At my wits end with girths!

[enterata]

Exactly a year ago, I bought a new chestnut mare. She has her testy moments but I adore her. We are showing Third Level. At first, I used an old, inexpensive Ovation gel girth I had laying around. As the weather got warmer, she started getting a few tiny rubs. We live in Florida, the land of humidity at least 6 months of the year. So, I bit the bullet and bought her the TSF girth, $$$. She has a narrow girth groove and seemed to do well in it until it started getting hot out and when she was sweaty, got horrible girth galls. I am talking the size of a half dollar, huge and raw. Okay, I then ordered the sheepskin cover they sell for that brand. All was well until a few rides when the sheepskin gets matted down with sweat and - viola! Girth gall! So, unless I basically wash the sheepskin every 2 or 3 rides, she gets rubs. I did that all last summer. During cooler months she was fine, even with full body clip. We have already had a few warm days the last 2 days she has gotten terrible rubs again. I am thinking I need to find another girth to use in the summer months since I cannot possibly wash the sheepskin everyday again all summer.

Anyone else have this problem and what was your solution?

[tulachard]

My guy is really sensitive as well and very opinionated about his comfort! I keep two girths on hand that he tolerates - both sheepskin and swap out the girths for washing.

Maybe you could get multiple sheepskin girth covers that you can rotate so you have one always clean?

[lorilu]

what about those girth “socks” - they WILL fit a TSF - inexpensive, get a few and wash every time? https://www.ovationriding.com/ovation-incredible-girth-sock-short-460084

[pluvinel]

The classic solution for a horse that is prone to girth galls is a string girth.

Also a figure-8 girth aka “balding girth”…or a tri-fold girth…none of which you can find these days.

I hate the heavy girths that are sold in catalogs and get custom made girths.

[DQ_Foxhunter]

I have a sensitive horse that I have tried multiple girths with, the one that works is a cheap black fleece girth.
I personally think girth covers move and cause friction.
I have used the string girth mentioned above for another horse and it worked very well.

[AppaloosaDressage]

I’m in FL and I had the exact same issue with my Uber sensitive appy, to the point we were practicing our tests bareback because of the roughly two week long gal- healing period. Went through the TSR girth, sheepskin cover and several others. Finally picked up a Lettia memory foam girth- extra long, a 22" girth fit him but the bulk of hardware and wider parts of girth wound up by his arm pits so I had extra holes put in my billets and use the 28" Lettia memory foam girth for extra clearance in his most sensitive areas.
Then, to be extra careful, I dab desitin in his gal prone areas before putting the girth on (actually, it’s called “butt paste,” same thing, same aisle at the drug store, but without the fragrance that’s in desitin. I switch to using Vaseline at shows so no white goo catches the judges eye.
It’s been about 2 years using this method and no gals!! Good luck! I know how frustrating this is. I joke that nothing can touch my horse without being sprinkled in fairy dust and wrapped in angel wings first- but this saved our butts! I like that the memory foam girth is so yielding and squishy, so even if there is friction the girth yields and leaves my horse unscathed. And it’s only about $88 if I remember correctly.

[Jackie_Cochran]

@pluvinel

The classic solution for a horse that is prone to girth galls is a string girth.

Also a figure-8 girth aka “balding girth”…or a tri-fold girth…none of which you can find these days.

I hate the heavy girths that are sold in catalogs and get custom made girths.

Last year I found Balding girths at a Polo horse saddlery so they are still around. I also saw some used ones for sale on Ebay but I would not buy a used Balding girth unless I could inspect it personally.

I am still debating about buying some new ones since the horses I ride seem to be doing well in the Lettia or fleece lined synthetic girths and I own several “mohair” string girths.

The Balding girths were the ONLY non-custom made girths that I could find without elastic on the ends. Maybe I can buy some next year and see if they improve the side-to-side stability of my saddle.

[teamfire]

My horse was very sensitive for a while. What I did was brush out the girth sheepskin cover after and before EVERY ride with a metal tine, fine brush (usually a brush for small cats and dogs). It refluffed the girth up nicely I could go longer between rides.

It did wear out the sheepskin prematurely I think but it did the job.

If you hadnt already done!

[Rackonteur]

@pluvinel

The classic solution for a horse that is prone to girth galls is a string girth.

Also a figure-8 girth aka “balding girth”…or a tri-fold girth…none of which you can find these days.

I hate the heavy girths that are sold in catalogs and get custom made girths.

This is what I was thinking too.

I also second the girth sock suggestion, adding that with all that washing try a very mild soap or detergent and rinse thoroughly.

ETA: another COTH thread about girths, including string and balding ones, that might be helpful:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/dressage/278392-string-girths-should-one-be-into-em

[Rackonteur]

Balding girth:
http://www.hastilowusa.com/girths/balding-girth.html

[Lucassb]

@DQ Foxhunter

I have a sensitive horse that I have tried multiple girths with, the one that works is a cheap black fleece girth.
I personally think girth covers move and cause friction.
I have used the string girth mentioned above for another horse and it worked very well.

This. My beautiful, expensive leather girths live in the bottom of my tack trunk because they ALL have caused rubs. I use the cheap Lettia fleece girths now. They have never, ever put a mark on my horses.

[flynride]

A friend’s mare got terrible girth galls until she tried the ThinLine girth, which did the trick. I myself have had good luck with high-quality sheepskin girth covers, but they need to be kept clean.
Jennifer

[mlb722]

TSF girth galled my horse in the hot weather horribly too. The sheepskin helped somewhat but wasn’t high quality and didn’t solve the problem. I tried a bunch of things but honesty a plain wintec girth worked the best. I think the TSF doesn’t distribute the weight evenly and creates pressure points.

[Scribbler]

I have considered a mohair string girth but never got around to ordering it.

[DressageD1va]

String girth. My trainer keeps a few on hand forcthis exact situation. Always works and isn’t terrible expensive

[pn]

I love the profesionals choice neoprene girth. Very soft, molds to the horse. Hose it off to keep clean

[atlatl]

Wintec user here, for close to 20 years. Haven’t seen one rub a horse yet. YMMV.

[SerenaGinger]

We’re also in Florida and have a pony who would get girth rubs. My friend suggested clipping the hair in the girth area and that did the trick. If your horses haven’t shed out yet, maybe this will help.

[CanteringCarrot]

I’ve had this issue with one of my horses and an asymmetrical Mattes sheepskin girth works best for him. I use the longest girth possible for him/my saddle (70cm/28in) and brush out the sheepskin daily with a proper gentle brush. If I leave it in the sun or outside for a little bit after I ride, it dries rather quickly.

I tighten up his girth in steps gently and also stretch out his front legs to make sure there is no extra skin bunched up under or around the girth.

All of this has worked with him so far. I’d like a girth that I could just wipe down in the summer, but I am too afraid to change what works! I bought my Mattes for a good price as it was “used” but came in new condition with the wash, tags, etc.

[Kathy_Nebel]

I had the same issue in sweaty weather with one of my ponies. A string girth solved the problem.