Total Saddle Fit girth?

[mlb722]

@Texarkana

I bought the synthetic TSF girth for my mare (the original one, not the StretchTech). I thought she was the perfect candidate for it, as she has a forward girth groove, a big belly, and a prominent shoulder.

I like the quality of the girth. It seems really well made, especially for a synthetic girth.

But my mare HATES it! Of course, this horse is the princess and the pea when it comes to most things. But she seriously hates the girth! I have never seen an animal have such a strong opinion over a girth. I used it for a few weeks before I realized the girth was truly the issue and she was NOT going to get over it.

I should probably sell it, since it’s just collecting dust on a saddle rack. But I like it and hope some day I can use it on someone else!

Meanwhile, she still needs a new girth and I’ve been too gun shy to purchase another. I still think she would benefit from an anatomical design, but I’m leary to try again.

I have exactly the same horse! This should have been perfect for her too but she let me know it was not going to work! I wonder if the synthetic has less gapping.
The chiro also thought she was out in the sternum from it.

[piccolopony]

I have the Stretch-Tech girth and I adore it! It works perfectly for my pony and she’s tough to fit and really picky about what she goes comfortably in. The leather on mine is middle of the road but certainly nothing to complain about.

[lorilu]

I have a Fairfax BUT have switched to the TSF stretch tec… and my guy likes it. I have the fleece version - the fleece velcros on and off for washing, very easy. Fits well. Texarkana, you should try it…

[lorilu]

@beowulf

I have the TSF too. I’ll agree, the leather quality is mediocre. The outside is a fake-feeling, plasticky type of leather - but it cleans up well – while the inside (the side that touches the horse) is kind of weird soft leather, I’m not sure I like it. It’ll get dry and hard after only a few rides without a wipe-down, so I have to pretty much wipe it down after every ride or it’ll quickly get these ‘dirt-ridges’ - not sure how to explain it other than, I have had leather girths I haven’t cleaned in months that don’t get this, so I think it is a product of the leather type.

I don’t know why I bought the TSF, because my horse isn’t girthy, doesn’t need shoulder relief, etc, so I might not be the best person to review the product - I think I just wanted to feel better about the inherent discomfort that comes from girths, since I cannot imagine in any way shape or form a girth feels good for a horse. I kvetch when the elastic waist-band in a dress is too tight, so…

The girth is great at keeping the saddle in place and secure. I notoriously ride with too-loose a girth, but this girth even loose does a good job of adding stability. I have not noticed any sliding back. It also gives plenty of elbow clearance.

One thing though - do not judge by eyeballing if the girth is loose or not. Judge by putting your hand between the billets/body. It can be deceiving sometimes and look much more loose than it really is.

One thing I have noticed, is that the pressure is not unilateral/the same front to back. When used with my brand new XC saddle, with its brand new, not-uneven billets, placed on the same holes on both sides, there is a big gape towards the front of the girth (close to the elbows). It doesn’t bother me and doesn’t appear to bother my horse, but it can and does make the girth look looser than it really is. I have the same problem with my dressage saddle as well, but not as extreme.

It does not work as well in my XC saddle as it does my dressage saddle. No surprises there, probably has something to do with the difference in billet placement in both saddles.

I do think the TSF girth is more comfortable than a standard girth, and I use it for that reason alone. Overall I think the value is good, the design is sound, and if I had to buy it again I’d probably get a sheep-skin just for extra measure - my only complaint is the leather quality which is just so-so… but the design more than makes up for the lack of extraordinary leather feel.

That gap is there to allow the skin to float under the girth. The fairfax girth website has an explanation.

[mvp]

@Saskatoonian

Huh, seems the leather quality on the TSF is inconsistent, because mine (probably 5 years old?) has much better leather than my old County Logic (maybe 10 years ago) girth. Hated the Logic - the leather was so stiff and just never really broke in. The TSF has broken in well - it has thicker leather on the outside, but it took oil well and is nice (not plastic-y, like Beo’s), and softer leather on the inside. The inside leather has little cracks, but it still soft, and the girth was free from a friend who could no longer use it, so I can deal. It’s hard to find a good short girth, especially in brown!

That’s my sense, too, on both counts. I think County’s Logic girth is made from stout, ever-hard leather. As a Hunter Princess, I wouldn’t like owning and caring for it. The TSF girths I have seen come in a variety of leather qualities. Once you have had them in your hand, you can start to tell which ones (kinda) might be made of finer leather by looking at a picture.

The ones I have I bought slightly used and I like them because the loops for the billets are just one and not that same strip of leather sewn down into two loops, one for each billet. I think this helps the girth sit at any angle it likes, which is what I bought it to do on a hard-to-fit pear-shaped mare. Also, on this mare the front part toward her sternum gapes a bit. It looks weird, but no one is unhappy, so I’m a fan of these girths. Some day, I’d like to try a full-length version on her, too.

[Suspiria]

My TSF experience:
I bought one of the short girths on the recommendation of my mare’s massage therapist who was noticing some soreness in the, uh, armpit area. When the girth arrived, I was extremely sad to see that it had big “lumps” in the padded side where the elastic was sewn in. Like, really big lumps. Right where my mare was saying she already had pressure. I had also paid $$ for a fleece girth cover and was pretty disappointed when they sent a synthetic fleece cover that they charged a sheepskin price for. I was super glad for the return policy and won’t buy from them again. Never even used the girth.

[IdahoRider]

I have the Stretch Tech dressage girth and live it!
Sheilah

[sortofbyx]

My keg with legs liked the stretch tec, and I was pleased with how it fit her. But unfortunately, with her build, she really needs an equalizer girth. I wasnt thrilled with how my not yet filled out Trakehner moose looked in it. But he has not been sat on yet, so I can’t comment on how he would go.

The quality is fair. Not as padded as some of the more quality leather girths, but not awful. The leather on the backside of the girth does feel cheap.

[4wdNstraight]

I have the Fairfax. I do like it, but I needed a more extreme forward girth for my Andy. At first I hated the lack of elastic because I’ve always used a double elastic girth. I don’t even notice or think about it anymore. I now find myself putting it on my other horse because I like it so much. I would buy the TSF and try it due to the price before I would go for the Fairfax, but I love my girth.