Where to find a Balding girth?

[Canterwell]

Anyone know where to find a Balding girth in the US? I brought mine over from the UK some years ago - best girth EVER - but cannot find any here.

It’s made out of a single piece of leather cut into three strips and folded - kind of an hour-glass shape.

If I were smarter, I’d figure out how to insert an image - plenty of Google images.

Thanks for any help here.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

You mean one of these?

Here’s a few places that have them:

http://www.hastilowusa.com/girths/balding-girth.html

http://www.horsecountrycarrot.com/index.cfm?action=store&sub=product&prod=464&cat=147

http://www.tackzone.com/catalog/balding-girth-p-370.html

Where are you located? I bet Middleburg Tack Exchange would have one.

[Canterwell]

Thank you! That’s exactly what I’m looking for. I’m near Philadelphia, PA. Do you by any chance have contact info for Middleburg Tack Exchange?
Thanks again.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Here you go:

http://www.middleburgtack.com/

Enjoy! If they don’t have one right now, House Country (second link in previous post) will.

[bluebuckets]

Please excuse my ignorance, but what are they for? In other words, what makes them different than say, an overlay girth? I have seen these before and always wondered.

[Equibrit]

http://www.hastilowusa.com/girths/balding-girth.html

[Canterwell]

I don’t know an “official” use, but what I’ve always heard is that the hour-glass design means that there is very little width behind the elbow, an area where many horses are sensitive.

Because the whole thing is a single piece of leather, but cut into three strips and criss-crossed for the ~ middle 2/3, it seems to have more “give” even when the girth is at riding tension, thus preventing galling and rubs.

I personally really like the “look” too - classic and elegant as these always seem to be made from lovely leather that lasts forever. The one I’m currently using is at least 15 years old.

I’ve never seen one in use in the USA - and am puzzled as they are popular in the UK.

[BAC]

[QUOTE=Canterwell;7095553]

I’ve never seen one in use in the USA - and am puzzled as they are popular in the UK.[/QUOTE]

At one time they were very common in the US. I was a junior in the 1960s and just about every “riding school” I lessoned at used them for their school horses. I am not sure when they disappeared but I also think they are very attractive.

[Small_Change]

I’ve got one that I use on my side saddle. When it finally gets too worn (and currently it looks as though it’s got plenty of life left), I plan on having it copied by a good saddler! The balding girth and a beautiful pair plaited reins, both passed down from my Nana, are two pieces of tack very special to me.

Out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen a balding girth with elastic? I never have, and am assuming it might create too much give?