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Discussion on Fleece Girth Cover?
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 11:40 am:
What does everyone think of these? My Mom got one and she says the claim is that it will help dissipate heat and sweat if used in the summer. That seems like a crock to me. Anyone have any experience with this?
TIA,
Alicia
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 11:54 am:
I use one, but only because I think it's more comfy for my horse, I think she may have something, I don't see nearly as much "gunk" when I unsaddle him now.
The rope ones pinch and the neoprene ones seem to irritate his already sensitive thin skin...This one works for him.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 12:26 pm:
I use a leather contour girth now. It should be comfy enough, I hope. I still am not convinced, but I may try it to see what happens.
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 2:08 pm:
Fleece's big attraction throughout the sports world is its ability wick moisture away from the body, and it does this very well. Just price any horse-related genuine Merino wool products (such as girth covers, or covers for stirrup leathers used on Aussie saddles) . There seems to be a plethora of fleece products on the market, but some are synthetic and do not perform as well as the real thing. For example, Polartec (name brand) is great stuff, but should not be confused with the hundreds of other fabrics that LOOK like it but do not compare to its performance relative to warmth, wicking, softness, resistance to pilling, etc (can you tell I love my Polartec pullover??). Of course, girths aren't made from Polartec, but my point is that real wool fleece is worth the investment and it does help tremendously with dealing with sweat and moisture...you get what you pay for.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 3:26 pm:
I have a wool fleece covered girth on my western and trail saddle and am very happy with them. I've never had a sore from the girth, the horses don't seem to get as sweaty, and it's easy to clean; I just hose it off after each ride. I also ride with a wool fleece pad under my western saddle. Again, love it. I've put lots of miles on and never had a problem. My saddle pad cost about $50 years ago. I think I've had it about 20 years. It still looks almost new. I also wash it after each use.
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 3:28 pm:
I highly recommend fleece girth covers.
They work wonderfully on both string and leather girths. I have never had to use one on padded fabric girths popular with synthetic English saddles.
During the summer, my pony got awful girth sores from his contoured leather girth, but after slipping it through a fleece cover, he was quite comfortable and we had no more saddle sores.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 3:50 pm:
A reminder re: girth sores. If you grab each of his front legs at the knee and pull it towards you after you have saddled up and tighten the girth or cinch, you will prevent a lot of sores. This pulling of the legs will pull out/smooth out the loose skin a lot of horses get behind the elbows, and will also reposition the girth so it's a little further back. A lot of people tend to position the saddle too far forward, so the girth/cinch is too close to the elbow also.
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 3:53 pm:
I highly recommend a fleece cover but only if it's the real thing. Real fleece will wick moisture and keep him cooler in the summer than the synthetics. Plus they're nice and cushy. I've never had a string girth pinch as I use the double layer mohair and I also slide my hands underneath as I tack to make sure there is no skin caught. Don't like the neoprenes either - they sored my horse as well.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 4:02 pm:
My horse doesn't get sores, and he doesn't mind his girth. My Mom was just being nice (as she often is  ) and thought this might make it less hot for him in the summer. Seemed to me that if you sandwhich something between leather and skin, it would make it hotter. I guess I will have to try it and see. And, yes, it is real sheep fleece.
Thanks, I will let you guys know how it works, though I'm pretty sure I won't be able to tell the difference!
Alicia
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Member:
Terrilyn
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 4:09 pm:
But your horse will!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004 - 4:37 pm:
Terri-
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Member:
Goolsby
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 8:41 am:
I have used fleece, neoprene (hate them) and rope girths. I prefer the fleece. One of my mares never got girth sores before this year the other would on occasion. They got pretty bad sores from the roap girths this year so I have gone back to fleece girths for all of them and they havent gotten sores since.
Sara: Thanks for the tip on preventing girth sores!
Colleen
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 9:59 am:
Colleen, you're welcome.
It's something my dad taught me, and he learned it in the U.S. Cavalry!( Now you know how old I must be!!)
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 10:23 am:
Sara, I always do that with my horses and not only does it pull the skin out but it encourages them to stretch. Everytime I do that with my QH he does a big stretch like a cat - front feet out, butt in the air. It's really cute and he feels much better and relaxed after. When I pick his hind feet I will sometimes pull it straight out behind him and he takes the cue and stretches his leg, back, and neck real good.
I must be the only one who never gets a sore from rope girths.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 11:51 am:
Well, after all that, the cover didn't fit my girth. I couldn't get it on. Also, if I had been able to get it on, I wouldn't have been able to tell which direction to face the girth (the contour girths are one direction only). So, logistics make it impossible for me to use at least this particular one.
Oh well, thanks for all the info, anyway
Alicia
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 1:14 pm:
Holly-my older mare does the same as you boy. Infact, she'll start picking up a foot as soon as I move in front of her after saddling. I'm sure it feels good. It just seems to get the saddle, pad,& girth all situated comfy before we take off.
I have no problem with rope girths. Those soft mohair ones especially. The have a lot of pros; the ventilate pretty good for one thing. But, when you use one, imo it is esential to do the leg stretch bit. I think that's one of the main reasons so many people have girth sores on their horses - that and having the saddle too far forward.
Alicia-I've sensed a "mental block" regarding the fleece girth from the begining of this post.
As long as you and your horse are happy, I don't think it matters.
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 1:36 pm:
Sara,
You're probably right (by the way, it is just a cover, not a girth). I just like to keep things simple in the area of tack. Simple bit, no martingales, no leg protection, etc. Just another thing to worry about, in my opinion. Just wanted to see if it was worth the extra effort. It doesn't matter, as I mentioned, as it doesn't fit anyway ;)
Alicia
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 1:57 pm:
I use mohair girths exclusively. I have a couple in different lengths so each horse has his own. They wash up pretty good with a bucket of warm water and dish soap. They're nice and soft and I know my boys like them.
Sometimes horses have a lot of excess skin in their arm pit and even if you do the leg stretch the skin is pushed forward where it rubs. My old mare used to get sores when she'd sweat between the folds of skin - Ouch! I had to modify the rigging on my saddle to be center fired to keep this from happening.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 9:52 pm:
I've had to "shave their armpits" in the winter because some of them get such long hair it gets in the way and pulls, which will make them sore, too.
And Alicia, I respect your desire to keep things simple. I do too, as much as possible. When I was young I'd ride bareback almost all the time because I hated messing with the saddle. I could ride all day that way. I can no longer get on bareback without a big stump or bucket, (except on one of our stallions who is trained to kneel down!)but I still often ride with a halter when I'm just out on local trails. Of course if I'm headed for the mtns. I often look like a member of the Lewis and Clark party; I like to be prepared!
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2004 - 11:32 pm:
Sara,
Well, you are more like a vegan where I am a vegetarian. I ride hunt seat, with excusions into dressage and eventing. I just like minimizing stuff. I don't use draw reins, and rarely lunge. When I do, I usually use elastic side reins. I just figure, how much can a leg wrap help an animal that weighs over 1000 pounds. Also, I beleive using harsh bits is a waste of time. If it takes you three years to get your horse going in a nice soft bit, take the three years!!! I am taking a two year hiatus in showing my spectacular hunter to make myself a better rider, though he could do the 3'6" right now with a professional. Anyway, sorry for the long story, but I am talking off a bottle of champagne right now, and feeling a little poetic!!
Alicia}
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Friday, Jun 25, 2004 - 7:21 am:
Alicia, artificial fleece girth covers usually have some stretch in them and in my experience are quite difficult to get over the girth buckles but once you have them over the advantage is they don't flop off the girth into a pile of muck as you are saddling up.
I only use them on horses which are being brought back into work and may have soft skin in the girth area because I think they are too hot so I don't believe the "wicking" stuff based on the level of sweating compared to the girth without the cover.
I agree with all the comments about the importance of front leg stretches after tightening the girth.
Another thing I often see is people who have elastic in their girths and don't know that the elastic should not be on the side that you do up the buckles, because this tends to lead to overtightening causing skin abrasions. The elastic on an English saddle girth should be on the right hand side of the horse because you do the girth up on the left hand side (and if the elastic isn't right next to your pulling hand then you can't tighten the girth as much).
All the best
Imogen
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Member:
Aannk
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Posted on Friday, Jun 25, 2004 - 9:43 am:
Imogen,
That's what I thought might happen, the extra sweat. That's why I didn't want to use it in the first place.
By the way, here is a link to the girth I use https://www.countysaddlery.com/html/accessories/accessories.html.
It has elastic on both sides, and is contoured so that it does not pinch. I also make sure my saddle is situated correctly, which puts the girth further back than most folks usually sit theirs. I have had no rubs or hair loss from girths since I started using these girths. I am a county saddlery fan, and have a county stabilizer for each horse fitted to them.
I appreciate your information and advice!
Alicia
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