01386 833050
Are you fed wasting money on horse girths that don’t actually fit your horse? Does your saddle slip, is your horse showing signs of “Girthiness”, painful withers, or discomfort when the girth is tightened? Does your horse suffer from girth galls or abnormal sensitivity of the chest? These are all issues that can be overcome by a girth that is the correct size and shape for your horse. The most crucial aspects of a horse’s girth are the shape, material, and construction, something that has been specifically designed to work well with a horse’s unique conformation, movement, and skin type.
A tailor-made saddle and saddle pad are pointless if they are let down by a poorly fitting equine girth. Long-term studies have proved that many girths for horses on the market today (especially many of the cheaper ones) are not fit for purpose and in some cases can make the situation even worse. Many girths look as if they have been correctly designed, but suffer from a common problem where the distribution of pressure on a horse’s sternum (The hard bump sticking forward on a horse’s chest between the legs) was inefficient and uneven.
In addition to our own Pink Equine range of dressage and ergonomic leather girths, we are excited to offer the complete range of horse girths from E.A. Mattes, which have been painstakingly developed to alleviate many of the problems mentioned above. Talk to us about your requirements and we are happy to recommend a solution, or click on the images above to begin shopping.
The pressure on a horse’s sternum is actually concentrated along the centre line of the sternum and only about 2 – 3 cm wide. All Mattes girths have been designed to distribute the pressure evenly over the sternum area with a system of internal straps that work against a plastic centre piece. This setup enables the structure to provide good flexibility despite the relatively rigid construction.
Poorly Fitted Girth
Result of a Poorly Fitted Girth
Correctly Fitted Girth
All Mattes girths have a narrow section at the elbow movement area, the surface pressure in this area is very low because it is only slightly curved, followed by a wide centrepiece with integrated cross bands and spreader plate inserts for even pressure distribution over the whole contact area on the breastbone. The system applied here, with cross bands and spreader, guarantees that the wider parts of the centrepiece do not develop wrinkles and do not lose tension around the edges potentially causing reduced pressure distribution, as seen in other brands.
The base of the horses girth is covered with a quilt fabric material padded with POLY-FLEX® and spreader inserts to optimise the distribution of pressure. The addition of the detachable lambskin cover with “SOFT-EDGE” (edged trim) prevents any pressure on the edges and chafing and also helps to combat sweating and skin irritation. Optional elastic buckle straps hold the spring-loaded stainless steel buckles as well as D-Rings for draw reins.
Mattes has also designed a new range of leather girths called “SLIM-LINE” that are 1.5cm narrower in design as well as being a bit slimmer than the standard range providing even more elbow space for the horse. The slim line girth also features the detachable lambskin cover and a simple removal of the plastic insert for ease of washing. Available in a range of black, brown or champagne-coloured leather and a wide range of coloured lambskins.
Mattes Long Girth Styles 1. Anatomic, 2 Asymmetric, 3. Crescent, 4. Athletico.
Mattes Short Girth Styles 1. Anatomic, 2 Asymmetric, 3. Crescent, 4. Athletico.
Mattes girths are available in long or short versions and in four distinctive styles all designed to deal with specific shapes of horses and to overcome common confirmation and girthing problems. Long girths are available from 105cm – 160cm in 5cm increments. Short girths from 50cm – 100cm in 5cm increments. Length is always specified from buckle-end to buckle-end.
The crescent-shaped girth has been specifically designed for barrel-shaped or short-backed horses (short backs and wide legs) such as Arab mares, where other girths don’t give enough room and tend to slip forward, causing chafing issues in the elbow area. The Crescent girth is heavily cut back in the elbow area allowing greater elbow movement without any hindrance or the possibility of chafing. The girth opens to the rear in the sides and below to accommodate the far forward-reaching bulge. Most of these types of horses have no appreciable or no girth groove at all.
The rear part of the girth is wider than the front so that the greater bulk in the rear can be accommodated and this stops the girth from slipping forward. Each girth is supplied with an attached directional label, to make sure the girth is fitted correctly. Mattes was constantly approached by horse owners with horses that were beginning to show or already suffered from chronic “Equine Sarcoids” in the elbow area and this girth was developed to alleviate this issue.
The anatomic girth suits horses with good conformation, that have a well-defined or proper girth groove which sits far enough away from the elbow area. The girth is cut back in the front and rear in the elbow area and due to its elliptical shape can be rotated.
As the name suggests, this girth has been specifically adapted to suit horses with an athletic wedge-shaped body, where the saddle has a tendency to slip backwards and pull the girth forwards. The lines of the wedge-shaped body, back, ribcage and sternum to belly, all taper towards the rear. So instead of opening to the rear, this girth has been designed to open to the front (to a degree!). The way the belt is shaped prevents the saddle from slipping backwards, which can be an issue for this type of build and is very popular with jumpers and eventing horses. The Athletico girth is supplied with an attached directional label to make sure the girth is fitted correctly.
The Asymmetrical girth is helpful to horses that have a less well-defined girth, more bulge below and a wide ribcage, less prominent or awkward girth groove, or close-coupled horses that have less pronounced rib cages and are slightly closer to the elbow. Girths on these horses have a tendency to sit in too forward of a position. The Asymmetric girth is severely cut back in front to allow extra distance to the elbow area to rectify this issue. The deeper recess in the elbow area allows even more clearance for the elbow, than the Anatomic girth. Remember that the curved neck always points to the front.
After interest by several well known Eventing riders, Mattes have produced a new leather (SLIM LINE) close contact stud girth, designed to protect a horses belly when jumping. The stud guard is covered in leather with a shock-absorbing inner core and has the same construction as the standard SLIM LINE range of girths. The martingale clasp consists of a leather strap and buckles, a favourite among top riders. The girths are available in long or short versions and three styles.
Mattes Slimine Short Jumping Girth Styles
Mattes Long Slimline Jumping Girth Styles
The Pink Equine ergonomic girth was designed to provide stability for the saddle whilst allowing freedom for the horse to move through the leg. Made entirely of leather, with the more expensive fully breathable neoprene inner filling, that is much softer than normal padding, and therefore much more flexible to the touch and far more comfortable for your horse.
The Pink Equine Sport Interchange leather dressage girth has been designed to provide better distribution of weight to the chest whilst allowing freedom for the horse to move through the leg. Made entirely of leather, with a fully breathable neoprene inner filling, that is much softer than normal padding, and therefore much more flexible to the touch. Shaped for maximum comfort, the ergonomic dressage girth is available in black, brown or tan leather and from 50cm to 70cm (in 5cm increments).
Pink Equine has been selling quality girth horse tack in the Equestrian marketplace for over 15 years and only recommends a small number of brands in addition to our own ranges. So whether you purchase a Pink Equine or a Mattes girth, you can be confident, that we know every product inside and out and are able to provide accurate advice and guidance to all of our customers.
Every item which leaves our premises has been carefully checked to ensure they meet our own high standards and because the majority of our products are bespoke, they are not mass-produced but manufactured to your exact specifications by experienced craftsmen from start to finish.
At Pink Equine, we put our customers first. That’s why we also offer a hassle-free return policy that sets us apart from other retailers. If, for any reason, the horse girth you purchased doesn’t fit your horse perfectly, you can return it within 14 days for a full refund. We believe that every horse and rider deserves the best fit possible, and we’re committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction with your purchase. Shop with confidence at Pink Equine – you have nothing to lose and we’ve got you and your horse covered! Click on the images above to begin shopping.
If you are still struggling to find a girth for your horse that fits and wish to discuss the options with us first, we are more than happy to chat with you, by phoning us on 01386 833050 or emailing us at [email protected]
It is very simple to order products from our online store regardless of whether it is for yourself or you are buying gifts for someone else. If it is an in-stock girth, find the right size and style using our comprehensive size guides, add the girth to the shopping basket, and then complete the checkout process for delivery of your order.
If your horse girth is not in stock, choose the style, size and colour you require, before viewing the design of your item and adding it to the shopping cart (If you register as a member and create an account you can save 10% off all listed prices (registration is free) and begin the checkout process as normal.
We sell horse tack all over the world, including the UK, England, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden with shipping worldwide to countries including the USA, Canada and Australia. We are always happy to assist with any queries, from any timezone, or in any language if you need more information on your purchases.
Thank you for considering our horse girth collection. To begin shopping for your perfect girth, simply click on any of the images above to start the process. If you have any questions regarding sizing or fit, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via phone, WhatsApp, or email. Our knowledgeable staff are always happy to discuss your specific requirements and provide customized solutions to ensure that you and your horse get the most out of your purchase.
Mattes Long girths are available from 105cm – 160cm in 5cm increments. Mattes Short girths from 50cm – 100cm in 5cm increments. Pink Equine long girths are available from 90cm – 140cm in 5cm increments and the Pink Equine short girth from 50cm – 70cm in 5 cm increments. Length is always specified from buckle-end to buckle-end. For more information please refer to the size guides below.
Ideally, Girths should also be washed in the washing machine and dried in the tumble dryer. Detach the Lambskin cover from the girth base and put only the base into a Mattes Wash Bag or pillowcase. The washbag and the lambskin cover can be washed at the same time (the lambskin outside the washbag) The temperature should not exceed 30° Celsius. We recommend the use of Matte’s specially formulated MELP wash (a small bottle is included with every new purchase). Once the washing cycle has finished they can be transferred to the tumble dryer (again at no more than 30° Celsius) or air-dried. It is important to follow the washing and care instructions exactly.
Items in stock will normally be mailed out and reach you within seven days (International orders may take a few days longer) Buying bespoke horse tack means that you are buying an item that has been made to your own specifications. In most cases, it is not an off-the-shelf product and as a result, bespoke orders can take between 2 and 6 weeks.
We invite you to become a member of the Pink Equine Membership club – it’s completely free! As a member, you’ll receive exclusive benefits, including a 10% discount on all horse girths available on our website. Once you sign up, be sure to log in to access this discount. Additionally, you’ll receive our informative newsletter, opportunities to participate in free competitions, and early access to new products. Don’t miss out on these exciting benefits – join the Pink Equine Membership club today!
