Moon/crescent girths

[CanteringCarrot]

My super compact model (my PRE gelding) has outgrown his Fairfax girth and I’m currently riding him in an anatomical Mattes girth. I wasn’t hugely impressed with the Fairfax, especially for the price. The Mattes is rather bulky, but doing OK.

So having tried a number of anatomical girths, I am considering a “Moon” or “Crescent” style girth.

Has anyone tried one of these with success? Or developed a preference for them?

My issue is that my guy has a short back, large shoulder, and forward girth groove. The girth sits forward from the correct saddle placement and his saddle/girth will slide forward onto his shoulder. A lot of these girths are bulky, especially by the buckles. He has been rubbed by this before. Hence why I’m considering a moon girth as the curve away from the shoulder and stay that way…but I’ve never tried in and I cannot locate one to borrow. So I’m looking for others experiences to see if they are a valid option or of I should continue down the regular anatomical route. The saddle does fit well, it’s just his shape.

[scruffy_the_cat]

I don’t know about others but I’ve had success with the Ovation Body Form Gel Girth as well as the Ovation Europa Shaped High Wither Girth. Both are crescent shaped girths. Straight girths don’t work on my TB and anatomical ones like TSF also don’t work, they gap at the back. He also has a short, curvy back, humongous wither, generous shoulders, and a forward girth groove.

I found this FB from saddle fitter Amanda Anderson-Jamison post very informative on the topic.
https://www.facebook.com/sleipnirsaddlefitter/posts/2059028114112818

The Body Form Gel girth is pretty reasonably priced so not super risky to try. Also if you buy it from Dover and it doesn’t work you can send it back.

[Magicboy]

I like the ovation girth mentioned here and use it on a PRE. I don’t know that result is other than neutral but it certainly doesn’t cause any problems

[Jchambers]

I have the BR Crescent sheepskin girth. It worked well with the saddle set up that I had on my big shoulder, forward girth groove mare. I chose it because it was a less expensive alternative to leather in case it didn’t work out.

[no.stirrups]

I have several thoughts for you.

If the bulk of the buckle is bothering him, you may have a girth too short. Ideally it should reach to just a couple of inches below the saddle flap to be well away from his elbows.

So far, all of my clients who have experienced rubbing with a shaped curve were resolved by using a synthetic model.

Harry Dabbs makes a really lovely crescent girth in both leather and synthetic for far less cost than those posted above. Many of my clients are using them successfully.

[CanteringCarrot]

@no.stirrups

I have several thoughts for you.

If the bulk of the buckle is bothering him, you may have a girth too short. Ideally it should reach to just a couple of inches below the saddle flap to be well away from his elbows.

So far, all of my clients who have experienced rubbing with a shaped curve were resolved by using a synthetic model.

Harry Dabbs makes a really lovely crescent girth in both leather and synthetic for far less cost than those posted above. Many of my clients are using them successfully.

It’s not his elbows that get rubbed. It’s kind of his side/flesh on his shoulder that meets his side? The girth is about two inches below the saddle flap.

I have heard good things about the Harry Dabbs girth. I am hesitant about synthetic because his skin does not do well with neoprene. He’s a sweater even clipped. No matter this clean and dry…he always gets some kind of funk/skin thing with anything other than leather or sheepskin. Some synthetics are cheaper so I may consider trying again if it’s not neoprene like.

I was loaned a Prestige girth. Not a crescent, just anatomical but it’s a free loan so we’ll see.

[scruffy_the_cat]

That Ovation Europa is sheepskin against their skin and only about $100.

[milestogo]

I have used the ovation body form gel girth with a sheepskin girth cover sold by Dover. I keep two covers and hang them to dry off the girth. I like this set up because I can rotate the girth cover around the girth. My problem with an attached sheepskin was the edges would wear out or get very matted.