I had a mare like this, look at her the wrong way and all her hair fell out, the Thin Line girth with the equalizer was great for her…no rubs at all with it and very easy to clean.
I use a good quality shaped leather girth (a Schleese, but I’m sure other brands are just fine too), and a clean girth sock every ride. My mare has calluses from old girth galls and is REALLY sensitive - especially now in shedding season - and this keeps her comfy and happy.
I personally cannot stand TSF. I’ve always had issues with gaping, sizing, rubs - not worth it to me anymore. For my delicate ottb and gray horse, I just use the fleecy Lettia girths. Delicate gray horse used to rub with wintec and professional choice girths, though I did quite like them otherwise!
FYI: These FFS girths do not have elastic, other than whatever is built into the cotton (?) backing.
If you need an anatomical girth and don’t like the sheepskin covers for them (I’m looking at you, Total Saddle Fit), a cheap Ovation Girth sock might be a way to go. But they come in a 28" length. You can carefully spread them out over a shorter girth, as I do for my 24". So far this is working. But I keep a string girth on hand, too. If I see any sign of a rub at all, I ride in a string girth for a few days. This works well.
I use the cheap black fleece girths as well. (Ovation and Lettia) I also sometimes use my Toklat woolback girth, which I love, but it’s harder to keep clean, so I usually just reserve that one for clinics or showing. My horse got rubs with Wintec and with my Prestige shaped girth. However, the trainer who started him rode him in a leather anatomic girth and he was fine with that, too, and didn’t get rubs. Unfortunately, I don’t know what brand it was.
Yes - I already use a Fairfax and the lack of elastic doesn’t bother me, and doesn’t seem to affect my horse. I think the sheepskin mitigates for it a little because it’s thick and squishy.
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I’ve never been a fan of sheepskin for girths. It’s so bulky where there already is a lack of space. My customers who have thin-skinned horses go with the synthetic TSF or Harry Dabbs girths if they need the curve, and they have never failed us!
If straight suits your horse’s shape better I would definitely go with string made with natural Mohair. Try googling “Mohair girths” or call Mohair Man Rick 214-733-1520. I usually see him at Equine Affaire in Ohio but he gets around all over the country so you can check them out in person, too.
Wintec girth and showsheen heavily the area where the girth goes. Used to ride and groom multiple greys (trak breeding) so any mark on that grey coat would show black skin and look terrible.
I too bought a sheepskin cover for my short girth, and ended up with galls after the 1st ride. I’ve never had this problem, but the sheepskin made it too thick and interfered.
Since your horse has a narrow girth channel, have you looked at the Pro Lite girths? They have a narrow shaped girth, that may have a better shape to move the leather away from the elbows and sensitive areas.
I have County Logic girths and love them, but girth covers dont work with them… just way too thick. I’m looking at the Pro Lite, and just bought a used TSF synthetic girth for the summer since my girl sweats alot. Im going to look for shorter girth socks as mentioned in another post above and see if I can make that work, but they are often too long. Maybe I can get my mom to do some creative sewing!
Mohair string girths.
Sometimes I had to chain link a keeper.
Easy to wash, inexpensive, non slip.
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I found TSF really tight behind, floated in front on my mare. I could put two fingers beneath it in front. Just looking at the shape it makes sense all the pressure would go to the back.
I’m with the others who have said they dislike the TSF girths. I’ve used County Logic girths for years (actually, I suppose, decades) and have always loved everything about them except the price. So I broke down and ordered a TSF girth and was unpleasantly surprised by the poor(er) quality leather and the width of the girth. I get that the width is supposed to help distribute pressure across a wide area, but it doesn’t sit flat on any of my horses. All of my horses showed a clear preference for my other girths. So I vote for ditching the TSF girth and finding another one.
But also, conformation can play a big role in this too. Your horse may have the “wrong” conformation for an anatomical girth. I’ve had a few horses who were just plain happier in a fleece/nylon girth or even just a straight girth. That’s a pretty easy check. Girth the horse up and then inspect where the elbow cutouts sit. If they’re not in exactly the right place then it may be best to go to a straight girth (or different brand anatomic). Also, this sounds so dumb and potentially insulting, but it’s kind of like the IT guy asking if your computer is plugged in - you’re, of course, not putting the girth backwards? I had a gal come out to ride who put one of my anatomic girths on backwards and it created large sores on one of my mares in one ride. I’m sure that’s not the case here, but I think it’s maybe worth mentioning?
As far as other brands…I recently bought an HDR anatomic girth ($100ish) and I really like it. It’s softer than any of my other anatomic girths and all of the horses I use it on seem perfectly happy in it.
Have you tried something like body glide on the areas that want to gall?
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I just bought one of these. It’s soft all over - no hard “ends” past the buckles. 4 elastics. so far horsie likes it. : https://www.statelinetack.com/item/flex-rider-shoulder-relief-dressage-girth/E027834%2026/?srccode=GPSLT&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MzkBRAGEiwAkOXexB7nqdFug0AQaPb5hdi7l6WQ7jxFBUpxkHCmXd_yxFJNJe0BFZ_7BxoC6mYQAvD_BwE
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If you opt for mohair, this gal has an incredible creative selection including flower motifs and non-westerny patterns.
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I had a horse that even string girths would not work on; the solution was a balding girth. Hard to find; I got mine from England where they are still common.
I understand your intent but, no, I am not putting it on backwards. Like you, I have seen people who do not know how to put it on.
Thank you to everyone for all the great input. Based on all the replies, it seems girth problems are a major frustration for a lot of us. I really like the idea of putting Show Sheen on the girth area before tacking up and while I have used Desitin, I like the idea of Vaseline, less goey and not white. I had never heard of a balding girth, need to check into that. I ended up getting a very thick, non- elastic sheepskin girth. So far, so good. The link to it is below. Again, thanks for all the input.
Yes, I was pretty much using something similar to fluff up the packed down areas but thus method certainly was taking its toll on the life of the sheepskin. Ugh
I’ve been happy with my LeMieux sheepskin covers. I wash them about once a week and brush in between rides. They have lasted pretty well, and it staved off the impending girth gall.
I also use Lanolin dressing on any potentially sore spot before putting the girth on, so last summer (in the heat and humidity of Virginia) when I saw a small area of balding hair, I just started putting the dressing on it. Lanolin is sold as nipple cream for nursing mothers, so its very safe and also super fun to send your husband to Target to buy.
I’ve heard good things about using BodyGlide as well. A friend suggested I try it on her neck this winter where the reins tend to wear down the already clipped hair on the side of her neck. I didn’t end up needing to go that far, but the friend who suggested it used to be an Olympic level pro groom, so I’d trust her judgment!
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Try “The Creative Saddler”…aka Ann McGrail outside of Unionville, PA. She makes beautiful tack.
I have got several girths she’s made for me…including 2 balding girths of different sizes.
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