That is possible. I had a mare that was really fussy about needing sheepskin. I provided sheepskin covers to two different trainers, and both of them tried riding without, and very quickly put her back in the sheepskin. She didn’t seem like a particularly thin-skinned horse (old style Oldenburg) but insisted on a sheepskin girth.
It’s a cheaper option but my horse loves his Arma girth like this one. I tried the Fairfax girth but he prefers this girth by far.
https://www.cheshirehorse.com/p/shires-arma-supafleece-anatomic-girth/S712BR46.html?srsltid=AfmBOor5JP5bRAwbLQ9EEH56jM7-QDk9CnXwC-SGQbMAczRQ6MatrTDYenU
I do like to use real sheepskin when it comes to “fleece” things and the Arma. In the short/dressage version the Arma doesn’t seem like it’d be best shape for this one. I think he needs a curve or different style anatomical. I do like Arma stuff in general though. Great value for the money.
Right now, the sheepskin slides forward on him. Otherwise, now that he likes it, I would stick with it, but it ends up too forward. I think not due to shape so much as material.
The Ovation didn’t do that, so I may go back to that for a bit and see what he thinks now. He could use a size bigger in that one, probably. They’re not too expensive though.
I’m still curious about the stretch tech which will get here when the weather allows.
I really want to try the PS of Sweden Barcelona reins. I have trouble with my grip due to my autoimmune disease, and those look amazing. I love my old PS of Sweden bridle.
I love my Engel lambskin girth; it’s very similar to the Christ girth, too. Several people with girthy horses have tried my girth and have really liked it. It also comes in an anatomical design, too. And the company is really easy to work with. I accidentally ordered the wrong girth, and they quickly remedied it without charging me.
PS of Sweden does have thin reins. I have some of theirs, but I will say that the ThinLine lined reins I just bought are better quality. I mean, the ThinLine reins do have a higher price tag.
The Barcelona reins aren’t for me, but are an interesting design that I could see beneficial to some.
I’ve bought something from Engel before and found the quality to be good. It was just a sheepskin girth sleeve.
Not to derail the thread, but do you mind writing more about the Barcelona reins? Why do you like the ThinLine reins? I actually did what someone suggested earlier in the thread where I just bought a cheap pair of curb reins because they were thin and “grippy.” They were probably $50. Granted, this was ten years ago.
I like my Correct Connect reins …many styles …you might like the Thumb print reins … and for girths I like the TSF stretch tec …they have a neoprene, synthetic , leather or sheepskin available…my saddle fitter has mentioned to me that he also likes these Wow girths and feels they make a difference in your horses movement
I know I am late to this party but I have used a scalpel to unstitch things on horse blankets to repair them. My suggestion is to get the Kevlar cooking gloves. I put a scalpel through my fingertip. I probably should have had stitches.
I decided the straps on the Wow Freespace were pinching him and bought a Shires Velociti Lusso girth today:
Only positives so far (as in no negatives) - he didn’t object or blow out when the girth was tightened, the saddle doesn’t offer to rotate, horse seems to be very comfortable working in it.
Maybe experiment with different materials before girthing up? Is the Mattes sheepskin lined? Could you try a smooth leather in addition to trying the mohair. See if you can sense any acceptance or displeasure before you start buckling.
*and maybe curb reins? https://blackdiamonddesignsllc.com/product/curb-reins/