, so you just need to use a bit of common sense with them.
 
i would never use one my mum fell off on the road using one. from what i can remember one of the attachments broke one side so she effectively had no girth, horse spooked saddle slipped and she fell off. i dont like how if something goes wrong you have nothing left, if i have a normal girth and something breaks, horse spooks while im tightening the girth i still have something.
 
As above re safety issues. I know of someone who had a terrible accident trying to tighten hers, horse spooked and saddle came off. Personally, I wouldn't use one.
 
I used to always use one, and I never had any problems using them. We use them at work when we get the point to point horses who have just finished racing and just being introduced to 'Normal' Work. They seem to like them because you can tighten them very slowly and easily and we've had a few ex point to pointers who I guess are used to having their girths done up tight soon as the saddle goes on, so just makes them seem happier having their girths done up.
 
I use them. My current horse has been used to having the saddle dumped on her back and the girth done up too tight, to soon. The humane girth allows me to adjust it in very small steps. This means that the mare no longer feels the need to bite when she is being tacked up.
As to the safety aspect; I always check my tack before using it, so would notice if the stitching was faulty.
 
I use them, I find they are great for babies to have the girth done up gently. You just have to male sure check for wear and tear frequently.
 
i used them with great success on a girthy horse who settled much better being girthed in one of these due to the gradual tightening it allowed.

I have since started using a flexi girth instead due to needing something more robust x-country - for the safety reasons mentioned above.
 
I don't like them - give me a wide padded Atherstone every time! You do need strong elastic at BOTH ends though - it's the style of girth I use when I'm out fitting, and it does correct some saddle stability issues. I've probably only met one or two horses/ponies that really didn't get on with our girth design.

The humane girth tends to be narrow, has little grip against the horse's ribcage, has no elastic (and bear in mind that elastic contracts to keep the saddle and girth against the horse as its ribcage contracts, so there is no moment of "slack", it's not all about the stretch) and concentrates a lot of pressure on that big D ring.

It does indeed also have safety concerns - it is rare for a billet to break, but it can happen, and if a horse does spook as you're adjusting the girth, you have nothing to keep the saddle secure.
 
Really don't like then.

If you drop a buckle whilst adjusting, you're screwed.
They're generally narrow and unpadded.
And they're far too easy to massively over tighten.

I'd always go for an overlay girth (padded leather type girth) with elastic both ends.
 
Kallibear said:
Really don't like then.

If you drop a buckle whilst adjusting, you're screwed.
They're generally narrow and unpadded.
And they're far too easy to massively over tighten.

I'd always go for an overlay girth (padded leather type girth) with elastic both ends.
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This.

I think the most important thing for horse comfort is the surface area (the bigger the surface the less pressure) and shape of the girth.
 
My local Pony Club has banned them because they are dangerous, if one strap fails the girth is useless and the saddle will slip. We don't have just one strap is because a back up one is a good idea and the humane girth negates this.
 
I know there may be a variety of humane girths out there, but here's my experience, for what it's worth. I bought a known brand humane girth, made of neoprene. Being the cynical cow I am I gave it a good diagonal yank before using, and the neoprene split!

I also have concerns as some horses are allergic to neoprene so it's worth being cautious in selecting the girth. Vet tells me TBs are, in his experience, more prone to neoprene allergy. I use a proper sheepskin sleeve on the sensitive horse, and my girths are leather with buckles both ends.
 
You have to watch they don't pinch as well. They used to have them where I rode, and one of the ponies was a devil to girth. Turned out the humane girth was pinching him - swapped it for a traditional one and he improved massively.

They are good for tubby horses and those that massively inflate themselves as you can get one side done up then draw it up slowly.
 
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