Reviews of Wow Free Space girth?

[soloequestrian]

Not finding this. Nor do I think it is longer than my original long girth. Is yours too long? I think measures true allowing for the middle insert.

I don’t think sleeve is meant to be full length. Nor do I think it matters where it sits.

It's not too long - it sits in exactly the holes that my Fairfax did. It's got to be longer overall though because the sternum plate makes the circumference of the whole horse bigger hence the girth has to be longer.
The sleeves are meant to keep the straps from meeting as others have said. If they just slide until they hit the sternum plate they can't do that because the point they tend to meet is much higher up.

 

[ycbm]

Is this a new problem? Or has this been an issue from the start?

I don't really understand the point of the question?
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[ycbm]

Interested to hear views.
There is more strap as part of girth on long girth.

on short girth the girth as part of girth is much shorter.

Short one has buckle guards as buckle on skin.

long girth has the sleeve to keep long expanse of strap together, facing right way and not twisting or rubbing.

But the girth straps are also two thin straps, on WOW monoflaps at least, so when they are buckled together, the two thin straps are the same length whether the girth is short or long, the only difference being where the buckle is, and the pinching issue is identical, as I can clearly feel on my horse!
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[Fieldlife]

I don't really understand the point of the question?
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I’m asking if the girth strap has always left marks on Ludo? Or if this a new thing? It doesn’t seem an unreasonable question?

 

[ycbm]

I’m asking if the girth strap has always left marks on Ludo? Or if this a new thing? It doesn’t seem an unreasonable question?

Why would it be a new thing? Neither he nor the girth have changed, so I assume that although I've only recently felt it by accident, because i was getting touchy feely one day washing him off with a hose, it's always happened
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[SheriffTruman]

Do I need a new girth? No.

Do I want a new girth?…

This is exactly how I feel. Why in the name of the lord on a horse are you all so unequivocally enthousiastic about this amazingly expensive object that I now want, because my horse deserves the best girth he can get.

But how on earth can I justify this amount for a girth?

The dilemma.

 

[Red-1]

This is exactly how I feel. Why in the name of the lord on a horse are you all so unequivocally enthousiastic about this amazingly expensive object that I now want, because my horse deserves the best girth he can get.

But how on earth can I justify this amount for a girth?

The dilemma.

I haven't been unequivocally enthusiastic. Horse is going well but he has been improving all the time anyway. I would prefer leather. I think I would prefer a narrower centre (although they have offered to swap as they now offer this). I find it tricky to know how tight it has to be. I swapped him back to his highly soft and padded leather girth and didn't really see a difference.

 

[ycbm]

This is exactly how I feel. Why in the name of the lord on a horse are you all so unequivocally enthousiastic about this amazingly expensive object that I now want, because my horse deserves the best girth he can get.

But how on earth can I justify this amount for a girth?

The dilemma.

I think the price is outrageous for plastic, even though i prefer plastic.

I think the short ones need the anti pinch pads, because the straps pinch my horse. (I've bought some cheap neoprene covers).

I think using elastic bands to close the buckles when buckles are available with internal springs is pretty pathetic.

But there's absolutely no doubt what Ludo would choose, sorry!
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[Identityincrisis]

How do we judge if they need the narrow pad?

 

[Red-1]

How do we judge if they need the narrow pad?

No idea, the narrow ones don't seem to be advertised. They were mentioned in an email. I think this is a new product that obviously is getting good results and will develop further.

 

[scats]

I haven't been unequivocally enthusiastic. Horse is going well but he has been improving all the time anyway. I would prefer leather. I think I would prefer a narrower centre (although they have offered to swap as they now offer this). I find it tricky to know how tight it has to be. I swapped him back to his highly soft and padded leather girth and didn't really see a difference.

Have to agree with this. I hate the way the sleeve slips, the buckles are cheaply put on and I haven’t seen any major difference in Millie’s way of going.
I am, however, impressed by how it doesn’t slip. To me, it’s absolutely not worth £250 though. I’d send it back but the non-slip quality is very useful to me with a round, no wither type.

 

[ycbm]

The buckles are put on in exactly the same way as WOW saddle girth straps are put on. They've done it deliberately for the ability to replace straps easily. I was very happy to be able to cut 4 sprung buckles off an old Harry Dabbs girth and replace the ones on this girth easily.
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[Pippity]

I didn't see a massive improvement with the WOW girth at first, but I did see a negative change when I put the string girth back on. She was more shuffly in the string girth and a lot spookier. In our lesson on Monday (first with new girth and regular instructor), she was a turbo-charged hooligan with the attention span of a butterfly on crack, but she was also softer in the contact and less inclined to lean on the bit. Was it the girth? Was it me riding vaguely competently for once? Was it because she's just at that stage in her hormonal cycle? It'll take more lessons before I can say one way or the other.

Even if it was the girth, I don't think it was enough change to warrant the price tag. However, as I now have the girth and she seems to like it, I'll keep it. (And finally get round to selling the two Prolites I bought her and she rejected.)

 

[Fieldlife]

The buckles are put on in exactly the same way as WOW saddle girth straps are put on. They've done it deliberately for the ability to replace straps easily. I was very happy to be able to cut 4 sprung buckles off an old Harry Dabbs girth and replace the ones on this girth easily.
.

So still same ugly attachment system for the Dabbs buckles, but you don’t have the elastic band closing, you have a sprung buckle?

 

[Fieldlife]

I think the price is outrageous for plastic, even though i prefer plastic.

I think the short ones need the anti pinch pads, because the straps pinch my horse. (I've bought some cheap neoprene covers).

I think using elastic bands to close the buckles when buckles are available with internal springs is pretty pathetic.

But there's absolutely no doubt what Ludo would choose, sorry!
.

what neoprene covers did you buy? Do you not think the long girth sleeve would help on short girth?
I’ve not seen a pinching issue on my horse, but I’ve not actively looked either.

 

[Fieldlife]

Why would it be a new thing? Neither he nor the girth have changed, so I assume that although I've only recently felt it by accident, because i was getting touchy feely one day washing him off with a hose, it's always happened
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your original post on the lines said, you can see lines where girth straps sit on Ludo which only go after he’s washed off.

On the basis you said lines you could see, me asking if this was new or had been there the 6 weeks or so you been there seemed reasonable.

I think you’ve now clarified you can feel the lines in his sides, snd only found them by touching him when washing him? So potentially lined have been there unnoticed all the time using girth?

And my horse might have them too and I should probably check after next
ride?

I wasn’t trying to ask a trick question.

 

[ycbm]

Well this is embarrassing! I checked the lines today and they are being caused by the WOW saddle, not by the WOW girth!

I don't know if the saddles have always done it but I can't quite believe I've missed it before for 15 years! So I would think it's a combination of the separate straps on the girth and the girth straps inside the saddle panel acting together. It can't be pinching because at that point the straps are mostly inside the flap, so it must be pressure.

I wrapped them in neoprene today and it was a lot less noticeable.
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[ycbm]

what neoprene covers did you buy? Do you not think the long girth sleeve would help on short girth?
I’ve not seen a pinching issue on my horse, but I’ve not actively looked either.

2 Busse martingale covers, cut in half to make 2 for each side.

 

[ycbm]

So still same ugly attachment system for the Dabbs buckles, but you don’t have the elastic band closing, you have a sprung buckle?

I don't consider the webbing loop attachment ugly, myself and I'm really pleased that I was able to change the buckles for sprung ones easily because of it.
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[Fieldlife]

Well this is embarrassing! I checked the lines today and they are being caused by the WOW saddle, not by the WOW girth!

I don't know if the saddles have always done it but I can't quite belive I've missed it before for 15 years! So I would think it's a combination of the separate straps on the girth and the girth straps inside the saddle panel acting together. It can't be pinching because at that point the straps are mostly inside the flap, so it must be pressure.

I wrapped them in neoprene today and it was a lot less noticeable.
.

Yes i took pictures today. The girth straps as part of the girth are slightly away from his sides and not a pressure point. Those straps attached to saddle are more of a pressure point.

Are you / will you move the neoprene covers to your saddle girth straps?

 

[Fieldlife]

Well this is embarrassing! I checked the lines today and they are being caused by the WOW saddle, not by the WOW girth!

I don't know if the saddles have always done it but I can't quite belive I've missed it before for 15 years! So I would think it's a combination of the separate straps on the girth and the girth straps inside the saddle panel acting together. It can't be pinching because at that point the straps are mostly inside the flap, so it must be pressure.

I wrapped them in neoprene today and it was a lot less noticeable.
.

 

[ycbm]

Yes i took pictures today. The girth straps as part of the girth are slightly away from his sides and not a pressure point. Those straps attached to saddle are more of a pressure point.

Are you / will you move the neoprene covers to your saddle girth straps?View attachment 97898View attachment 97899View attachment 97900View attachment 97901

You have your girth much shorter than I do, my girth comes right up to the bottom of the flaps, as recommended by biomechanics experts.
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[Fieldlife]

You have your girth much shorter than I do, my girth comes right up to the bottom of the flaps, as recommended by biomechanics experts.
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That is something I’m aware of.

Agree, I’m a bit confused as to why it’s occurring. It didn’t with the mattes Athletico girth of same size and on same holes. Which is probably why I’d not spotted it.

It looks like the design of the wow means I need 2 inches longer? I’m a hole off the top girth strap hole with the WOW. Though could make more. I’ve already added 2 girth strap holes!!

 

[Fieldlife]

That is something I’m aware of.

Agree, I’m a bit confused as to why it’s occurring. It didn’t with the mattes Athletico girth of same size and on same holes. Which is probably why I’d not spotted it.

It looks like the design of the wow means I need 2 inches longer? I’m a hole off the top girth strap hole with the WOW. Though could make more. I’ve already added 2 girth strap holes!!

I think my horse might be fatter too than a month ago. At least the girth is modular! And girth straps only £23.70! I’ve ordered 32 and 34 to try so can experiment. We might need fatter and thinner girth straps year round. Or maybe he’s filling out.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Lottie is more rideable over jumps too. Had a lesson at Somerford yesterday and the instructor says she was so much more rhythmic and relaxed. She felt great. The 5%+ dressage test improvement has been maintained - she scored her first 7.5 in a test with a judge who was generally marking incredibly harshly! Many test scores were high 30’s and 40’s with only one in the 20’s and the person waiting for her sheet next to ne said her test was a 36 when last time it had been a 26!
So that was not a gifted 7.5. Lottie is quite simply a different horse. BUT I knew she wasn’t comfortable in the first place which is why I tried this. I had a problem to solve. It’s made so much difference that I feel guilty for not really realising how uncomfortable she must have been in the first place .

 

[scats]

The slipping girth sleeve is annoying me and I’ve heard nothing back from WOW.
Has anyone just taken theirs off?

 

[soloequestrian]

The slipping girth sleeve is annoying me and I’ve heard nothing back from WOW.
Has anyone just taken theirs off?

Having the same issue despite trying the sleeve in every position and sliding it back up whenever I tighten the girth. I had a message from Wow a good week ago to say they were going to test 'an idea' but haven't heard anything since then. I wrote back and said that a much longer girth sleeve would work well - the sleeve could go from the sternum pad right up to the buckles which would also make the girth look more normal. Might have to make one myself at this rate.

 

[Red-1]

I can report that the Wow was ace in the sea, washed straight off and dried like new!

Photos courtesy of Victoria Adams Photography.

 

[Petmurf]

I think my horse might be fatter too than a month ago. At least the girth is modular! And girth straps only £23.70! I’ve ordered 32 and 34 to try so can experiment. We might need fatter and thinner girth straps year round. Or maybe he’s filling out.

Where did you get the additional girth straps from as I can’t find them anywhere?

 

[Pippity]

Where did you get the additional girth straps from as I can’t find them anywhere?

https://firstthought.1.ekm.shop/freespace-girth-strap-1526-p.asp