Best soft girth?

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

I thought I was doing my old, 22yr, gelding a favor when I bought him the Mattes shaped girth for $210. Never spent that much on a girth in my life. After first real ride in it he now has 2 big raw spots behind both elbows. Girth fits properly but just rubbed him raw. The areas under the buckles is hard beneath all the sheepskin. Going to try to get my $$$ back.
Now I need ideas for the softest girths out there.

[Zoniet]

Try the Passier elastic girths. They're wonderful...

[Lori]

It may not be the softest, but I love my County Logic girths and have used nothing else for over 5 years now. :)

[Carnelian]

I have used the Wintec Elastic Girth for the past 4 years with no problems. My trainer has used other girths over the past 25 years that have caused galls, and said since moving to the Wintec, she's never had a problem with the Wintec. I also like it because the billets completely tuck in to the girth for a clean look. Plus it's only $40!

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0226&ids=796139395&bhcd2=1231946145

The same girth is also available for all purpose saddles.

[godoget]

I like my Wintech elastic girth. It's soft and the neoprene doesn't cause friction when it gets wet. It's also cheap and you can hose it off.

[HoochieMama]

I vote too for the Wintec anit-galling girth. It's the only girth I have used that doesn't rub my guy behind the elbows. Only problem you may have is that they do start to crack after a couple of years. A sensitive horse will likely be irritated by the little fissures in the surface.

[godoget]

I vote too for the Wintec anit-galling girth. It's the only girth I have used that doesn't rub my guy behind the elbows. Only problem you may have is that they do start to crack after a couple of years. A sensitive horse will likely be irritated by the little fissures in the surface.


Didn't know that. Have you tried silcon spray? I used to keep my scuba gear in new condition with regular cleaning and an occasional coat of silicon.

[appychik]

Another version (slightly cheaper) then the Wintec is the Thorowgood (see: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-02077&ids=796140609). I love mine. My trainer has a billion of these in all sizes. It's the only dressage girth she recommends.

Plus, to clean all you do is hose off (or add some soap, scrub and then hose off). Awesome girths.

[quietann]

Professional Choice also makes a neoprene girth similar to the Wintec/Thorowgood ones. It's a little more expensive, but my sensitive-skinned mare loves it.

[dressagefilly]

My mare has a simular problem. The keepers under the buckles rub her. I have several $200 contoured ones sitting unused because they rub her. I found the best to be girths like the Dover comfort dressage. I looked around and got one for $25. They are fabric so totally washable. They seem to last about a year before getting a bit ratty from all the washing but they were the problem solver for my sensitive girl.

[buck22]

my horse has a long sweeping shoulder and a very forward girth groove. I tried many anatomical girths, then finally found this one. Though somewhat unsightly, I adore it:
http://www.mossrockendurance.com/view_category.asp?category_ID=9

Coming from a western background, I love mohair, and the roper's style cinch for its stability purposes. What I love about this endurance girth firstly is that its high quality. Pure mohair is soft and stays soft and pliable no matter how cold. In all my years riding western, I've never had a problem keeping mohair clean, and I find it easy to care for and it wears well.

This particular mohair girth has buckle guards, and, what I find the best feature, the guards are double ply. There is neoprene up against the buckles themselves, but LEATHER on the horse side :) That made me do the happy dance because I personally loathe neoprene.

The girth is not show-ring stylish, though when tacked up, it doesn't look as garish as I originally thought it might.

Good luck.

[JB]

I have the Wintec Dressage, and the Thorowgood CC (dressage is just the same material), and like them both. I think I like the Thorowgood material better as it has a sort of "suede" feel to it, though obviously it's not really suede. Not sure how to describe that feel.

[mybeau1999]

I found the best to be girths like the Dover comfort dressage. I looked around and got one for $25. They are fabric so totally washable. They seem to last about a year before getting a bit ratty from all the washing but they were the problem solver for my sensitive girl.

I have this for my boy too! I L-O-V-E it! I'd take it over a fancy leather girth anyday. Never had a problem with it =D

[Perfect Pony]

My question is WHY do they all seem to start at 24"!? I need a 22" or shorter :(

[webmistress32]

I have a 20" Toklat cheapy nylon webbing with a thick faux sheepskin.

I bought it for Temporary use until I could find a "better" girth but it works great.

no sores and it's the right size.

I have yet to find a sub 22" dressage girth that appears high quality enough to wean me from the Toklat.

[Auventera Two]

I have two of these and LOVE THEM! I'm sure I'll never buy any other kind of dressage girth again! :D

http://www.actionridertack.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=48_253&products_id=59

The mohair is baby soft, they're VERY easy to wash and dry (hand wash in cold, lay flat on a towel), and they come in a 22". I have a horse with extremely sensitive skin, and she gets white hairs at the tiniest bit of uneven pressure. She's been going in this girth for over a year and has not had any issues. Mine has been covered in mud, burrs, sweat, sand and so forth, and washes out to look like brand new.

One of mine has the neoprene buckle backers, and the other has leather. Just a note for sensitive horses - get the neoprene because it is MUCH thicker than the leather. The leather is very thin. Thankfully the one with leather I use on a different horse who isn't sensitive, but the neoprene works very well for the one that is sensitive.

Like another poster said, even the best leather gets harder and more inflexible the colder the temps get. Mohair is baby soft no matter what.

I tried of alot of traditional leather girths before I settled on mohair. I'm a convert! :cool:

[Carnelian]

My question is WHY do they all seem to start at 24"!? I need a 22" or shorter :(


The Wintec Elastic is available starting at size 20" :)

[camohn]

I have 3 in assorted sizes for different horses....no problem with any of them.......the Logic and the Wintec noted as well as a SoftTouch.

[appychik]

My question is WHY do they all seem to start at 24"!? I need a 22" or shorter :(

The Thorowgood (that I referenced above) comes in 22" also :winkgrin:

[marta]

once you try you'll never go back.

[quietann]

My mare has a simular problem. The keepers under the buckles rub her. I have several $200 contoured ones sitting unused because they rub her. I found the best to be girths like the Dover comfort dressage. I looked around and got one for $25. They are fabric so totally washable. They seem to last about a year before getting a bit ratty from all the washing but they were the problem solver for my sensitive girl.

Question (for everyone, not dressagefilly specifically): in cases like this, why not go with short billets? The Swiss saddles I tried (Spirig and Roosli) all had short billets, and while the saddles didn't fit me, maresy was happy in my H/J girth, not having those buckles right against her skin.

[appychik]

Question (for everyone, not dressagefilly specifically): in cases like this, why not go with short billets? The Swiss saddles I tried (Spirig and Roosli) all had short billets, and while the saddles didn't fit me, maresy was happy in my H/J girth, not having those buckles right against her skin.

Possibly because short billets mean girth right under your leg = bulk. I prefer my dressage saddle any day over my Stubben Woton (though I love the saddle). I don't like the bulk of having the billets & girth right under that portion of my leg, if that makes sense.

Anyways, thankfully neither of my boys have issues with rubs. :yes:

[merrygoround]

Having broken the bank several times on girths. I ended up getting a mohair girth for one particular horse. Never had another problem. Make sure you get one with keepers, not that you can't add them by hand, but it is easier.

[buck22]

op, the woman at mossrock endurance will make you anything you wish. I liked my ropers style short girth so much, that I had her make me a long one for my short billeted saddles (obviously no padding or keepers) she didn't charge me extra either.

[Whitfield Farm Hanoverians]

Thanks everybody for all of the suggestions. I'm going to try look into all of them.

[Flying Hill]

I really like this SoftTouch girth and it is sale here right now: http://www.actionridertack.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=844

[Pommederue]

From Dressage Extensions. I totally love these. Plus, they're washable.

Shear Comfort Lambskin Girth (http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=2703)

http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=2703

[J-Lu]

I'm going to add to the people who suggest the Wintec girth. I've been using one for about 8 years now, and many people in my barn use them, too. If you hose them after every ride, they don't crack. I've had one that is 8 years old and is in excellent condition. I purchased a second to fit a different saddle and both are in great condition after regular use.

I also tend to get girths that are on the longer side than the shorter side so they don't rub where the billets meet the buckles.

I think the horse's conformation dictates which girths fit. For a while, my horse was ridden in the stallion of the barn's saddle because it fit. He went well in a Schumacher shaped girth. It sort of dug into the belly of my horse and made her very sore. After experimenting with many girths, my horse goes best in the cheap wintec.

BTW, our massage therapist swears by the Wintec girths for sensitive or gall-sensitive horses. She think's they're the "softest" girths for the average horse.

J.

[Austin Rider]

I thought I was doing my old, 22yr, gelding a favor when I bought him the Mattes shaped girth for $210. Never spent that much on a girth in my life. After first real ride in it he now has 2 big raw spots behind both elbows. Girth fits properly but just rubbed him raw. The areas under the buckles is hard beneath all the sheepskin. Going to try to get my $$$ back.
Now I need ideas for the softest girths out there.

I've had exactly the same problem and went through multiple girths. What finally works is a $40 washable fleece girth with elastic ends. I'm guessing that this is the kindest girth out there...

[Jazzy Lady]

This is the one I use. It's really soft and does not rub my ubber sensitive chestnut. http://www.greenhawk.ca/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-RIE0005.html?L+scstore+lxdl9792ff293f29+1232078181

[jackalini]

That's the girth I have, and I like it pretty well. When I have money someday (haha!), I want a ThinLine girth (love the elastic in the middle) or an all-elastic girth.

Love, love, LOVE the classic equine soft touch girth. Elastic on both ends, totally soft and cushy, hose it off and hang it up to dry (easy care), never rust buckles. Have seen many girthy horses tolerate this quite well, and my own mare loved it so much I bought the H/J version for my other saddle.

I can't say enough good about it.

[seabreeze]

Try the Passier elastic girths. They're wonderful...

I agree!!!:yes:

[3Hanns]

I love the Le Tixerant dressage girth

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-021123&tid=froogle&CATALOG_CODE=1X814&EID=X1814001&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=49&zmap=X1-021123

[MeggieMoe]

I would have to vote for the Classic Equine Soft Touch girth. Works great for my horses and lasts!! Maybe 40-50$. I have them also for my western show horse and they don't crack or anything unless I happen to catch it with a spur :) Some I bought to try when they first came out on the market...maybe 8 years or more now.