Opinions on this contoured girth

[Sleipnir]

Sorry about this daft question, but I have NEVER had a leather girth before - just textile or string ones! However now, as I just changed my saddle and my new one has long billets and requires a short girth, I am faced with a decision. As my gelding needs a “moon” shaped, contoured girth because of his extremely forward girth groove (saddle fitters’ advice) , but he is also a huge boy and needs a 34-36" one, there’s not a lot of choice. I really don’t like neoprene, so was looking at leather girths that would also not break my bank, and found this on Ebay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Moon-Belt-Leather-Short-Belt-Surcingle-/322965922060

Leather tack people, does this look okay to you? It seems quite cheap for a leather girth, but it fits the bill regarding shape and size. This type of girths mostly runs up to just 32’’, which is def too short for my gelding, so I would like to think this is a lucky find, but is it really? Thanks in advance!

[Scribbler]

Nothing on here about brand?

58 British pounds is $102 CAN or $80 US.

That is fairly cheap, but I think what’s happened is that the pound is rather low these days in exchange to US or Canadian currency.

My house brand Mondega dressage girth is currently $160 at Greenhawk in Canada, but I got it during a 30 % off sale for under $100 a few years back, which at current exchange rates would be under $78 US. But it doesn’t go up to 36 inches.

Really for a no-name girth, it’s hard to judge the leather quality, how soft it is on the inside, stitching, buckles, etc from a photo. I do notice that this girth does not have elastic inserts and I’ve never used one without elastic, so tend to consider that standard (others may differ).

I would tend to keep looking for a brand name. but not used, as IME people tend not to sell their girths until they are starting to lose integrity (like the elastics are shot).

[Moon_River]

Very very cheap for a leather girth. I’d expect to pay £100 upwards for a new girth, main brands here (United Kingdom) probably start at around £130 retail, plus delivery. Promising buffalo and nappa for that price in my mind means low quality source and probably made in India or similar. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but I’ve had Heritage Saddlery (eBay user mattymarlow) recommended to me before and they do a moon girth in a 34".

[no.stirrups]

Harry Dabbs has a synthetic “waffle” curved girth if you want synthetic. I don’t think I currently have a 34" but they are about to ship me an order so if you contact me quick I can have them add it in!

[Scribbler]

@Moon River

Very very cheap for a leather girth. I’d expect to pay £100 upwards for a new girth, main brands here (United Kingdom) probably start at around £130 retail, plus delivery. Promising buffalo and nappa for that price in my mind means low quality source and probably made in India or similar. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but I’ve had Heritage Saddlery (eBay user mattymarlow) recommended to me before and they do a moon girth in a 34".

Good to know in general about British pricing. When I’ve visited or lived in Britain my impression was, stuff in general was expensive in relation to wages, compared to the US. Even compared to Canada. But the exchange rate has dropped a bit since Brexit I think, and I actually scored an amazing deal on Pikeur breeches online from England last winter.

I should add to my above post, if I hadn’t got the Greenhawk house brand girth on discount, the next step up in leather anatomical girths would have been Country or Jeffrey’s at over $250. I don’t know where Greenhawk manufactures but their name brand gear is mostly functional except for the actual saddles.

[findeight]

Genuine Buffalo ? Something tells me it’s not American Bison but Water Buffalo…the species are not closely related and no earthly idea how WB hide wears compared to AB. Maybe it’s a good choice, maybe it’s cheaper for a reason.

[Scribbler]

When I look at the sellers other offerings, they are based in Germany and specializing in Baroque Spanish or Portuguese stirrups, cavessons, etc (Iberian horse riders love this stuff). This is a specialty niche that suggests the seller has a horse background.

I think Baroque gear can be cheaper than you would expect for the fanciness of it, not sure if it’s made in Spain or elsewhere. It’s also possible that the seller is basically selling at whole sale. Also I think Spain probably has a favorable exchange rate.

Sometimes I see eBay or Amaxon sites that are obviously low end Indian or Chinese knockoffs, and Canadian Amazon is full of noname noncertified Chinese made helmets, rather scary.

This seller is not in that category. However they could still be over promising and the girth not quite as advertised. I didn’t see the claim about Buffalo leather until just now.

[findeight]

American Bison are a novelty in Europe, non native and, to my limited knowledge, not raised over there in sufficient numbers for their slaughter to produce enough hides to make affordable strap goods and horse equipment. There’s lots of AB over here and their hides are still an upcharge on saddles due to relative scarcity and durability.

On the other hand, two types of native Buffalo in Southeast Asia and Africa with many sub types, many domesticated… Possible their hides are exported to European/ Iberian makers of affordable horse stuff. Maybe it’s a good alternative, no idea. But Buffalo does not mean our unique American Bison.

[findeight]

@findeight

American Bison are a novelty in Europe, non native and, to my limited knowledge, not raised over there in sufficient numbers for their slaughter to produce enough hides to make affordable strap goods and horse equipment. There’s lots of AB over here and their hides are still an upcharge on saddles due to relative scarcity and durability.

On the other hand, there are two families of Buffalo in Southeast Asia and Africa and many sub types. Possible their hides are exported to European/ Iberian makers of affordable horse stuff. Maybe it’s a good alternative, no idea. But Buffalo dies not necessarily mean our unique American Bison.

[Sleipnir]

Thank you everyone for your valuable input. I am based in Latvia and we have a really poor choice in our few local tack shops, so have to rely on European based tack shops that ship to Latvia or on Ebay, considering that not all sellers are willing to ship. This is an important reason why I’ve had less luck in finding what I need than I’d like.

Yes, the low price and the possible quality flaws of this seller scare me a bit, so I might pass this girth just for now and continue looking. That’s quite unfortunate that there’s no way of checking the quality of merchandise when buying online…

[demidq]

There are water buffalo raised all over the mediteranean region of Europe- Spain and Italy especially. Bufflao hide usually means water buffalo. Lots in India as well where most cheap leather tack is produced. Schleese has a factory there producing saddle components which is shipped back to Canada and assembled here so they can claim Canadian made.

[Sleipnir]

Well, I did not find anything that would be the right size AND post to my country, so I bit the bullet and ordered this girth after all. My loss if it turns out unfit for the purpose, but I’ll write a review here as soon as I receive it and try it out for a few times.

[Sleipnir]

Well, it came faster than I expected! I remind that this is the first time I’ve ever owned a leather girth, so I might not know what is what yet, but the first impressions are rather good. The upper layer is not cardboardy at all, has no cracks or dents or scratches on the surface (at least, yet!), the nappa is really soft and is evenly padded. It’s true to size and smells nice, just like fresh leather. I am yet to try it and we’ll see how it ages with use, but at least the very first impression is better than I expected for this price… I bet there are better products by wider known brands out there, though.

[Mondo]

I looks really nice for the price. The only complaint I have is that it doesn’t have elastic on any of the buckles. That’s a deal breaker for me, but I hope it works fine for you.