There are so many different types of girths on the market and it can be confusing to know what kind of girth would best suit your horse. In some horses changing your girth type can make a huge difference to your horses way of going.
We have created this blog post to outline the advantages and disadvantages of some of the different types of girth on the market.
The tension and pressure of girths when riding is at its lowest when in walk and increases during trot and again canter. Pressure from girths is placed behind your horses elbow. When a girth is done up tightly enough you should be able to fit a hand between the horse and the girth and if you exceed this you will affect the athletic ability of your horse.
If your girth has any signs of wear and tear it should be replaced to prevent rubbing and irritation.
Synthetic girths
These types of girths are made from a synthetic material and are often reasonably priced. They are easy to clean with soap and water which makes them easy to take care of and durable.
Leather girths
This type of girth gives a more traditional look. Leather girths can be simple in design or feature different tones of leather and fancy stitching. Leather girths are easy to care for with tack cleaning products and good quality leather girths become softer once they have been conditioned and cleaned.
String girths
This type of girth can be made of mohair, wool, cotton or nylon string. It is a this popular choice for helping prevent slipping or for horses that get irritated skin in the girth area. This girth can also help alleviate certain pressure points because the strings that make up the girth can move and act independently of one another.
Anatomical girths
These girths are often shaped to fit your horse and help disperse pressure. They are also good for horses who have a forward girth groove which the girth can help prevent the saddle slipping. These girths are often comfortable for horses.
Fabric girths
These girths are often made from cotton or another common fabric. Some horses prefer the softness of a fabric girth. Often fabric girths are a very affordable price. This type of girth can be machine or hand-washed in cool temperatures and hung to dry. Fabric girths often come in a range of colours.
Neoprene girths
These types of girths are popular due to being easy to care for with gentle soap and water. They are often affordable. Neoprene girths are typically wide and are sometimes good for horses whose saddle's have slipped with leather girths and they normally have elastic ends. It is important to note that some horses are allergic to neoprene.
Stud Girth / Guard
These are designed to protect your horse from injuring itself when jumping. They feature a belly plate that will protect your horse from hitting itself and often come with a martingale clip. They are often made from leather and so are easy to clean.
Girth Sleeves
Some horses that are sensitive to girths may find that a sheepskin or soft fleece girth cover can help allievate discomfort. Covers should be kept clean and when being used seams should be on the outside to prevent rubbing and irritation from occurring. Some girths come with sheepskin or fleece attached to them.
Elastic or not ?
Often a question is asked about if an elasticated girth should be used or whether it should have elastic at one or both ends.
When a girth has elastic in, the girth breathes with your horse as its rib cage expands the girth 'gives'.
If a girth is elasticated only at one end it can cause uneven tension and can cause saddles to slip.
Girths with elastic at both ends allow for more even tension but it can be easy to over tighten them.
Some girths have elastic centrally inside the girth which can offer a more effective stretch and even tension for the horse.
You can check out our girth collection by visiting this link