Western girths

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[QUOTE=aktill;7956166]
Can’t say that’s been my experience. If you’re careful to keep the tension equal, there’s no difference…it’s a demonstrable physics question.

Now, if you start out with a 7/8 or 5/8 double rig that isn’t going to be the same as centerfire…you have to start out with a full rig. Anything less than that will end up being behind centrefire.

Likewise, if you don’t put the cinch pin through both “fore” and “aft” latigo sections, it’ll tend to drift as well.

A true centerfire rig is less of a PIA to get the tension equal (why I’m building one), but the net result is the same when you balance out the force reactions.[/QUOTE]

COMPLETELY veering off the topic, but Aktill, that is one almighty gorgeous arena building… and a very cute fat horse Nice cincha too - did Diane DeWeese do that one?

[csaper58]

OP, why not just use your dressage girth?

www.whinnywidgets.com/cinchconverter-1.aspx

aktill, I’m also curious about where to get a lovely girth like the one in your post. Thanks for any references.

[Bluey]

Here, the wide chinches are called roper cinches and they are used by arena ropers mostly.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=csaper58;7956819]
OP, why not just use your dressage girth?

www.whinnywidgets.com/cinchconverter-1.aspx

aktill, I’m also curious about where to get a lovely girth like the one in your post. Thanks for any references.[/QUOTE]

Oh nice! I didn’t know such a thing exsisted.

[aktill]

He’s not fat, he’s just big boned! (Not really…weight was always an issue with him even riding 5 days a week). I don’t own the pony anymore, but I’m still at the facility, which is really gorgeous. Great care, outstanding instruction…they’ll have to kick me out before I leave voluntarily lol

The cinch is homemade, so I’m afraid unless someone is looking for a $500 cinch (paying myself $10/hr), that’s not really an option: http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/CenterfireCinch.JPG

That said, there are plenty of people who actually know what they’re doing and can make one MUCH cheaper than I can. Some options:
http://borkandsons.com/buckaroo.html (where the buckles came from too)
https://www.facebook.com/BeaverValleyFiberArts (LOVE their work)
http://www.coppercanyoncinches.com/copper-canyon-cinches-blog/buckle-options-for-wider-cinches

Great buckles, I have three more on my list of projects for sometime between now and later.

[craz4crtrs]

[QUOTE=aktill;7957686]
He’s not fat, he’s just big boned! (Not really…weight was always an issue with him even riding 5 days a week). I don’t own the pony anymore, but I’m still at the facility, which is really gorgeous. Great care, outstanding instruction…they’ll have to kick me out before I leave voluntarily lol

The cinch is homemade, so I’m afraid unless someone is looking for a $500 cinch (paying myself $10/hr), that’s not really an option: http://www.easphotography.com/Tindur/CenterfireCinch.JPG

That said, there are plenty of people who actually know what they’re doing and can make one MUCH cheaper than I can. Some options:
http://borkandsons.com/buckaroo.html (where the buckles came from too)
https://www.facebook.com/BeaverValleyFiberArts (LOVE their work)
http://www.coppercanyoncinches.com/copper-canyon-cinches-blog/buckle-options-for-wider-cinches

Great buckles, I have three more on my list of projects for sometime between now and later.[/QUOTE]

I have a Beaver Valley custom cinch. I love it. My second choice is a Classic Equine mohair/alpaca cinch.

This is my cinch, double thickness. https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/858600_470218983094963_398909104_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibyJ9

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7957715]
I have a Beaver Valley custom cinch. I love it. My second choice is a Classic Equine mohair/alpaca cinch.

This is my cinch, double thickness. https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/858600_470218983094963_398909104_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibyJ9[/QUOTE]

Wow, that is a work of art cinch.

We have been using these plain ones the past two decades, that a local fellow makes, come in wide also:

http://www.oliversaddle.com/catalog/item/568034/10107367.htm

The local saddle maker sells those and they have worked very well for us all those years.

[KIloBright]

everyone have their favorite type of cinch
I like the Weaver Airflex cinch

http://www.weaverleather.com/Equine/ourproducts/exclusives.aspx

[craz4crtrs]

[QUOTE=KIloBright;7958368]
everyone have their favorite type of cinch
I like the Weaver Airflex cinch

http://www.weaverleather.com/Equine/ourproducts/exclusives.aspx[/QUOTE]

Now this is one I do not like. We get very hot here in the sunmmer and between this girth and an Impact Gel pad, my mare really over heated on a hot steep ride. She actually had burned hair from it. Hair that turned white from heat. I won’t use it again when it’s that hot and I got rid of my Impact Gel pad.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7957715]
I have a Beaver Valley custom cinch. I love it. My second choice is a Classic Equine mohair/alpaca cinch.

This is my cinch, double thickness. https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/858600_470218983094963_398909104_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoibyJ9[/QUOTE]

That cinch is beautiful!

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7958673]
Now this is one I do not like. We get very hot here in the sunmmer and between this girth and an Impact Gel pad, my mare really over heated on a hot steep ride. She actually had burned hair from it. Hair that turned white from heat. I won’t use it again when it’s that hot and I got rid of my Impact Gel pad.[/QUOTE]

Friend of mine just bought the Airflex girth for her draft cross. It was the longest girth the store had in stock. Looking at it in person I was not impressed with it at all. I would really like to get a mohair girth if I can find one for under $30. I don’t want to spend a ton of money since western dressage is just going to so be something fun, and not our main focus.

[craz4crtrs]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;7958818]
Friend of mine just bought the Airflex girth for her draft cross. It was the longest girth the store had in stock. Looking at it in person I was not impressed with it at all. I would really like to get a mohair girth if I can find one for under $30. I don’t want to spend a ton of money since western dressage is just going to so be something fun, and not our main focus.[/QUOTE]

What length are you thinking?

[craz4crtrs]

http://www.amazon.com/Riata-Leather-Traditions-Mohair-Roper/dp/B004I8FNUC/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1421299120&sr=1-1&keywords=mohair+cinch

[KIloBright]

[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7958673]
Now th![](s is one I do not like. We get very hot here in the sunmmer and between this girth and an Impact Gel pad, my mare really over heated on a hot steep ride. She actually had burned hair from it. Hair that turned white from heat. I won’t use it again when it’s that hot and I got rid of my Impact Gel pad.[/QUOTE]

Did you have an actual airflow, or just a neoprene girth?
I agre that a plain neoprene will cause the horse to get hot, but the Airflow works great for me. Might not for you, but I ride in mountains , where one might spend over an hour climbing, to above the treelines, and the Airflow works great.
I replaced the mohair cinch that I used to have on my trial riding saddle, with this cinch
Don’t use an impact gel pad, but do love Air Ride pads.
We ride In some pretty tough country, as hubby is a trophy hunter
Of course, use what works for you!
Some of the trials we ride

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/trail%20riding/einsteinpowderface.jpg)

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/trail%20riding/AppBums.jpg)

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/Kidsandpacking_zps89531c8f.jpg)

This is above the treeline, probably a three hour climb at least

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/Shyanneabovecanyon.jpg)

I do just have a mohair cinch on my show saddle.
Good tack is worth the money, so don’t let price be your main criteria.
Maybe it gets hotter where you are?, but here, I can ride all day in the mountains with that Airflow cinch, and my horse is never sore

[craz4crtrs]

F

[QUOTE=K![](loBright;7958885]
Did you have an actual airflow, or just a neoprene girth?
I agre that a plain neoprene will cause the horse to get hot, but the Airflow works great for me. Might not for you, but I ride in mountains , where one might spend over an hour climbing, to above the treelines, and the Airflow works great.
I replaced the mohair cinch that I used to have on my trial riding saddle, with this cinch
Don’t use an impact gel pad, but do love Air Ride pads.
We ride In some pretty tough country, as hubby is a trophy hunter
Of course, use what works for you!
Some of the trials we ride

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/trail%20riding/einsteinpowderface.jpg)

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/trail%20riding/AppBums.jpg)

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/Kidsandpacking_zps89531c8f.jpg)

This is above the treeline, probably a three hour climb at least

[IMG]http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/KiloBright/Shyanneabovecanyon.jpg)[/QUOTE]

It was the Airflow. My mohair was dirty so used an extra Airflow. It had been fine on shorter or cooler rides but this was in the mountains and it was 104. It will not work for my horse, and may not work on other heat sensitive or thin skinned horses. My daughters gelding seemed to be fine with his Airflow, but I didn’t have him in those conditions.

[Draftmare]

I think I will need a 36.

Why does everybody dislike mohair? The one and only time I used neoprene on my mare she broke out in hives on her belly, so I need either mohair, felt/wool, or leather (which doesn’t really seem to be a thing in western girths).

[aktill]

Both the buckles AND the raw mohair separately on my cinch were more than $30. You might be able to find one marketed as mohair for that price, but odds are it’ll be a wool blend.

Neoprene worked well for my wife’s thin skinned Arab, but I personally won’t touch the stuff unless forced to. Why go jogging in a wetsuit?

[Draftmare]

I don’t expect to find one new, looking for something gently used.

[Pocket_Pony]

@aktill;7957686

He’s not fat, he’s just big boned! (Not really…weight was always an issue with him even riding 5 days a week). I don’t own the pony anymore, but I’m still at the facility, which is really gorgeous. Great care, outstanding instruction…they’ll have to kick me out before I leave voluntarily lol

Wait, what?! Sorry, I know it is nosy of me, but when I think of aktill, I think of Tindur! How’s the new young horse?

[KIloBright]

[QUOTE=craz4crtrs;7958887]
F

It was the Airflow. My mohair was dirty so used an extra Airflow. It had been fine on shorter or cooler rides but this was in the mountains and it was 104. It will not work for my horse, and may not work on other heat sensitive or thin skinned horses. My daughters gelding seemed to be fine with his Airflow, but I didn’t have him in those conditions.[/QUOTE]

That is hot, so yes, you are riding in hotter temps than I do, thus I have never put that cinch under test at those temps!
When we climb, even if it is fairly hot on the flats, by the time we get up high, even in summer, it gets fairly cool. A good way to escape the bugs!

I agree that the straight neoprene cinches are not comfortable for most horses. I bought two some years ago, when they first came out, and then threw them away. Hubby’s horse objected to them by bucking!
I still like mohair cinches, but just found that the Airflow works in the temps I ride in, and is easy to clean after every ride

Just out of curiosity, as 104F is equal to 40 C, do you not worry about heat exhaustion, esp climbing?
Sometimes it gets up to 30C in the mountains here, at the lower altitudes, and that is plenty hot! I have ridden a 30 mile mountain loop one July, when temps got that high, but we started out early in the morning, thus were up higher by the time temps hit 30 C. I guess, with your horses being used to it, and low humidity, they are still able to cool body core temp enough, sweating?