JGC
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I meant that if I need to get new saddles because my current ones don't fit, then I won't have the budget to get the girth too straight away. If they just need reflocking, I'll be ordering the same day
Reviews of Wow Free Space girth?
- Thread starter soloequestrian
- Start date
Sorry, I meant that if I need to get new saddles because my current ones don't fit, then I won't have the budget to get the girth too straight away. If they just need reflocking, I'll be ordering the same day
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
Rides 2, 3 and 4
I had my second ride in a lesson with my very sceptical instructor, who is also my saddle fitter, she was suitably impressed. She agreed he was reaching forward more, looser in his elbows, his back was more engaged. His contact still lacks consistency but i think that is a strength issue.
Rides 3&4
I took him hacking, both days he has been very pingy! And quite spicy! But this isn't hugely unusual for him. He is definitely using his back more, especially going uphill. I have noticed he's been behind the contact but feel that's more to do with the extra spice ?
One thing I'm very confused about, and hoping someone can clarify, i know the back and front straps can be on different holes but what about the front straps do they have to be on equal holes? My saddle isn't secure unless I'm on 5 and 6, 5 and 5 i am unstable. If the sternum pad is central presumably 1 hole difference is ok??
I had my second ride in a lesson with my very sceptical instructor, who is also my saddle fitter, she was suitably impressed. She agreed he was reaching forward more, looser in his elbows, his back was more engaged. His contact still lacks consistency but i think that is a strength issue.
Rides 3&4
I took him hacking, both days he has been very pingy! And quite spicy! But this isn't hugely unusual for him. He is definitely using his back more, especially going uphill. I have noticed he's been behind the contact but feel that's more to do with the extra spice ?
One thing I'm very confused about, and hoping someone can clarify, i know the back and front straps can be on different holes but what about the front straps do they have to be on equal holes? My saddle isn't secure unless I'm on 5 and 6, 5 and 5 i am unstable. If the sternum pad is central presumably 1 hole difference is ok??
Fieldlife
Well-Known Member
Yes I think I’m on 8 and 9
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I'm on 10 and 11 or 10 and 10, depending on the saddle.
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Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
That's a relief! Thanks for the confirmation.
One thing the miracle girth hasn't solved is our attempts at flying changes, if anyone can offer me a miracle for that I'd be overjoyed!
One thing the miracle girth hasn't solved is our attempts at flying changes, if anyone can offer me a miracle for that I'd be overjoyed!
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Absolutely one hole difference left to right is fine otherwise your girth would be too tight or too loose.
scats
Well-Known Member
Mines arrived and I’ll be hacking out in it later. It’s the long girth for a normal GP saddle, any fitting tips?
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
It can be fiddly getting it central but hopefully this gets easier with practice. I am close to buying a second as my gp is short straps
scats
Well-Known Member
Am I meant to do anything with the elastic bands? They are horrid.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I changed the buckles to Harry Dabbs ones which are sprung properly. I used the elastic bands as keepers for long girth straps, which they do an excellent job of. .
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
They're not ideal, and as someone else mentioned, a very cheap solution for a very expensive girth!
Am i being cheap thinking i may buy 2 x longer straps and just interchange these on my current dressage version to make a gp version?
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
No, that's an excellent idea but taking the buckles off to thread the straps each time will be a wee bit of a pain. But much easier if you replace the buckles or use them without the elastic bands.
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Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
I'll practice taking them on and off, see how fiddly it is. I can live without spring buckles, I've managed for 35 years!
Pippity
Well-Known Member
I just removed them completely and have it with unsprung buckles. Far easier for me, because that's what I'm used to.
scats
Well-Known Member
I’m thinking Millie is the wrong shape for this girth?
Or is that right?
Or is that right?
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
scats
Well-Known Member
So I used it tonight to go on a short hack, mostly walk coz of the ground but did a bit of trot.
First impressions are that it was simple to fit. It seemed to just go into place easily. Wasn’t quite sure how it was meant to look to be honest but ycbm helped me out when I posted a photo (thank you!)
Easy to do up. I ordered the normal size and my pro choice girth goes on hole 3 on both sides, whereas this seemed more comfortable on hole 2 on both sides.
Did I see an amazing difference in Millie? Not really. She did march out today better than yesterday (she had felt a little bit stuffy in walk yesterday) but I can’t say for certain it was the girth. Could have been anything and I will have to use it over a period of time to really work out if there’s any difference. I didn’t notice any difference to her way of going in trot, albeit we only trotted around the edges of a couple of small fields.
Good points- I was impressed that it didn’t slip. I normally have to use the pro choice grippy one so I fully expected this to slip, but it did not budge once. It should be nice and easy to wipe clean.
Millie isn’t girthy anyway and she was fine with this one too.
I shall continue with it for the reasons above and I shall monitor our rides for any improvement, or otherwise.
First impressions are that it was simple to fit. It seemed to just go into place easily. Wasn’t quite sure how it was meant to look to be honest but ycbm helped me out when I posted a photo (thank you!)
Easy to do up. I ordered the normal size and my pro choice girth goes on hole 3 on both sides, whereas this seemed more comfortable on hole 2 on both sides.
Did I see an amazing difference in Millie? Not really. She did march out today better than yesterday (she had felt a little bit stuffy in walk yesterday) but I can’t say for certain it was the girth. Could have been anything and I will have to use it over a period of time to really work out if there’s any difference. I didn’t notice any difference to her way of going in trot, albeit we only trotted around the edges of a couple of small fields.
Good points- I was impressed that it didn’t slip. I normally have to use the pro choice grippy one so I fully expected this to slip, but it did not budge once. It should be nice and easy to wipe clean.
Millie isn’t girthy anyway and she was fine with this one too.
I shall continue with it for the reasons above and I shall monitor our rides for any improvement, or otherwise.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
Well, I have a couple of things to report...
Firstly, the trainers at camp were upset at the air gap at the sides and made me do it up quite tightly.
Secondly, on coming home, I have contacted the company about fit and they assured me that the air gap is correct. They were very helpful and said they now do a narrow version, and yes, I could swap to that if I was concerned. Top marks to the company!
Thirdly, we won at dressage again today! For the first time he was flowing forwards so I wasn't tempted to pull back to 'find' him.
Firstly, the trainers at camp were upset at the air gap at the sides and made me do it up quite tightly.
Secondly, on coming home, I have contacted the company about fit and they assured me that the air gap is correct. They were very helpful and said they now do a narrow version, and yes, I could swap to that if I was concerned. Top marks to the company!
Thirdly, we won at dressage again today! For the first time he was flowing forwards so I wasn't tempted to pull back to 'find' him.
Eventing2022
Well-Known Member
Has anyone jumped in one yet? My finger keeps hovering to buy but my brain can't get round how this can be stable enough to stop saddle movement....
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Yes I’ve done an ODE and competed at British Novice showjumping in mine. Doesn’t move at all.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Yes I've jumped some small things and he has also had a couple of strops refusing to step into a steam, and throwing us around. The saddles have never moved less.
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Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Red-1 the air gap is the whole point! Weird the instructors couldn’t see that. That’s what I love about it. And so does Lottie. Though its hard to know how tight to do the girth up.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I would have told them that they didn't understand the girth. The gap is the whole point!
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ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Take a look at the strops that hold the load on the back of any flatbed lorry carrying stuff down a motorway. The strops are almost never in contact with the load for their entire length, there are nearly always gaps, often big ones.
scats
Well-Known Member
Yes I have to admit that when I get on in the pro choice girth, despite the ‘grip’, the saddle tends to slip slightly.
This did not budge and Millie is a barrel and saddles almost always roll on her.
Perhaps to do with the placing of the centre ‘pad’? That alone is enough to make me keep it to be honest. Nothing more frustrating that a rolling saddle.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Omg Red HOW CLOSE to 70?? That’s almost annoying ?. But a super score and lovely comments x
Fieldlife
Well-Known Member
I LIKE the buckle close straps. Better than my past improvisation with plaiting bands on past girths. Are the Harry dabs buckles self close? (I know kieffer ones are).
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
Mine arrived late today, 10 days after ordering with 'express delivery'. I know from here that's normal but still grates a bit. It has one sheet of paper with it that says 'only relevant to Free Space dressage girths' and I have the long version. Ho hum - poor marks for service so far.
I can see lots of helpful fitting advice above so feel fairly confident for tomorrow, the only think I'm wondering about is where the things that hold the two girth straps ('girth sleeves' I think) together are meant to sit? Do they just slip down towards the pad or should I try to get them up near the saddle?
I can see lots of helpful fitting advice above so feel fairly confident for tomorrow, the only think I'm wondering about is where the things that hold the two girth straps ('girth sleeves' I think) together are meant to sit? Do they just slip down towards the pad or should I try to get them up near the saddle?
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I didn't see any instructions on that. I presumed they went further down but then that seemed to cause the girth to block the elbow, so have pulled them right up to the saddle. In fact, with mine, they are partly on the saddle.
That is what worked for us.
