thank you for tagging me again because I ordered a LeMieux girth in the meantime and OMG it is absolutely LOVELY. It is so soft and comfortable for the horse. I love it!
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Ahh, yay! I just ordered it from Riding Warehouse on Saturday and I’m so excited to get it!! Maybe I should order one for my dressage saddle, too…
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Almost 4 years. It has nearly 3 years of pretty solid use on it (8/2016 - 5 /2019) and doesn’t have any changes that would make me think that it was on its way to developing cracks like the used one I purchased. I was pretty good about cleaning and conditioning in the post-purchase ‘honeymoon’ phase, but there were definitely times when he got “rode hard” (including schooling water) and the girth got pulled off and not attended to for several hours or overnight. Riding has been much more intermittent in the last year because of medical issues with the horse.
Thanks!!!
I’ve had mine for 6 years and it’s also starting to crack on the edges. It’s cleaned after every ride and conditioned with Lederbalsam once a week. I’ve never had this happen with a girth before.
Yep. Mine was 7 years old. The worse crack turned into a major tear in a 2 week span. It was suggested that this was kind of the life of the girth. They say you have to use the Rapide after every or every other ride. The Rapide is made for their leather tanning process, and other items won’t work so well (said the saddle fitter who sold me the girth, and she’s good). The Lederbalsam is made for the German tanning process and different leather, which is likely different from the English tanning process and the soft leather used on the inside of this girth. Leather cleaning products are not interchangeable for this girth or for differently-tanned leather, so I’m told. I got a printout about how to care from this girth the two times I purchased it and followed it closely.
I inquired about the LeMieux Fairfax girth cover to prolong life but haven’t heard anything back. Maybe that’s something to protect the life of your girth?
Honestly, I now bring a shallow bucket of water and two rags to clean it and dry it immediately after every use. I apply the Rapide after every other use. I so wish it wasn’t such a hassle but my horse goes so much better in this girth than regular ones, and the “narrow” fits his build well. But there’s a lot of “hassles” in this horse’s routine to keep everything happy, and I’m happy to spend extra time.
In any event, I plan to see if my old one can be repaired for use as a “back-up”. I can put a sheepskin cover on it because I suspect it will need a leather patch which may rub on his fur.
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