Leather elastic girth..Both ends or just one?

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JJtheJetPlane

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I have recently had a new saddle and because the girth straps are rather stiff i feel a new girth is needed with elastic on both ends. ( my present girth has elastic on one end)After thinking about it logically i now feel that elastic on both ends of the girth are better than just one??
Reasons are..
Able to increase the girth evenly on both sides.
Not streching the girth straps more on one side than the other
Surely more comfortable for the horse
Any one agree with me ..or are there any reasons not to get one? And go for a girth with no elastic?
Not many places actually sell them with elastic both ends...Is there a reason for this? Which one should i buy? Thanks guys!
 
I prefer elastic both ends otherwise you tend to get uneven pressure and the ones I really prefer are the ones with elastic inserts further down the girth rather than at the buckles.
 
Without question I would have girths with elastic both sides as otherwise you are far more likely to have uneven pressure across the length of the girth which can cause the saddle to slip and potentially shift the weight balance (even ever so slightly) of the saddle which can affect the rider's position and also could cause girth galls. And for the same reason I always make sure when tightening the girth to do both sides evenly to the same height (or 1 hole out) on each side.
 
yes, definitely better if the girth is symmetrical.
i think the best ones are the ones with the elastic in the middle, over a thick padded leather sleeve (so not pinching or rubbing the horse).
girths with elastic on 1 end are definitely not that great.
 
Elastic t both ends or no elastic is better than elastic one end, which you choose depends on the horse an the saddle.

If the saddle has flair then no elastic. If the saddle needs to be girthed very wide for stability or you have a wide or low withered horse then no elastic. TB type horses can have elastic both ends.
 
i definitely prefer the ones with elastic on both ends, for the reasons above. i also think elastic on the girth is good as it adds a little more stretch around their tummies, without risking the girth becoming too slack.. so no dreaded saddle slips!! xx
 
i have seen a very nasty accident from a girth that had elastic both sides, the accident was caused as the girth had to much give in it. for that reason i would say one side but regularly switching which side the elastic is on
 
I don't know if it's just my saddle but the join between the elastic and the "main" part of the girth catches on the bottom of the saddle so that when I tighten the girth it just stretches the elastic and the actual girth stays on the loose side, so I gave up using them.
 
According to the saddler (Dave from The Saddle Company in Walsall) either no elastic at all or both sides. Creates even pressure. Professionals Choice are excellent, but expensive. Shires do one that is identical and very good but only goes up to I think a 52ins. My biffa Friesian needed a 58ins. Typical. They both have a pull away neoprene bit across the middle which you just peel off and swill under the tap.
 
I have that very girth (the Shires one) ^^ on my SC saddle and it's great - just enough "give" but not too much
smile.gif
 
Recently had saddle fitting and qualified master saddle fitter recommended I ditch my girth that has elastic on one end and by a girth with no elastic, elastic on both ends or a cair girth.
 
When I had my saddle converted to flair (quite a few years ago now) the saddler recommended using a leather girth with elastic at both ends. He said definitely not to use one with elastic at only 1 end.
 
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