Are you looking for a new strap? Your horse puts seven straps to the test
Your girth is part of your horse’s daily harness and plays an essential role in helping to keep your saddle securely in place. This seemingly simple kit has been in the spotlight for several years now and has undergone a makeover in its design. Manufacturers use different materials to help your horse be as comfortable as possible so that it can perform at its best.
If you’re in the market for a new girth and aren’t sure which one will work best for your horse, our review of a selection of different girths will help. Our team of testers tested a selection of different straps rating them out of five for fit, performance / comfort and whether they offer good value for money. This gives an overall rating out of 15.
Our winner is …
Pictured: Thorowgood dressage strap
1. THOROWGOOD TRAINING STRAP
List Price £ 27.95. For resellers: thorowgood.com
Colors: black, brown
Sizes: 18 inches to 32 inches
Adjust: A tight fitting strap that has just enough shape around the elbow area. The material is soft and flexible, in addition it is elastic. There are loops to keep your webbing straps neat and tidy. 5 stars
Performance: A great synthetic girth that does a really good job – my horse seems to be happy wearing it and it doesn’t chafe. The material just needs to be wiped with a damp sponge to remove dirt and grease, which is very easy. 4.5 stars
Value for money: You won’t go wrong with this strap – it’s great value for money. 5 stars
Overall score: 14.5
2. KM ELITE MEMORY FOAM TRAINING STRAP
RRP £ 50. Will buy kmeliteproducts.co.uk
Colors: black, brown
Pictured: KM Elite Memory Foam Dressage Girth
Sizes: 20 to 32 inches
Adjust: This strap fits well and although it doesn’t have much shape it fits well around the elbow area. Strap straps fit snugly out of the way. It is elasticated at both ends, which makes it easier to obtain uniform pressure. 4.5 stars
Performance: The memory foam in this strap is really soft and plush. The two horses I tried this strap on are both a bit sensitive but I had no friction issues and both horses seem comfortable. Even though this is a synthetic girth my horses don’t sweat too much while wearing it and it is also quick to clean. 4.5 stars
Value for money: A very reasonable price for such a smart and practical strap. 5 stars
Total score: 14
3. MATTES CRESCENT SHORT STRAP
Pictured: Mattes Crescent Short Strap
List price from £ 141.16. For resellers: zebraproducts.co.uk
Colors: black, with lambskin covering available in a selection of colors
Sizes: 50cm-90cm
Adjust: A smart looking strap that fits my horse perfectly – it is well formed around the elbow area. The removable sheepskin cover is beautiful and soft. It’s a little tedious to put your webbing straps inside the webbing to make it look neat. 4.5 stars
Performance: This strap was a game-changer for my horse. His wide barrel pushes most of the other straps forward on his elbow – this caused some punches and chafing, but since using this strap this is no longer a problem. The crescent shape keeps the girth in the right place – my horse seems much happier and more comfortable since using this girth. 5 stars
Value for money: It’s not the cheapest but it’s worth considering if you’re struggling to find a strap that doesn’t chafe. 4 stars
Overall score: 13.5
4. WINTEC ANATOMIC STRAP
In the photo: Wintec anatomical strap
List Price £ 99.99. For resellers: wintec-selles.fr
Colors: black, brown
Sizes: 55cm-95cm (short), 100cm-150cm (long)
Adjust: A well-formed strap that is made of a soft synthetic material. It is important that the widest part of the strap fits in the middle of your horse, so you need to make sure you adjust it evenly on both sides. 4.5 stars
Performance: The air-filled middle part of this strap seems to fit my generally quite long horse. He’s much happier to have his girth adjusted since I changed to this one. It’s easy to clean – just wipe it off with a damp sponge. It has an elegant leather look; you wouldn’t know it is synthetic. 4.5 stars
Value for money: A good price for a quality strap. 4.5 stars
Overall score: 13.5
5. AMERIGO PROTECTOR TRAINING STRAP
Pictured: Amerigo Protector dressage girth
List price £ 322. For resellers: zebraproducts.co.uk
Colors: black, brown
Sizes: 55cm-80cm
Adjust: This strap fits very well, but you need to make sure that the wider plate is resting on your horse’s sternum. He looks smart and is very well done. 4 stars
Performance: My horse is particularly sensitive, and other straps have rubbed it. The shape of it made that I no longer have this problem and it looks happier too. The lightly padded leather and the shape on the side mean that this strap does not interfere with your horse’s elbow which is another issue I had before. 5 stars
Value for money: It’s an investment, but well worth it if your horse is very sensitive. 4 stars
Total score: 13
6. STUBBEN EQUI SOFT STRAP
Pictured: Stubben Equi Soft Girth
List Price £ 238. For resellers: stuebben.fr
Colors: black, ebony, tobacco (leather, neoprene or lambskin pad)
Sizes: 40cm-150cm
Adjust: The fit of this strap is very important: the center piece should be positioned symmetrically on your horse and you should make sure to adjust the strap equally on both sides. 4 stars
Performance: The design of this girth is an elastic band system (plus a pad; the leather version has been tested) that distributes pressure evenly as your horse moves and breathes. I used it on a sensitive Thoroughbred who didn’t like having his girth attached. Since using this strap he’s been a lot happier – still a little responsive but not as bad. 4.5 stars
Value for money: An expensive strap, but it seems to work on sensitive types. 4 stars
Overall score: 12.5
Pictured: The Better Integrated Web Dressage Strap
7. LEMIEUX INTEGRATED WEB TRAINING STRAP
List Price £ 64.96. For resellers: lemieuxproducts.com
Colors: black wool, natural wool
Sizes: 22in-30in
Adjust: A stylish strap that is flexible, soft and snug. It is not too shapely but it is suitable for my horse.4 stars
Performance: I found this strap to move a bit, and the loops you put your straps through aren’t quite the right places for my saddle. That said, however, the merino wool lining is soft and I had no issues with the chafing. My horse sweated while wearing it but it washes very well. 4 stars
Value for money: Fair value for a smart strap. 4.5 stars
Overall score: 12.5
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