Mohair Girths-deciding on size

[chebeau]

Hey,

I am looking at getting a mohair girth. It would be either the Montana Cincha in wider endurance style or the dressage. There have been some comments that they can shrink a little. My gelding is currently in a 22 in. Professional’s Choice dressage girth. Also, are there any benefits to either style? We ride in a Vogue GPS by Heather Moffett. These are not a cheap investment so all advice is appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Happy riding,
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

If your current girth has elastic and you have a few holes to spare on your billets, you might actually want to go a size smaller. Otherwise you can probably stick with the same size. I hose mine off when it gets sweaty and let it air dry. It does shrink a tiny bit as it dries, but it stretches out again as you use it.

I use the Montana Cincha endurance style on my horse, because he has a forward girth groove. The wider part prevents the girth from sliding forward and pulling the saddle forward onto his withers.

[Auventera_Two]

I own a total of geeze, probably 5 Montana Cincha mohair girths in both english and western styles. Every one of them is now about 1" longer than when I purchased them. I hand wash them and lay them flat on a bath towel to dry. I have never had one shrink, but only stretch. But I don’t have the endurance models - only the straight models. Maybe the endurance models don’t stretch because they have more stitching???

During trail rides and endurance rides I have noticed that when you cross water, or it’s pouring rain - the horse is sweating heavily, etc… the girths will stretch out so you have to tighten the saddle after awhile.

Also I have a 100% alpaca cinch and that sucker stretched no joke about 3". I am thinking of wrapping the buckles in vetwrap and putting it in the dryer on hot to try to bring it back down to a manageable length.

In the future I will just buy them a little on the short side. These are my favorite girths and I have no interest in using anything else again. They are so lightweight, breathable, the horses love them, and they wear like iron.

[chebeau]

Thank you all for the advice! Now I am torn on getting a solid black or doing the more fun black and white. Decisions, decisions…

Happy riding,
Jessie and the Stinky Pony aka Bosco

[Lieselotte]

Don’t get the black, or b/w, because the dye will stain when the girth gets wet. After having made that discovery, I’ve only ordered the “natural” version.
Also make sure you get a girth with neoprene rather than leather underneath the buckles. Holds up a lot better over time (too much salt in that area!) and gives more cushioning.
As for the sizing, just order the size you already use. I haven’t noticed either shrinking or stretching. I handwash them in lukewarm water and let them air-dry slowly (not in direct sun though.)
The wider endurance girth is great, btw. Can highly recommend it, worth the extra dollars.