Posted 2009-04-28 8:30 AM (#104082) Subject: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Veteran
Posts: 270 Location: Roanoke IL
I've heard that mohair girths are best when it comes to not chafing your horse. I've used neoprene and found it to be okay, but if a mohair girth would be more comfortable for my horse, I'd try it. I've noticed that on most, the buckles are bare, unless you get a little cover for the ends. Wouldn't that be more likely to chafe? I found the prettiest endurance girth here http://www.thedistancedepot.com/Montana_Cincha_Endurance_Girth_p/fth-mcend.htm but I don't want to make a hundred dollar mistake. Thoughts or opinions? I'm using a regular little neoprene dressage girth right now, but I feel that it's kinda narrow.
Posted 2009-04-28 10:32 AM (#104096 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376 Location: Missouri
Keep in mind there are many different qualities of mohair and neoprene. And price does not necessarily reflect the quality of the product. We've found the high quality neoprene to be the best at minimizing galling. The reason it is better, is because it has less of a tendency to roll and move than does mohair. The more the girth moves the more galling problems you will have. Likewise, the tighter the girth the more galling you will get.
Posted 2009-04-28 10:44 AM (#104099 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Veteran
Posts: 174 Location: Missouri
I don't like neoprene. It doesn't give and it is hot and also doesn't breath well. I have a classic equine Alpaca girth. It is extremely soft and I've been using it on a horse that everything rubbed him raw except this. Last fall I rode him 200 miles in 12 days and not one rubbed place so that has sold me on these girths. You will have to find what works best for you.
Posted 2009-04-28 11:12 AM (#104104 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Elite Veteran
Posts: 792 Location: East Tennessee, USA, Planet Earth
Mu choice....100% mohair! My pony Huginn is allergic to neoprene, it leaves him raw. Katee Owens from Advantage Saddles hand makes all my mohair girths. I love them....they still so soft. Katee's email addy is owensall@sti.net
Good luck on making a decision on what will be best for your horse.
Posted 2009-04-28 12:49 PM (#104111 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Elite Veteran
Posts: 781 Location: La Cygne, KS
Galling is mostly caused by the placement of the girth on the saddle, where it aligns on your horse, and how tight you pull the girth. Outside of the occcasional allergic reaction to materials, appropriate placement and tightness of the girth will not cause a gall mark.
Posted 2009-04-29 5:52 AM (#104156 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
Gotta add my 2 cents worth- I'd rather use neoprene. but as someone else said there is quite a difference in quality of neoprene (and mohair) I'm still using one of the neoprene girths I used for endurance- did 7 or 8 100's, lots of 50's and and countless training miles w/ the same horse/saddle/girth and had absolutely no problems. Teddy at Running Bear Farms made the girth. they are expensive but well worth it.
Posted 2009-04-29 9:38 AM (#104167 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Veteran
Posts: 282 Location: southcentral pennsylvania
I have been using 100% mohair girths for many years. I agree, they have some natural give and breath. The trick is to find 100% mohair. I have found that the shops in the West tend to carry a larger line of them than here in the East. Our friends that ride with us tried the neoprene....sold them at a yard sale. Catalogs can be a good source for 100% mohair girths.
Posted 2009-04-29 12:00 PM (#104170 - in reply to #104082) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
We get our 100% mohair girths (ours are western) from the 5 star pad company. I have had one mare have a severe allergic reaction to neoprene, and a couple of other less so, and several who tolerate neoprene quite well. Still, hard to beat real mohair...
Posted 2009-05-01 2:52 PM (#104282 - in reply to #104254) Subject: RE: Mohair vs. Neoprene
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
I just bought a new saddle and it came with a nice Mohair cinch. Used it three days an noticed the buckle was up tight against horse side....might be causing some muscle soreness....sure enough he was "touchy" there.
Went back to my neoprene which has a pad betweeen buckle and horse and he seems to like it better.
Mohair vs. Neoprene
