Anatomical/Shoulder Relief Girths

[CanteringCarrot]

My horse has a forward girth groove, which in turn pulls his saddle forward and generally the girth lies to close to his shoulder area. The saddle fits, but we are still battling his conformation. Therefore, I think that he would benefit from an anatomical girth. His current neoprene straight girth caused irritation on his left side, so I think I am going to opt for leather this time.

I tried the Total Saddle Fit Girth, but found it would only really snug up on the back side of the girth and had a lot of room in the front. Almost as if the front billet could be a hole higher than the rear one. Said horse was also kind of girthy about the whole thing, but that could be due to the current skin irritation. I also think if I stick with the TSF girth, he could go up a size.

I’d prefer leather and plenty or shoulder relief. Have any of you tried the TSF girth and had it be much tighter in the back than the front? Does this mean it definitely does not fit? Also, if you encountered that problem, which girth did you switch to in order to alleviate the problem?

I know there are other threads on this, I did a search, but wanted to see if anything recently has come out or been modified. I am not sure what is “hot” right now in the world of dressage girths since I am fairly new to outfitting this horse with dressage tack.

[LilyandBaron]

My saddle fitter recommended one, and he had it up one hole more in front than back, and didn’t seem concerned by it. I did find it rubbed my mare a little, but love it for my gelding.

[Covergirl15]

I also like my TSF girth and my trainers love it too–I too usually just do it up one hole extra in the front so it’s even… my guy isn’t very sensitive skin wise, but I’ve never had any issues with it running (I have the neoprene one)

[GreyDes]

A lot of the older threads talk about the uneven pressure issue. My experience has been that it really depends on your horse’s conformation, much more so than similar anatomical girths like County & Prestige.

The TSF fit my round barreled mutton withered Arab beautifully, but did not work at all on my more A-framed Hanoverian. I ended up with the Nunn Finer Bella Donna for her.

I also like the County logic & Prestige. The Prestige is a little more padded. If you’re okay with synthetic, try the Tekna. It’s ~ $50 new and will let you see if the shape works.

I bought a Smartpak anatomic girth and did not like the quality at all. The leather seemed stiff and the edges were almost sharp. I sent it back without putting it my horse.

Good luck!

[Tanny98]

http://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=731

Smith Worthington has a nicely made anatomical girth with humane buckles. I am seriously considering getting it myself as I have a similar problem… I am noticing the TFS is wearing my billets unevenly…

[Scribbler]

In Canada. I use the Greenhawk house brand anatomical girths for both dressage and jumping saddles. I don’t love GH strap goods but these girths are soft leather, padded, and are holding up OK. I think they are knockoffs of the County logic style? I got them on a regular GH 30 % off sale so even better.

They have worked for my horse who has a big barrel big shoulder and forward girth groove. Ordinary girths, saddle rides up withers with a buck or downhill!

With GH house brand gear I figure I will buy it and if I like the style but it wears out too fast I will.upgrade to replace. But the girths seem fine.

My saddle fitter prefers tsf girth but I prefer leather!

[CanteringCarrot]

The TSF girth is made in a leather version. I am going to send mine back and purchase a Fairfax I think. I have a lead on a used one, but it is two sizes bigger. I’m not sure if I need 1 or 2 sizes up. So I may stick with new so I can return again if needed.

I will also try the billets on two different holes (front one higher) and see if that helps.

This little horse has certainly been fun to fit! :winkgrin:

[Cat_Tap]

I have a Fairfax and it is doing the job. My horse who was hard to fit as he is short backed, flat top and round barreled with a forward girth groove got a custom saddle along with the Fairfax girth. All is working well and we are finally making progress in our training. I do have one hole difference in the billets.

My Passier would slip forward and the back would tip up in the canter. It was very frustrating.

[Mallard]

My 13hh pony is round. Very round.
I had a TSF and it was ‘OK’ … it kept the saddle in place pretty well, but the leather was not fabulous. However, for the price it was OK. I sold it as I really needed a bigger size.
We now have the Nunn Finer "Bella Donna’ and there is just no comparison. It is worth every penny!

[RedHorses]

I have TSF StretchTec dressage girths for my boys. The one with the very forward girth groove has the neoprene liner and the other has the leather liner. I love these girths.

The TSF original was a key piece to being able to ride the one with the very forward girth groove, and he likes the StretchTec even better. The neoprene is thick and cushy and gives us a little extra anti slip over leather. There is much less gaping with the StretchTec on him even before the girth is tight.

The leather liner has a lovely soft cushion in the centre of the girth.

[lorilu]

I have a Fairfax. They come in two widths depending on your horse’ barrel. There is also info there regarding the “gap”… it is designed in. Expensive, yes… but check their website for info on the width of the girths. The page about how to measure gives the info…http://www.fairfaxsaddles.com/index.php/girths/girth-fitting

[equiniphile]

Another vote for the Prestige girth!

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/prestige-anatomic-dressage-girth-8616?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=kt_shopping_tes&utm_term=18616&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItbWT8dr41QIVBAdpCh09cAWVEAQYAiABEgJIb_D_BwE

[J-Lu]

I also have a Fairfax. I tried the Prestige and the Fairfax, the Fairfax seemed to work better on my horse as it kept the flaps of the saddle off of his shoulders better (he has a forward girth groove, a round barrel and comparatively narrow shoulders). He’s a 16.1hh Westfalen, and I have the narrow version. I demoed it from a local tack store and had a saddle fitter (who is based out of the local tack store) help me with the fit when she flocked my saddle. She thought the narrow fit better than the wider. Years later, I would say that it still works well and has held up just fine. If anything, I think I’d prefer it had a little elastic. My horse gains and looses weight easily so I have to regularly change which holes I use in the billets. But honestly, my horse doesn’t seem to care if it’s slightly loose or slightly tight.

[redsoxluvr]

I have tried most of them - County, Tekna, the lot. By far my favorite is the Prestige anatomical girth. I do it a hole shorter in front too, that’s what ends up being even on my saddle. I suppose if I crossed the billets it would do the same thing. I did not like the County. It was very hard. The Prestige is so soft and it seems like it would be a lot more friendly to the horse. If I don’t use that, I use a plain old $40 neoprene Wintec girth.

[CanteringCarrot]

I ended up finding a gently used Fairfax in the right size and right width (narrow guage). It was much less than buying new! It’ll arrive in a week or so, and I am curious to see how it works out. I think the narrow guage will be better for him given his measurements. The TSF was ok for the price and all, but I ended up returning it because I could get the Fairfax for about the same price. It was between those two and a Prestige. However, I like the shape of the Fairfax best, but we will see how it fits the horse. He currently has a 22", news a 24", so I bought a 26" due to the recommended sizing up.

I also may order the sheep skin covering. He currently has a rub from his neoprene girth, but I am curious to see if a change from straight girth to shaped will alleviate that or if I’ll need to add soft material.

[Scribbler]

@CanteringCarrot

I ended up finding a gently used Fairfax in the right size and right width (narrow guage). It was much less than buying new! It’ll arrive in a week or so, and I am curious to see how it works out. I think the narrow guage will be better for him given his measurements. The TSF was ok for the price and all, but I ended up returning it because I could get the Fairfax for about the same price. It was between those two and a Prestige. However, I like the shape of the Fairfax best, but we will see how it fits the horse. He currently has a 22", news a 24", so I bought a 26" due to the recommended sizing up.

I also may order the sheep skin covering. He currently has a rub from his neoprene girth, but I am curious to see if a change from straight girth to shaped will alleviate that or if I’ll need to add soft material.

I tried a Sheepskin cover on a shaped girth but it crowded maresy’s elbow and she did not like it. Wouldn’t walk away from the mounting block until I took it off.

[Draftmare]

I have a long TSF girth, a short one, and a western one, and have only had issues with gapping with my short one. I sometimes wonder if they are made just a little bit differently, or if being shorter is the issue. Never been able to really figure it out, but the long girth and the western girth both fit really well with no gapping.