Recommend me a non-elastic girth please!

[Spottyappy]

Looking for a nice quality, non elastic end girth. Standard GP not dressage or stud.
I have a stubben string one but my mare isn’t overly enthusiastic about it.
I dislike the synthetic plastic types, and would rather avoid leather.
We both love Merino wool, or thick padded neoprene but I can’t find either without elastic.
Any help and recommendations appreciated.
TIA.

 

[Mary jones]

Why don’t you like elastic?

 

[Spottyappy]

Why don’t you like elastic?

Because you can over tighten, but also they Can make the saddle Slip.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think you will struggle to find one in that material without elastic, I just use the leather atherstone non elastic girths there shaped nicely and padded and easy to clean.

You could put a merino sleeve on anything you buy really if that's what you want against the skin.

 

[milliepops]

i had professionals choice neoprene girths which do have elastic but because of the non-slip element of the neoprene I found you really don't need to over tighten at all.
Anyway, I second the suggestion for leather with a sheepy cover if you want, otherwise if prolite suits then they make a long girth which is not elasticated.

 

[Green Bean]

I have Prolite GP and dressage girths. I had elastic girths, but was recommended to change to non-elastic by my master saddler as my GP saddle was slightly slipping when ridden. Prolite are my go to make as they do allow more freedom of movement for your horse. (doesn't stop the grumpy face when I girth up but nothing will!! - before anyone says it, yes she has been scoped for ulcers, there are none!)

 

[Spottyappy]

Thanks, Green bean will look at pro lite.
and, thanks for the sleeve suggestions to the others.
I haVE a lovely Kieffer wide padded neoprene girth but they don’t need to make them any more, and I need a smaller size than the one I have.

 

[Dyllymoo]

I use prolite now with J's saddle and really like them. I have used Professionals Choice for my jump saddle with my mare and loved it as although elastic as MP said, you don't find yourself overtightening as they have a no slip grip thing.

 

[sbloom]

Because you can over tighten, but also they Can make the saddle Slip.

Or quite the reverse, just to be awkward, the way I fit saddles they work much better with good, strong elastic at both ends on the whole, though the Stubben girth is also brilliant, because of the way it's made it has some give but great grip. And overtightening is possible with any girth, I see the worst damage to fat and fascia layers from non-elasticated girths because people crank them thinking they can't do any harm!

 

[claret09]

i still use a cottage craft girth and have done for years.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I use a Thorowgood non elastic girth with a girth cover.

 

[Reri1826]

Another cottage craft fabric girth fan here, I can do subtle matchy matchy to my plain green/burgundy/black saddlecloths and pick them up cheap cause they are out of fashion ?

 

[LegOn]

Or quite the reverse, just to be awkward, the way I fit saddles they work much better with good, strong elastic at both ends on the whole, though the Stubben girth is also brilliant, because of the way it's made it has some give but great grip. And overtightening is possible with any girth, I see the worst damage to fat and fascia layers from non-elasticated girths because people crank them thinking they can't do any harm!

I would totally agree with this!

I gave up on my Prolite girth due to showing judges cranking up my girth and my poor horse being sore from it! I got a lovely local saddlery that has a strong triple layered elastic both ends (I'd only seen double layered from some other brands) in an nice anatomical shape in leather & I havent looked back since.

 

[sbloom]

I would totally agree with this!

I gave up on my Prolite girth due to showing judges cranking up my girth and my poor horse being sore from it! I got a lovely local saddlery that has a strong triple layered elastic both ends (I'd only seen double layered from some other brands) in an nice anatomical shape in leather & I havent looked back since.

Doubled elastic can be great but you tend to only find the weaker ones in tack shops, if it's under £40 it's very unlikely to have strong enough elastic in my experience. Harry Dabbs waffle girths are a good option if you can't run to the lovely leather ones that we and many others make