Whats the most comfortable girth?

[Deleted]

My mare Lily, is showing discomfort in her girth area.

She is a round sausage shape, so her saddle will roll, if the girth isnt tight

She currently has a wintec girth, with a real sheepskin cover, as she is clipped.

Is there anything better?

I looked at the flexi girths and they sounded great, but then I read an old post with people saying they were no better than any other girth?

Any advice / recommendations?

[chunkymad]

Why don't you try a non slip saddle pad. Thorowgood ones are really good. I have a thorowgood standard girth and my saddle never moves.

[NeverSayNever]

I use a leather girth if I can but I also love the look of the Robinsons new girth with the fleece on it. I was thinking of getting one for my SHP this winter.

[suziq77]

I asked about girths recently for my very sensitive TB. Lots of people recommended the Stubben cord girth - i looked at the pictures on line and was a bit dismayed it looked like one of the old string girths. BUT as it was only £29 and had so many people recommend it i thought what the heck i'll try one. It's actually really nice and soft, easy to do up and my mare went really nicely in it on the first try last night (she hasn't been getting on with my elasticated ones or the non elastic ones I had in the tack room).

[dogandbone]

I had a horse a while ago that didn't like the girth very much, and in the end I found that it wasn't the girth, but she had a 'tight' muscle right under the girth behind her front legs - the lower pec area.
A physio released the spasm, and provided I had it checked/released every time it became an issue again, she was fine with a girth. However I was advised that a girth like a Lampwick was the most comfortable as it has no banding through the middle or anywhere, and so caused no pressure points, esp. if it has to be quite tight due to mares shape! My horse rarely had any probs after the combination of physio and change of girth, needless to say!! I can give you contact details of these girths if it would help?
Just thought it might be a help, before you spend a fortune on trying different girths lol

[meld]

We use one of the stubben cord girths on our highland, as our saddler recommended it.
Must say that its not the most attractive looking thing, but it seems to do the job, and because the buckles are attached to two seperate long pieces, it can reach our first and forth girth straps to anchor the saddle down.

[workingcob]

Another vote for Stubben trevira cord girth - as said, not v pretty but my sensitive cob likes it

[Deleted]

I have looked at the stubben ones and they are very funny arent they - just like those horrible old string girths we used to use in various horrible colours !

However, they do look very comfortable and are not too expensive

Dogandbone - you are quite right about the pain in that area and as an EMST I had located and treated the spasms.

However - as she is so round - her girth has to go very tight, as the harder she works (dressage) the looser the girth gets over the course of the session.

I will try and find a Lampwick girth and compare it to the stubben ones, the others have mentioned.

Thanks for all your help with this everyone xx

[Deleted]

Found a Lampwick and a stubben - but look at these!!

Sound fab, but cant afford one

www.ekmpowershop1.com/ekmps/shops/firstthought/wow-the-h-girth-46-p.asp

[smiggy]

another stubben girth fan
also on our round fell we found the best thing was a sports medicine neoprene girth. wide neoprene pad so non slip but wide surface area to spread tension. Expensive but fab.

[Louise Dixon]

I like the professional's choice ones, but only have one for 'best' (i.e. when staying put really matters, like hunting, cross country) as they are expensive.

[thecremellosociety]

I dont like sheep skin i think it encourages sweating and pinching through wetness, my mare couldnt get on with cotton ones they crinkled in her fatty bits round her elbows and gave her girth galls, the best girth i had which i stupidly sold now i not longer have her (RIP) was a soft leather atherstone treadstone girth, you can keep it clean and not have to wash it in detergants and it stays soft and doesnt go hard and crusty like sweaty sheep skin or cotton x

[Deleted]

Great more ideas, keep them coming please xx

[horseygin]

I have just changed to dever synthetic girth with gel in the bit under the body where most pressure is. It has elastic both ends and is lovely and wide distributing pressure. The pony was really sore after hunting 5 hours in a shires leather girth which was too hard and unforgiving.

[Deleted]

Not heard of those horseygin - I am off to research them. I do like the ones with the big bit in the middle xx