Girth to avoid rubs...

[cbv]

I used to use leather girths no problem, and trainers have used leather on my horses, but I have gotten small rub in past using my leather girths. So have been using cheap synthetic fleece girths or girth covers and they seem to work ok.

However, one mare has gotten fluffy (thus trying to ride every day, increasing work slowly, and work some wt off her) and fleece girths too short. Bought fleece cover for leather girth and still got small rub behind elbow.

I can get a longer synthetic fleece girth but looking at other options. I feel like the synthetic fleece needs regular washing or can rub, that is why I went to fleece cover, easier to wash.

Did a search and read about mohair girths but can’t find in regular size I need. Most l can find are western cinch or for dressage/monoflap type saddles – I may need a 52 inch regular english girth – 50 inch synthetic fleece is too short but without fleece 50 inch might work.

[mvp]

You can get regular length Trevira (synthetic string) girths. And I know there are custom girth makers who will produce whatever you want in mohair.

As I understand it, string girths are the traditional cure for girth galls.

[Highflyer]

Many horses do well with the neoprene girths like Professionals Choice. I actually don’t find the fleece girths particularly hard to wash-- you can also just dunk them in soapy water and hose them off if you don’t want to machine wash, especially this time of year. IME the string girths work great for some horses, but some do seem to need elastic.

[merrygoround]

Here’s a source or two.

http://www.marystack.com/mohair-string-girth.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=mohair-string-girth&gclid=CLDC88DXvMYCFQ2QHwodmokCYA

http://www.victorycanter.com/Non-Slip-Mohair-Girth-400966.html?gclid=CKrPo_rXvMYCFUcXHwodufYKfA

[shamumu14]

My arab has extremly thin skin/hair and I use the Lettia clik girth no problem. String girths or fleece girths may also be you best bet. Good Luck!!!

Link to my girth: http://www.doversaddlery.com/lettia-clik-dressage-girth/p/X1-02009/

[cbv]

[QUOTE=merrygoround;8212517]
Here’s a source or two.

http://www.marystack.com/mohair-string-girth.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=mohair-string-girth&gclid=CLDC88DXvMYCFQ2QHwodmokCYA

http://www.victorycanter.com/Non-Slip-Mohair-Girth-400966.html?gclid=CKrPo_rXvMYCFUcXHwodufYKfA[/QUOTE]

I saw those and may order one to try since they are so reasonably priced. But they are synthetic – in the other threads some did not like the synthetic over the real mohair – but then as a kid I used just regular string girths and had no issues.

Probably over-thinking this…

[amymoyer]

Do you have a girth that is just too short? Would a girth extender work? If it doesn’t go past the saddle flap, it should do the trick.

[ElementFarm]

I agree with Highflyer, all my horses school in the neoprene girths. I use Professionals Choice. The horses do sweat under them, but the neoprene doesn’t hold the wet like fleece does, and it dries a lot quicker. They easily machine wash, but don’t need to be washed as often as my fleece girths, which got matted and nasty after just 2-3 rides. I generally do laundry once a week with the girths and saddlepads, and air dry the girths.

as a side note, I like the “plain brown” look of the Pro Choice girth over the bright white of a string girth or overly-fluffy cover. Also, I feel like covers always got twisted and wrinkled, and could cause rubs themselves. Fleece lined girths solved that problem, and I do use them, especially in winter, but the Pro Choice girths are great for schooling and I have a few sensitive horses that need to show in them.

[flyracing]

Another thing that helps is stretching their legs forward and up after the girth is fully tightened. It pulls the skin out from under the girth, stopping pinching. It may allow your girth to work for you too

[jawa]

Mary’s tack has a brown mohair girth in 52".

[Flash44]

[QUOTE=cbv;8212590]
I saw those and may order one to try since they are so reasonably priced. But they are synthetic – in the other threads some did not like the synthetic over the real mohair – but then as a kid I used just regular string girths and had no issues.

Probably over-thinking this…[/QUOTE]

I think you are over-thinking it. Just use what works, synthetic or not. I use Weaver Smart cinch, trail riding through rivers, hot hot sticky weather, no problems. I just throw them in the wash too. Bought a fancier Air Flex and it rubbed.

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/weaver-nylon-felt-lined-straight-smart-cinch/SLT733274/?srccode=ADSLPH&gclid=CIyhjv-Dv8YCFYcWHwodpWQDpw&kwid=64244514468:19959388920x8401089108x195485628

[Dune]

[QUOTE=flyracing;8213233]
Another thing that helps is stretching their legs forward and up after the girth is fully tightened. It pulls the skin out from under the girth, stopping pinching. It may allow your girth to work for you too :)[/QUOTE]

^^THIS. Also, the Trevira girths are great for those with a tendency to gall. I, too, have a “fluffy” and for him I had been using a Fleeceworks cover, which was fine but one more thing to wash. Recently, I purchased a longer, contoured Wintec girth and don’t ya know…it doesn’t gall him and is a lot easier to wash! (just wipe it down!)

[cbv]

Thanks everyone. I do stretch their legs and still had the rub. Today I went back to my old saddle with longer billets and one of the synthetic fleece girths. Also rubbed vaseline on area behind elbows (a trick from travel nurse at work for blisters in hot wet muggy conditions we sometimes work in). Of course that means I have to scrub the girth clean after.

But at least no rubs. But will probably try mohair and order longer fleece girth. May try some of the other suggestions too if have any more problems. Hopefully getting weight off will eventually help as well.

[stryder]

My trainer suggested spraying the area with witch hazel. Said it helps toughen the skin. We also switched to a mohair girth, so I don’t know which worked. But between the two things, she hasn’t had a rub in over a year. She’s an Appendix with very fine hair and paper-thin skin. Or, as our farrier says, “epithelially challenged.”

[Showbizz]

I’ve noticed a few horses with certain conformation types get rubs when they’ve been out of shape and are coming back into work. I simply fold a leg quilt (the thin ones) in half and put it under the girth, so that it is protecting the sore area. I then tack up as usual. It will keep the sore from getting worse and will allow it to heal, while you are still able to keep the horse in work. This has worked well for me for many years.

[IndyEquestrian]

I would try the new Memory Foam girths from Lettia, they are super soft, very affordable, machine washable, and brown so they don’t stick out in the show ring.

I have found they make the girthy horses less so, and the horses with extra skin behind their “elbows” don’t get rubs either. My only complaint with them is that they run a little long after they are stretched a bit, so if that is the route you go, I would order one size down.

Hope this helps.

[GaMare]

I’ve had great luck using these girth socks to protect girth rubs while they heal. They’re light weight enough to wash & dry quickly and fit over all the girths I have.

http://equestrian.doversaddlery.com/search?w=girth%20sock&cart_count=0&cart_total=0.00&dmi_offer_code=SITE&idc=0&ids=3h3zsldlq5zikm52ugdo03tl

[Lieselotte]

I’m a great fan of the girths made by Montana Cincha. I believe you can custom order.
I use this one which I think is an excellent product and holding up really well. My horse has never had a rub and we do Endurance, so many many miles over various terrain and all weather conditions.

[Leather]

Action Rider Tack carries a 50" mohair girth, and you can special order a larger size.

http://www.actionridertack.com/Montana-Cincha-English-Girths-Natural-Mohair-p/engenssm[eng].htm

[J-Lu]

I like the Wintec girths. I’m not 100% sure what they are made of (some kind of plasticy-y rubbery-material) but they don’t slip much, I like the center-elastic and the fact that there is elastic give. They have rolled edges to prevent galls and rubs, and I hose them off after every ride (they wipe dry). They last a LONG time, too. I honestly don’t remember when I purchased my girths, it was that long ago.