Prolite Girths

S

Stenners

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 July 2014
Messages
1,252
Visit site
Yes or No? Are they love or hate?

I've just had a new saddle fitted and been told to use a Prolite Girth - I never liked them before and read that they can hold sweat and smell but I'll make sure that I wash it regularly/after each use! anyone else use one?
 
I brought one for my retired lad Baggs and adored that it was anatomical and therefore should be more comfortable etc for him - he however detested it with a passion and was much happier in his cheap girth that I scored in the local tack shop sale - I cried when selling my Prolite girth 🤣

My old riding instructor swears by them for all her horses and has the short and long versions - she did say they can get a bit smelly in the warmer months and they aren't the best for breathability - but overall she recommends them and has quite a few so is often lending one out for someone to trial :) x
 
I had both the long and short versions for my last pony. Was a sensitive soul, so he was more comfortable with nuumed liners. Helped stop the saddle from moving forwards.
I prefer the le mieux gel tek anatomic girth, is leather so found it helped more with the smell issue in summer (when not using the liner). Will be buying another gel tek for new pony though, I think it is easier to maintain without causing rubbing.
 
Smooshy said:
I had both the long and short versions for my last pony. Was a sensitive soul, so he was more comfortable with nuumed liners. Helped stop the saddle from moving forwards.
I prefer the le mieux gel tek anatomic girth, is leather so found it helped more with the smell issue in summer (when not using the liner). Will be buying another gel tek for new pony though, I think it is easier to maintain without causing rubbing.
Click to expand...
I have the Le Mieux girth and that's what my saddle fitter told me not to use as has elastic both sides which no good for him or his saddle apparantly! It's a lovely girth though! Ooh did you have a liner/girth sleeve for your long girth? Do Nuumed do these?
 
I have one for sale …

Only selling as I don’t do short girths anymore. Really nice shape and easy enough to wipe down / keep clean. I did have to put vet wrap round it on my sensitive tb
 
Stenners said:
I have the Le Mieux girth and that's what my saddle fitter told me not to use as has elastic both sides which no good for him or his saddle apparantly! It's a lovely girth though! Ooh did you have a liner/girth sleeve for your long girth? Do Nuumed do these?
Click to expand...
I have the nuumed fairfax liners on both the long and short girths. They don't fit exactly, as a slightly different shaped girth to fairfax. So a little excess around elbows, a little overlap at the centre. Nuumed does do bespoke to pattern, just a little more money.
 
I have two, I have also had the Fairfax versions as well. I find them good to stop slipping and the ponies seem to like then, they feel odd to us but have never had a rub yet even after hours of riding 🙂 mine have never smelled, but I do tend to wipe them after every ride.
 
I have had a couple & Dave appeared to like them. Saddle didn't move & no issues with smell or rubs.
I only sold them as the short string girth was a complete hit.
 
My horse hated the Prolite, even if it was a very good fit. Probably because the material became rock hard in a few months time. And I took moderately good care of it. Loads of them for sale second hand over here.

I bought the LeMieux Gel-Tek, which is the same shape but infinitely more soft. Much, much better.
 
Have one for my TB. Don’t find it hard and prefer it to the expensive Fairfax which is quite old so may not be as nice as newer ones.
 
Last edited:
I liked them for my Sec D but for some reason if I didn't wash it off thoroughly after every use his sweat would turn it really hard. This meant I needed two since putting a damp girth on was a huge no, however dry and cleanit was a breakthrough as it was the first one he wasn't at all girthy with. In the end I gave up and bought a Fairfax!
 
SheriffTruman said:
My horse hated the Prolite, even if it was a very good fit. Probably because the material became rock hard in a few months time. And I took moderately good care of it. Loads of them for sale second hand over here.

I bought the LeMieux Gel-Tek, which is the same shape but infinitely more soft. Much, much better.
Click to expand...
Yes, friend got the LeMieux and it was lovely!
 
SheriffTruman said:
My horse hated the Prolite, even if it was a very good fit. Probably because the material became rock hard in a few months time. And I took moderately good care of it. Loads of them for sale second hand over here.
Click to expand...
Probably because they've gone rock hard! First one I had 2nd hand came like that, so I went and looked at some new ones in person to see if they were supposed to be so stiff!
Pony didn't like it anyway, even when trying a different 2nd hand one that wasn't stiffened up.
Ended up going with the Shires Velociti Lusso girth instead.
 
lemieux gel tek is far superior-softer, nice leather, stays soft

prolite are horrible, hard, rough edges, go a weird dirty grey colour even when looked after
 
Yup, I bought one brand new - horse hated it with a passion. Tried it on a friend’s horse, he also hated it! It did feel hard despite being brand new. Another friend has a fairfax version which is nicer. I’m now in a wow leather girth which is beautifully soft. We are in a short girth. For the long girth we used the string ones.
 
Bought one brand new, horrible thing, my boy hated it, made him girthy and sore. Tried it on my other boy and they were just the same. Went back to an Elico memory foam and a shires Arma and they are brilliant.
 
I didn't have a good experience. It held an enormous amount of dirt and was always hard despite being rinsed off after every use. I put it in the bath and sprayed it with warm water and I think it took a good 5 mins before the water started to run clear. Then I added soap and spent another 5 mins washing even more filth out of it. Hair got caught in the edges too.

My horse didn't seem to mind it, but I didn't really use that saddle very often (dressage). I use a Shires Atherstone leather girth which is the opposite of that bulky thing and never had any issues with dirt, flexibility or comfort.
 
Stenners said:
I have the Le Mieux girth and that's what my saddle fitter told me not to use as has elastic both sides which no good for him or his saddle apparantly! It's a lovely girth though! Ooh did you have a liner/girth sleeve for your long girth? Do Nuumed do these?
Click to expand...
My old (retired) saddler was very happy to give his opinion on everything (even non saddlery issues :rolleyes:) and while he hated girths that only had elastic at one end because they'd twist the saddle and therefore the horse's back, he was very happy with girths that either had elastic at both ends or were elasticated along the length. He recommended the Professional Choice to me. I bought the Old Mill saddlery version for 1/3 of the price and he said he couldn't see a difference other than the colour of the elastic. I really like how it has the removable section for easy washing, it just velcros on and off, much easier that a girth sleeve.
 
Our cob loves his. He was very girthy when he arrived. Scoped all clear, changed saddle and swapped to Prolite and he’s so much more comfortable and moves much better. I don’t notice any smell. He’s ridden 4-5 times a week in light to medium work. I clean it after most rides and it still looks great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top