elastic on girths

[fleabitten]

i always believed that the elastic side should be attached to the offside but a lot of times i have seen it on the nearside - which is correct?

[haffyfan]

I hate those elasticated girths with a passion as a lot of the time they end up being over tightened just because it's possible and I also personally think they give uneven pressure if only one side is elasticated

bearing this in mind I should think the elastic should be on the right hand side to minimise over tightning when girthing up as this is mainly done on the left but I'll bet people have it on the nearside to make girthing up easier

sorry they really are my pet hate beyond, I think, anything else...

[spotti]

We have a girth with elastic on both ends...mostly because its the shape that fits Faith's belly. Used to have a Humane girth (bleurgh) that was anything but humane! It was really hard to do up and pinched like something horrid.

I too dislike one-ended elastic girths as they can be uneven. But then again, I know of some people that do up non-elastic girths with one side tighter than the other...how is that helpful?

But in answer to the original question, I always thought the elastic end should be on the off-side to prevent over tightening.

[joandlad]

Saddlers say that you should swap sides regularly. I've got one that's elastic at both ends. It was a nightmare to get hold of. Majority on the market only have it on one end.

[fimacg]

I have one of the wintec strechy girths for Chompy, not that I can ever stretch it. and humane girth for brave - on him I dont find it pinches at all, maybe its his shape...

[zara]

I have a Profesional Choice girth with elastic at both ends and I really like it but i do have to be careful that if someone else rides him it isn't over tightened Zx

[spotti]

Jo - which girth do you use? I think ours is an aerborn...I think. No no no I tell a lie, it's a thorowgood...I can see the red symbol/logo thing now. Shaped to fit around the shoulders with elastic on both ends. That was a nightmare to get hold of, especially as a dressage girth! Think I got it off the internet in the end...

Fi, you're probably right. Faith is a very odd shape so nothing normal seems to fit properly. We have to have everything in a special size Even her bitless bridle is specially made for her - the size that would fit her head wouldn't have fitted her nose, and actually if I remember rightly, even when we'd figured out a combination that would fit, the nice lady at Dr Cook's had to punch a few more holes in the noseband just to be sure!

[joandlad]

Sorry Spotti, only just seen this. The one I use is a Lemetex. It's really soft neoprene, anti-balding shaped with elastic at both ends. I've got a black 56" one that I'm looking to sell if anyone's interested. Used only twice. Can't find a picture of one anywhere and they're not on the Lemetex website so I think they may have been discountinued.

Oh, picture on here:

www.tackroominc.com/courbette-neoprene-girthib-p-7713.html

[jane]

I too absolutely hate elastic girths.........

[ceej]

the only girth Harry gets on with is leather - recently bought a really nice jeffries one with elastic - he seems to prefer it to most others - although he too got on well with the humane one - he would be most upet if I used one without elastic when it gets done up at first. My dressage one is elastic both ends. I always do my girth up equally on both sides (as it is shaped) so I dont see the need for a preference to any side

[duckles]

My girth has elastic both ends - I think it is thoroughgood (that is spelt wrong, I know). I have a wintec one with elastic in middle but, like Fi- I have never been able to stretch it so its there for the rare times both horses are being ridden at the same time.
I really like elastic girths as I find the other ones very hard to do up.