Reviews of Wow Free Space girth?

OK, I cable tied the straps to the loops that it runs through and that worked great. I freely admit that I am doing this because I'm too impatient to fiddle to get it right and it won't work for anyone who needs to change what holes the girth is on too frequently, but it's a good solution for me.
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Cable ties are working great :)

Out on a ride with a fellow HHOer yesterday and I was squeezing the top of his neck immediately in front of his wither yesterday, saying that was where i had noticed a change, and realised just how much thicker it is than it was before I started using this girth. I wish I'd been photographing and measuring!
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Has anyone used this with a horse that is very particular about independent girth straps on their sides (using the long version)? Mine is happy with his cheap fuzzy nylon girth that has stretchy elastic where the girth buckles are but HATES the roller that has 2 nylon buckles that does up further down his sides and absolutely hated a bareback pad that has 1 nylon strap on either side. Both the roller and bareback pad girth also is a bit rubbery so not sure if it is the girth straps on his side or the fact that he hates the rubbery girth bit or both that really really irks him. He will put up with it for about 20 mins before he just stops, bends around, and grabs at the girth straps at his sides. If you don't get off and take it off of him, he has a tendency to then throw a major temper tantrum.
 
Finally got bigger girth straps from Wow and rode in new girth today, noticed that he was more forward, usually he’s like a snail on hacks, he also seemed and felt more relaxed throughout. Will see how he is tomorrow and will do some schooling later this week and test it out in the arena.
 
I have been following this thread with intereest. Wondering if I should ask for one for Christmas :)

I saw this clip and saw how much sliding over the first jump jump pushed the studguard back! Would the outcome have been different if wearing a bulky girth like the WOW?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/760232621870366

RoxyinGermany took a screenshot here

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10166778039175471&set=p.10166778039175471&type=3


ETA this isn't going to put me off buying one - If I were ever to jump anywhere approaching that height, the girth would be the least of my worries!
 
2 months in use now. No signs of wear at all. No reduction in the effects of the lengthened stride and more engaged back and lower head carriage.

Absolutely unmistakeable increase in thickness of top of the forward half of the trapezius, which sits immediately in front of the wither at the base of the neck. Also unmistakable reduction in the size of the gaps, as his sides have filled out to take up the space.

We did a jumping lesson today, saddle never shifted even when there were hairy inexperienced moments.
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I’ve only ridden in mine twice so far, but I like what I’m feeling. Steadier in the contact, straighter leg yields (previously tended to lead with shoulder) more able to ride from leg to hand, and far less tension when working on canter transitions.

It’s certainly not a miracle cure-all but it definitely feels like another bit of the puzzle. A bit like having the “game” set on easy mode! If improvements stay, might have to invest in a second one for the jump saddle ?

although I wonder if it’s possible just to buy longer straps and use the same pad and swap as needed? Assume it would work out a fair bit cheaper that way!
 
iknowmyvalue said:
although I wonder if it’s possible just to buy longer straps and use the same pad and swap as needed? Assume it would work out a fair bit cheaper that way!
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They actually recommend this, it's part of the design. Just a bit of a fiddle to get 2 buckles off and put them on again.
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Petmurf said:
Just came in to say that they do sell long straps as I’ve just bought some ?
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Muppet here must have just read the item description which only mentions the short ones, but when you go to buy there are long ones there ?

Got some ordered now, that’s much less painful on the wallet than ordering a second girth! Next challenge is to work out the best way to get them on/off so it’s not too much of a pain between phases at events…
 
I talked to WOW at Burghley about this girth for the Spanish Potato and they recommended staying with the H-Girth for her body shape. Which is giant barrel and extremely forward girth groove (saddles end up half way up her neck). They said it had been mainly designed for narrow TB types.
 
shortstuff99 said:
I talked to WOW at Burghley about this girth for the Spanish Potato and they recommended staying with the H-Girth for her body shape. Which is giant barrel and extremely forward girth groove (saddles end up half way up her neck). They said it had been mainly designed for narrow TB types.
Click to expand...

This is possibly why I’m not seeing the positive differences other people are.
 
shortstuff99 said:
I talked to WOW at Burghley about this girth for the Spanish Potato and they recommended staying with the H-Girth for her body shape. Which is giant barrel and extremely forward girth groove (saddles end up half way up her neck). They said it had been mainly designed for narrow TB types.
Click to expand...
I have a narrow tb and ima pretend I didn’t see this cuz I don’t have the budget ?
 
shortstuff99 said:
I talked to WOW at Burghley about this girth for the Spanish Potato and they recommended staying with the H-Girth for her body shape. Which is giant barrel and extremely forward girth groove (saddles end up half way up her neck). They said it had been mainly designed for narrow TB types.
Click to expand...
scats said:
This is possibly why I’m not seeing the positive differences other people are.
Click to expand...


Same advice as I gave up thread about round shape horses ?

Basically, if you can't feel pressure differences at various spots as you run your hand underneath your normal girth, then it would be wise to borrow a trial of this girth, not just buy it.
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I come to the conclusion whilst the free space does reduce pressure it isn’t ideal for a horse with a forward girth groove. As it’s in a straight line. It pulls forward into the girth groove.

My horse has a visibly longer stride in a crescent / curved / banana girth.
 
Fieldlife said:
I come to the conclusion whilst the free space does reduce pressure it isn’t ideal for a horse with a forward girth groove. As it’s in a straight line. It pulls forward into the girth groove.

My horse has a visibly longer stride in a crescent / curved / banana girth.
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Yes this is why they told me to stay with the H-girth, which to be fair has been a brilliant girth for me.
 
Having had a hovering finger for months, I just ordered one.
TB with a history of ulcers. Goes ok in a normal girth, but I feel like there should be more....if you know what I mean. So I'm hopeful. Also I do feel varying tightness down his sides when he is girthed up.
If it doesn't make a difference, I'll sell it on.
He did not like prolite girths.
I'm excited to see.
 
iknowmyvalue said:
I’ve only ridden in mine twice so far, but I like what I’m feeling. Steadier in the contact, straighter leg yields (previously tended to lead with shoulder) more able to ride from leg to hand, and far less tension when working on canter transitions.

It’s certainly not a miracle cure-all but it definitely feels like another bit of the puzzle. A bit like having the “game” set on easy mode! If improvements stay, might have to invest in a second one for the jump saddle ?

although I wonder if it’s possible just to buy longer straps and use the same pad and swap as needed? Assume it would work out a fair bit cheaper that way!
Click to expand...

…..or you could just buy some girth extender straps ( be careful when you Google!!!), to convert your jump saddle to long straps?
 
I love the idea of this girth and it seems to work- but just wondering if anyone has used it on a sensitive horse? Mine requires sheepskin everything all year round and I’m not sure if there is a cover that would fit on the girth
 
heinz_horse said:
I love the idea of this girth and it seems to work- but just wondering if anyone has used it on a sensitive horse? Mine requires sheepskin everything all year round and I’m not sure if there is a cover that would fit on the girth
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That would depend on why your horse needs a sheepskin. Is it because of skin irritation, or because the horse behaves better with a sheepskin on?

Because if it's not skin irritation, then the behaviour might be changed by the spaces on the girth removing a problem for the horse.
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ycbm said:
That would depend on why your horse needs a sheepskin. Is it because of skin irritation, or because the horse behaves better with a sheepskin on?

Because if it's not skin irritation, then the behaviour might be changed by the spaces on the girth removing a problem for the horse.
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Good point- it is a skin irritation issue
Having said this, the only area in which he gets the rubs is where his current (prolite short ) girth ‘ends’ as such, which may not be an issue with this
 
heinz_horse said:
Good point- it is a skin irritation issue
Having said this, the only area in which he gets the rubs is where his current (prolite short ) girth ‘ends’ as such, which may not be an issue with this
Click to expand...

I'd say that's girth structure and not skin irritation if it's only in one/two spots. The Prolite girth gets recommended everywhere but there are plenty of horses it doesn't work for, including rubbing.
 
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