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Treeless Saddle Girthing Recommendations ...

Proper girth selection should be based on the riding demands on your horse.  We do not carry girths, but present these recommendations based on our own research from many sources - not direct experience with each.

1. never over tighten girth, but girth tightly enough to avoid slipovers.

2. do consider a girth sleeve to allow inflexible girths to slide freely across the thinner, more delicate front rib muscles of your horse - sudden sliding of an inflexible girth in direct contact can tear rib muscles.

3. do consider a girth which is flexible during use

4. do consider a girth which can maintain a constant tension if you are a demanding rider.

Rider Type:

• many choices
• wider models hold better

• more limited choices
• preserves saddle web integrity
• see girth tension study ...

Over girthing has been studied in race horses in Australia using scientific means.  The study focus was on both standing/resting girthing tensions and tension increases during running (with the horses' lungs fully expanded).  We have not located any study data, and cannot say how much tension increase could be expected as your own horses lungs fill to capacity, in extreme conditions.  The study correlates measures of resting state girth tensions to decreased ability to perform (see study links below). 

These were extreme tests, but they did point out that excess girth tension can affect a trained race horse - and it could affect your horse.

The conclusion was that using a girth which stretches with least tension variation over the entire girth length, results in a more constant tension during extreme conditions -and- that over girthing creates physical restrictions (our interpretation is that these physical restrictions can be potentially serious for your horse if overdone for prolonged periods).  The Australian study team produced a neoprene girth laminated together by an special elastomer adhesive.  Their solution, initially produced for the race industry - is known as the Sci-Girth.  Understanding this information is well worth your time.  Sci-Girth is now producing a dressage girth and will be introducing a western style girth.

OTHER GIRTH RECOMMENDATIONS:

Consider these Girth construction features:

• Soft Girth Sleeves for non-stretch girths - to prevent rib muscle injury.
• Elastic at both ends - a girth which can only stretch at one end, can result in localized sliding of the girth at one end, uneven tensions, and saddle side-slip tendencies
• The girth should provide equal tensioning on both sides under all conditions and ideally, stretch should be distributed over the entire length.
• Too much elastic in the webbing can result in too much stretching and tension variation.  A short, equal length of elastic for each end is probably best for lower cost models.
• *note - "Equalizer" is a commonly used term referring to a webbing or introduction of elastic, designed to provide equal tension to multiple buckles at each end of the girth - in practice, the manufacturings do not necessarily provide for equal stretch to each side.

Higher priced search words (we like Froogle.com for best pricing):

• Sci-Girth
• ReactorPanel Girths (pricey, but nice)
• Exselle Integra Girth (pricey, but nice)
• Evolution Dressage Girth (pricey, but nice)

Low to Medium priced search words:

• Fleece Elastic Girth (many Froogle.com search options!)
• "Elastic Equalizer" Dressage Girth
• Western Equalizing Fleece Girth
• Western "Elastic Equalizer" Girth
• Tex Tan Sta-put stretch girth  (a Western)
• Tuffy Equalizer Girth  (a western)
• EuroGirth  (several styles - good forum feedback - not tested here)

We will gladly add your recommended girth choice.  If you have had success with any other flexible girths we would appreciate your input . 

* If you look closely at many neoprene girth designs, you will see that the thicker ones are not necessarily built to take advantage of their stretching potential.  Many seem to be built like slab cushions which are pushed into the horses chest by an internal web material such as nylon.  The non-neoprene part of these girths, limits how much these girths can actually 'compress'.  This means as your horse is laboring, the girth tensions are likely to be increasing as they strain for more lung expansion. Neoprene girths may only be flattening out against your horse to prevent gouging.

GIRTH TENSION STUDY LINKS ...

No particular order - each offers a different view of same results:

Sci-Girth - the resulting product

Don't squeeze your horse - good overview 1

Animal abuse prevention - good overview 2

kiwijockey - best scientific details

Univ Melbourne - study summary