This seems to be more perplexing than it should be. I am on the hunt for a dressage girth. It doesnt need to be an anatomical girth, but it does need to be made from leather and not made in China. Any ideas? I have tried several places like Dover, Smart Pak, and several others but no luck. TIA
I love the Albion Legend girth. http://www.albionsaddlemakers.co.uk/accessories/accessory-range/girths/legend-girth-2.html
I just got a Total Saddle Fit girth that I love - not sure where it’s made, but it seems to be very high quality. You might also check Smith Worthington Saddle Co. I [I]think[I] their girths are either made in England or here in the US of European leather. Or you might check any of the websites for saddles made in England/Germany - they likely sell girths as well. Hope you find your perfect girth.
I love this girth. Gorgeous leather. For those who like elastic, there’s an elastic version as well. http://www.hastilowusa.com/girths/comfi-soft-dressage-girth.html
The Red Barn/KL Select contoured girth is what I use, great quality, sometimes on sale.
Prestige girths are made in Italy; I use this one. The shape is good for my compact guy and love the quality. : http://www.prestigeitaly.com/scheda.asp?menu=accessories&IDproduct=44&LAN=ENG
But they have several shapes.
I found one on Ebay for quite a deal…lucky.
www.hastilowusa.com has several nice leather girths to choose from. I have one of their balding dressage girths hopefully arriving tomorrow - I was so excited to find one in a dressage length (they also make long ones)! I have a jumping balding girth I bought 20+ years ago and I love it and had always wanted a dressage version but hadn’t been able to find anywhere still making/selling them.
I second the TSF girth. I have the anatomical one and my horse loves it. Super leather quality.
My horse is super particular so I’ve tried a LOT of girths. My notes:
The Passier anatomical was too wide for my guy but great quality.
Total Saddle Fit Dressage girth is great! Especially awesome it has fleece covers if you need it and now they have a stretchtec version which is wonderful. Made in USA. Awesome company.
Regular: http://www.centerlinestyle.com/tsf-dressage-shoulder-relief-girth/
Stretchtec: http://www.centerlinestyle.com/tsf-stretchtec-shoulder-relief-girth-english/
Stubben Equi-Soft is by far my favorite if you can swing the pricetag and have a picky pony. You don’t have to tighten it like crazy and it allows big movers a lot more freedom as well as enhances respiration. It’s seriously phenomenal. Made in Germany. Comes in leather, neoprene and sheepskin versions.
http://www.centerlinestyle.com/stubben-neoprene-dressage-girth/
Stubben also has a simple neoprene and simple leather version.
http://www.centerlinestyle.com/stubben-neoprene-dressage-girth/
For girths with some shape to them, but not “anatomical”, I LOVE my Nunn-finer, and Albion also has a similar girth. A bit more padded and “squishy” than average, and looks very comfortable. It is what I would want if I was the horse.
If your horse has big shoulders, and you have trouble keeping the saddle back enough to clear them, then try “total saddle fit” (AKA shoulder relief), or Cottage. These work well if the issue is large shoulders and your horse has a place further back where the saddle really belongs. However, if you do not need to set the saddle further back, then then sometimes they really don’t fit well. I would use them only if you have a real reason to.
THANK YOU! I was just about to buy this same girth directly from Total Saddle Fit, but Centerline Style has free shipping!
Just got the Stubben Equisoft in leather from VTO. My horse loves it. I dont have to tighten as much and the saddle stays put.
Not a fan of the TSF Girth. The pressure on the sternum is too uneven.
I use a Wintec neoprene It’s just fine
[QUOTE=quiet girl;8753405]
Not a fan of the TSF Girth. The pressure on the sternum is too uneven.[/QUOTE]
I found this too, I had both the long version for my jumping saddle and the Dressage version. I ended up selling them both as my mare did not like them (sore abs?), and I could see a large gap between her front legs between girth&sternum at the front while lunging, where it should be laying flat. Very tight across the rear seam of the girth, loose/gappy in the front. I wonder how the new stretchy version sits, seems to be their correction for this issue.
Is there an anatomical version of the Stubben Equisoft?
I will third the issues with the TSF, it is why we don’t carry them. Prestige makes one similar and there is something about their girth that even though it looks similar does not have the uneven pressure issue. What in particular are you needing out of a girth, or what issues are you trying to address. Sometimes less complicated is best? Also take a look at your elbow alignment before settling on a girth and make sure your horse needs a forward girth groove type of girth first, not all horses do. I have one horse that nothing but sheepskin can touch him or he gets rubs no matter what girth you use. I have another that just likes a simple Professional Choice girth (she could care less about the expensive $300 girth) so it really comes down to what the horse needs.
Can’t go wrong with an Otto Schumacher from Dressage Extensions.
[QUOTE=BatCoach;8713028]
I second the TSF girth. I have the anatomical one and my horse loves it. Super leather quality.[/QUOTE]
This is the one to get - both my horses now go in this girth and I will never go back. I also got two fleece covers - worth the cost.
[QUOTE=BatCoach;8713028]
I second the TSF girth. I have the anatomical one and my horse loves it. Super leather quality.[/QUOTE]
This is the one to get - both my horses now go in this girth and I will never go back. I also got two fleece covers - worth the cost.
