so since my saddle is coming (yay!!!) i need to get fittings for it. i think i’ve decided on a mohair girth (this is an ap english saddle). any reason to go with any particular manufacturer? if so, which one?
Running Bear Farm
I have, um, four mohair string girths from Teddy’s business, all with D rings for breast collar attachments.
Two horses, each with two stages of porkiness each year.
Thumbs up from me. I run an endurance ride and Teddy is always generous in supporting us by donating prizes, so I like to support her business.
Good luck.
–Patti
i was actually checking out their
fleece girth with wool felt backing. thanks for the suggestion.
I’m a girthaholic
… with both dressage and endurance saddles and thus long and short girths and four horses …
So I actually have two of Teddy’s fleece-backed dressage girths as well, one with elastic on both sides, one with no elastic. Super well made and stainless steel fittings so you don’t end up with a perfectly useful girth with rusted-out fittings (a pet peeve of mine).
which material did you get on those fleece girths?
i see there is wool felt and some other stuff (webbing?).
do they wash well?
Black webbing
… and yes, they wash great. I throw them in the washer on cold and the gentle cycle and “free” laundry detergent and double rinse. Then I just lay them out to dry. One is about three years old, the other one year old and they look pretty much the same as the day I bought them.
um…
who’s teddy…?
Teddy Lancaster
The owner of Running Bear Farm tack shop.
I think it’s www.runningbear.com and no, I don’t benefit by giving you the information. I feel a bit like I drank the KoolAid. Just very much like her girths!
I have this one:
http://www.saddleuptack.com/webcat/subcat151.htm
That’s about the cheapest I’ve ever found them online. I love the classic black and white stripe. Mohair is the best, from what I’ve read, so I’m really anxious to start using it.
I’m in love with this one:
http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=slypner&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=369014918&Count2=286155343&CategoryID=3&Target=products.asp
from Slypneargear.com, the Montana Cincha Endurance Girth. Darn if they didn’t raise the price as soon as i got mine and started telling everyone how great it is! I wash it often enough it dries well and fast. The saleslady was right in having me order one a bit smaller than I originally thought as it has stretched a bit. Want a 28, order a 26…I also have the cheaper black and white one, PM me if you are interested. It is also really nice but the buckles seemed to bug my guy more than his endurance contoured one.
thanks guys.
my new saddle is an ap with short billets so i can’t use the endurance or dressage length girths. i need the full length english girth. i see them in natural but not in that speckled ‘color.’ but that’s ok. natural will do.
I have shopped literally for probably 2 months for a good mohair girth. Unforuntately, most of them are listed as string or cord girths, and are some form of polyester or rayon (as evidenced by their cheap price tag. ;)) I asked questions from endurance riders, and determined that the genuine mohair would be the way to go. The more I use various types of equipment, the more I’m coming to love natural fibers. I’ve completely given up on polyester fleece and neoprene against the horse or myself. :dead:
I started to become a believe in natural fibers because I have 2 seat savers - one an expensive merino wool, and the other a polyester fleece that was 17 bucks at the local tack shop. The cheap one is comfortable, but not nearly as cushy and energy absorbing as the expensive one, and it slips. Natural fibers naturally have a texture to them that grips. Synethics are slippery. Or so this is the results of my own personal “scientific experiment.” :lol:
Dressage Extentions sells a full length German Trevia (spelling?) cord girth that’s a little more expensive, but I’m not sure exactly what it’s made of.
A2
thanks!
and i tend to agree. especially in light of some recent discoveries re saddle pad i used to use.
so the new saddle pad will be real fleece or wool felt only.
that girth in dressage extensions is made of synthetic fiber.
i’ll go with the montana cinch girth.
well darn - i ordered a little BIGGER than what i wanted because of no elastic…hole punch, here i come!
Well, I’ve also read that they shrink MAJORLY when you wash them - so I guess it should all even out! :lol:
Marta - this is off topic, but can you elaborate on the saddle pads? I’m in the midst of a saddle pad debacle now. The people on the treeless saddle group really push the skitos, equipedic, haf, etc. I’m sorry but I just don’t like the looks of them at all. After having spent $150 on a SMX Air Ride pad by Professionals Choice and found out it was a cheap, crunchy piece of cardboard junk, I’m really skeptical on these “special” pads. I’m trying to be open minded but of everything out there, the thick, heavy Toklat Woolback is appealing to me the most. And of course everyone says it’s not suitable for a treeless saddle. I think half the fun of riding is shopping for the stuff. lol
A2
sent you a pm
Marta - can you pm me, too? Same issue w/ the pads…
I got a chance to ride in the new girth last night. It’s definitely a very “short” 24". It’s actually closer to 23". Maybe they do that because they know it will stretch??
I really like it. Didn’t slip at all, seems well made, and really gripped the horse. I don’t care for neoprene, or pvc. This was a nice change.
just ordered my girth
over $90 b/c of the length… ouch! it better fit, too, b/c they’re not returnable:(
Hey, you know what, the more miles I put on, the more ok I am with dropping the dough on stuff that will actually WORK! :lol: I’ve gotten to the point that I am flat sick and tired of crap that doesn’t fit, doesn’t work, or is a general PITA. The girht was a lot of $$$ but I really like it so far and am glad I spent it. I hope you like yours too! :yes:
