Those who use sheepskin girth sleeves.............

[cob&onion]

My cob is now clipped (irish clip) and being very pink skinned she is a sensitive soul. I want to get her a sheepskin girth sleeve.
I like the numned ones but as an after thought its going to get plastered with mud after every use at the moment so really need 2 so one can dry out at a time. How well do the sheepskin sleeves wash/stand up to mud and being wet alot? are they easy to clean or would i be better with the cheapy fabric type fleece ones? how do you look after yours?

 

[Tern]

i have a shires cheepy one, is great washes easily without staining as its cream! dries quick also if put in airing cupboard or radiator i wouldn't trust myself with real sheepskin.. for the price they sell at it would be wrapped in bubble wrap before use :S

 

[Red-1]

Hi, I have had cheap fleece, Nu-Med and Sheepskin. Of them all I prefer Sheepskin. I find that real sheepskin needs washing less often, after use it can be dried at room temp and then brushed off. I do wash it if it gets "sticky greasy" but mud and stuff just brushes off without washing. If I do wash, I wash in the machine but on a cool wool wash in Non- Bio and then dry at room temp.
Having said that, since I invested in a Fairfax I have been able to stop using a sleeve at all, and no problems. It may have been more expensive, but even with a lovely posh sleeve the ginger one still had rough patches behind his elbows. After the Fairfax he has stopped being "girthy" and his skin and hair is perfect. Less time wasted too, as the leather girth gets a wipe off and soap like the rest of the tack