Stubben Equisoft Girth Trial - Update

[Palindrome]

Lovely horse and very interesting thread. Thank you

 

[PorkChop]

I didn't rush to buy and wasn't sold on it until I trialled it, it makes an impressive difference to my horse. A solid pad wouldn't have the same effect as it couldn't give in the same way, so happy with my decision.

Which stud girth do you use?

Absolutely, there are three distinctive parts to the stud girth, it is very different to any other stud girth I have seen.

 

[Cragrat]

I think it is quite different to a stud girth. The Equisoft pad is a more anatomical shape, and remains fairly still on the horses skin, because the girth straps slide over the top of the pad. The elastics allow the the straps to move , whilst the pad stays in place underneath. Because each strap is completely separate, they can move independently of each other, and can be adjusted to give even pressure even if your horse has a rib cage which narrows down too much for other girths.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Thanks for posting this.

If those elastic rings did fail, is the girth going to fall apart or is there some sort of join elsewhere to prevent that?

Wondering if this could help my cob who I am struggling to sort out a saddle moving back issue with, possibly because she is fit and has a deeper girth than the rest of her stomach so nothing to stop it going back.

Who does the trials Alex?

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Will have to go look at the girth to see if there's a fail safe will report back.

Not sure about the slipping back, the saddle on Skylla moved back (all saddles I have move back on her though), so I'm not sure it would fix it?

I did mine through Divine Equestrian who were brilliant to deal with. I know Diamonds in the Rough did theirs through Forelock and Load.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Thanks for that. Everything moves back on D too it would appear, even specialist custom made very expensive saddles, so sounds like this wouldn't help. You've saved me from potentially setting fire to another few hundred quid tho so that's good!

 

[Goldenstar]

Thanks for that. Everything moves back on D too it would appear, even specialist custom made very expensive saddles, so sounds like this wouldn't help. You've saved me from potentially setting fire to another few hundred quid tho so that's good!

Have you tried a five point breastplate ?
H my younger ID has huge shoulders and no matter what we did the jumping saddle would move back during a days hunting , a fairfax girth did not help , looking at him you can see exactly what in his conformation is causing this , he will and has improved as his back develops .
The saddler after several visits said we had no choice but to try a five point ( I hate the things ) I bought a cheap one in XL from eBay got a BE trainer to show me the fit and we have not looked back .

 

[FfionWinnie]

Have you tried a five point breastplate ?
H my younger ID has huge shoulders and no matter what we did the jumping saddle would move back during a days hunting , a fairfax girth did not help , looking at him you can see exactly what in his conformation is causing this , he will and has improved as his back develops .
The saddler after several visits said we had no choice but to try a five point ( I hate the things ) I bought a cheap one in XL from eBay got a BE trainer to show me the fit and we have not looked back .

Yes I have but it makes no difference. To stop it moving the BP would need to be garrotting her. It would seem she needs a saddle with more shoulder room than I have been sold so probably nothing can solve it (have also tried various pads and point straps).

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Ok on the straps it is attached to the leather pad via the webbing straps you can see in the pic. They go inbetween the padding and the main girth and are screwed in.

Not that I feel this will help your issue much sorry .

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes I have but it makes no difference. To stop it moving the BP would need to be garrotting her. It would seem she needs a saddle with more shoulder room than I have been sold so probably nothing can solve it (have also tried various pads and point straps).

It drives you nuts doesn't it .
You just have to sell the saddle and start again .
Does anything in her development look like a targeted training programme might help.
My physio has helped loads with H it's only an issue now when he's been hunting all day and starts to dehydrate .

 

[Goldenstar]

OP thank you for this thread it's very interesting .

 

[milliepops]

Yes I have but it makes no difference. To stop it moving the BP would need to be garrotting her. It would seem she needs a saddle with more shoulder room than I have been sold so probably nothing can solve it (have also tried various pads and point straps).

They aren't for everyone, and I'm not sure whether it would actually solve your problem but have you had a look at Wow saddles FW? I have one that sits nicely on my D who has giant shoulders. The flaps kind of float over the panel, which sits entirely behind the shoulder. So you can have a really forward cut flap for jumping which doesn't interfere at all with the horse.

 

[FfionWinnie]

They aren't for everyone, and I'm not sure whether it would actually solve your problem but have you had a look at Wow saddles FW? I have one that sits nicely on my D who has giant shoulders. The flaps kind of float over the panel, which sits entirely behind the shoulder. So you can have a really forward cut flap for jumping which doesn't interfere at all with the horse.

Thank's that's interesting. I've been looking at saddles with floating shoulder doodahs but haven't found any I thought would be flat enough or the quality has been questionable or I've ridden in the tree type before and hated it. I haven't had any experience of wow saddles although I was wondering about them, so that is very useful to know indeed.

 

[milliepops]

Thank's that's interesting. I've been looking at saddles with floating shoulder doodahs but haven't found any I thought would be flat enough or the quality has been questionable or I've ridden in the tree type before and hated it. I haven't had any experience of wow saddles although I was wondering about them, so that is very useful to know indeed.

It's a cliche but they are marmite - if you get a chance to sit in one at any of the big shows etc where Wow have a stand then you'll know whether to bother or not. I absolutely love mine and always feel in balance in them, but some people just don't get on with them. But they are very versatile and now come with flock or foam panels if you aren't a fan of the flair too, though if you were looking for 2nd hand rather than new then the flair are much easier to come by. I would struggle to put a jumping saddle that *I* could ride in on Kira other than one designed like this.

Sorry OP, don't mean to de-rail

 

[FfionWinnie]

It drives you nuts doesn't it .
You just have to sell the saddle and start again .
Does anything in her development look like a targeted training programme might help.
My physio has helped loads with H it's only an issue now when he's been hunting all day and starts to dehydrate .

It's an unfortunately complex issue which I will post more about if / when I get a resolution depending on what happens next.

She's very well and evenly muscled. My physio actually said at her last (recent) appointment that she is the straightest most even horse with the most perfectly developed musculature she's ever seen. Ho hum, but yes it absolutely is driving me nuts and making me ill I'm so worried about it.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Derail is interesting so don't apologise, my baby horse is proving to be a tricky fit so saddle discussions are always welcome .

 

[DonskiWA]

Hmm, I'm reading this thread with interest. I'm in Australia, so no chance of trialling one unfortunately. I will have to bite the bullet and make the purchase unseen.
Do you feel the sizing is the same eg. would a 'normal' 65cm girth still be a 65cm equisoft girth?
Which of the finishes do you rate do you think? Leather, neoprene or lamb skin?
Decisions, decisions...

 

[HufflyPuffly]

The 65cm is true to size of my normal 26" girth, do j would say so.

I just have the plain leather finish and its lovely and soft and padded. Not seen the other options so can't comment I'm afraid.