what do you prefer girth-wise....

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truffles

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Non elasticated, elastic one end, or elastic both ends?

Answers on a postcard please
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Atherston for me
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Have been looking at that actually, do you have the one which is elasticated or non elasticated? Have found a very good price for one on tds saddlers
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I'm surprised at how many people have elastic at one end - I would be worried it would shift the saddle ever so slightly, so I am looking at either both elasticated ends or none. deffo going for an atherstone though, just need to decide on the ends!

any ideas?
 
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elastic in one end like Santa (which I put on the off side LOL). For Sjing I use a shaped one otherwise just a normal one.

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Chloe had a one ended elasticated one and I'm positive it made the saddle sit slightly to the left, and it was put on the off side too. Don't really want to go back to that, just need to decided whether to go for elastic at all.
 
i wouldn't have double elastic in preference to single as personally I think it is far easier to over tighten the girth with double elastic.

As for makes the one I use daily is a Jefferies one which I have had for years and years and years and is still as new
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Also very easy to clean.
 
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same elastic on offside (basically not the side you do the girth up on as it prevents you overtightening it) for me as well.

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So if you had a one end elasticated one and you put the elastic side on the off side, you would do it up on the other side?

Blonde here
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Hmmmmm I really do not see how the girth would cause that as the tension is (well in my mind) equal on either side.

If you DO have concern then I would not have elastic inserts at all.
 
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I have the elastic on the offside and do it up on the near side eg. when sitting on horse elastic on your right do up on your left
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Ahhh now you have painted it visually for me I understand
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I always thought I was good at left and rights LOL
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Thanks for clearing that up Santa!
 
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Hmmmmm I really do not see how the girth would cause that as the tension is (well in my mind) equal on either side.

If you DO have concern then I would not have elastic inserts at all.

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I have always put the elastic side on the off side but I have done it up to the same amount as the other side, so wouldn't that make tension unequal?
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Well, I have the elastic side on hole 4. I can just get it to hole 1 on the nearside when I tack up. Once I have walked out to the mounting block I pop it up to hole 2. Get on, loosen horse up, it goes to 3. If I start jumping, doing fast work I put it to hole 4. I never change the offside.
 
There was a study done a couple of years ago to compare various kinds of elastic girths using thermographic imaging. With the single ended ones there apparently was some mild shifting but, potentially more worrying, there was increased heat under the saddle and the girth on the elastic side, persumably caused by friction and uneven pressure. The double ended ones produced a much more consistent pattern of pressure and heat.

Testing out best of all were girths with integrated elastic. I'm a bit leery of the leather ones with the insert over the sternum because I worry about the edges where the elastic and the leather meet causing pressure points, even with the leather piece underneath. However some of the new synthetic girths have multiple elastic sections and no discernable edges. I've used the Bates/Wintec version very successfully, particularly for very round horses whose saddles are prone to shifting.

I've found many "girthy" horses do far better in a double ended girth. Some find the synthetic girths not elastic enough, some seem to prefer them.

I also like a very supple girth, which conforms to the horse's shape rather than leaving "gaps" where the barrel falls away just under the saddle flap. A good leather double ended girth is probably my favourite, closely followed by a synthetic integrated girth.

I've used the Logic-type girths and have to say I've not found a huge difference, although some people swear by them. They are all either double ended or integrated elastic.

The single biggest girthing practice I've seen cause trouble is tightening the girth too much, too quickly. I've certianly seen more than one horse dropped to the ground by this practice and I have to say I've found it to be the single biggest cause of "girthiness" and non-medically related initial stifness.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I'm going to get a double ended one, but I will be very weary about over tightening it. Will ask Nicci (Chloe's groom) and see what she says too about getting a double ended one.
 
I have a wow zig zag. No elastic. Have to have this as other straight girths cut into my horses armpit.

Have had contradictory advice re elastic ends. Some saddlers say elastic one end, some say you should have it both, some say none!!! Would love to know the truth!

Oops, didnt see cruisers post, sorry. That answers my question.
 
I have a wintec elastic.....has elastic running all the way through not at the ends. Really nice and was recommended by my saddler. Plus you just wipe it clean. It's really soft and spongy too.
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