Tapestry Girth Product Reviews
Karen Rush and Alligator
Karen is relieved to find a simple but genius solution to her chestnut mare’s girth grumbles!
I have had the girth for just over a month so I’ve been able to give it a good run. My (chestnut!) mare has always stamped a foot and puffed herself out when it comes to doing up the girth and putting the saddle on. Our saddle is regularly checked, and she has been through a rehabilitation programme after surgery and sees the Physio regularly too, so I am certain there are no underlying issues.
Initially, putting the Tapestry girth on made no difference to the stamping and puffing out, but as the weeks have gone, she is gradually accepting the saddle without grumbling!
The difference in the feel under saddle however, was much more immediate. She is working with a longer, more open stride in all paces both in the school and on hacks. She seems more relaxed in her work. The concept is so simple it is unbelievable really that this has not been done before. It’s like giving your horse elasticated trousers! Not necessarily the most fashionable but oh so comfortable!
That being said, the girth looks good! We have the rich Havana brown that complements my tack and will look great in the show ring. The only thing that is a little tricky is cleaning the elastic, but I have used a damp cloth so far and it seems to do the trick. Also, I need to find a martingale that will clip to the girth as that does not sit quite right.
I was concerned that the crossed straps would pinch my sensitive mare, but I had not appreciated that the girth has a third piece of elastic under the crossed straps that lays flat on the horse’s skin. We have had no issues with pinching, and she has reacted to other girths in the past.
Overall, I would recommend this girth to others. It certainly makes for a comfier horse and a happy horse leads to a happy rider too!
“She is working with a longer, more open stride in all paces”
“It will look great in the show ring”
“It certainly makes for a comfier horse and a happy horse leads to a happy rider too!”
Miranda Jupp and Tara
It’s a thumbs up from Miranda and her mare Tara as the girth ticks all the boxes from hacking to showing.
As the owner of a quirky mare who is very quick to let me know when something is ‘wrong’ I am always keen to ensure she is kept as comfy as possible.
I was therefore excited to be offered the chance to test and review the Tapestry Comfort Girth. The girth consists of a round, neoprene lined pad, which sits over the sternum, a section to either side made of soft but strong crossover elastic and leather ends.
It is beautifully made: the leather parts are made of quality leather; the fittings, including a good sized D-ring for attaching a martingale to on the central pad, are sturdy; and all of the joins and edges are well finished.
Whilst the central pad looks a bit unconventional when it comes out of the box, it is very unobtrusive once it is on. From the side it looks more traditional than some anatomical shaped leather girths I have used in the past. I will be saving up for a brown version to use when we go out showing in Hunter classes.
Tara was definitely less girthy after a couple of days using the Tapestry girth (added bonus for me meant no teeth dodging when she’s in season!) I also felt a difference in her willingness to use her shoulders when working on the flat, with a better stride length offered more consistently, and when jumping her ability to pick her knees up quickly when she gets a bit close to a fence is improving.
I like the fact that the girth seems very stable, without the requirement for it to be too tight. The neoprene lining on the central pad seems to keep it in place, even when I had to mount from the ground hacking out due to a broken gate.
On a practical level, I am impressed with how easy the girth is to clean: I am generally a fan of all leather girths I can wipe down and wasn’t sure how easily hair and grease would come off either the neoprene or elastic, but wiping over with a baby wipe works wonders!
I would definitely recommend this girth for sensitive horses and also in situations where a girth which aids saddle stability is needed. It is good quality, well priced, practical to care for and, most importantly, horse friendly.
“It is beautifully made”
“I felt a difference in her willingness to use her shoulders when working on the flat”
“The girth seems very stable, without the requirement for it to be too tight”
Katie-Ann Parton and Jake
Katie-Ann tries the girth out on Jake and Felix – two very different horses who both enjoy the benefits of the Tapestry!
Selecting a good girth for our equine partners is often underrated. It is amazing how the right girth can make all the difference when it comes to comfort and movement. With the recent development in girth technology and design, the Tapestry Comfort Girth really stands out from the crowd!
The clever design of the girth allows it to stretch with the horses movement in the ribcage and alleviates pressure around the elbows. The sternum pad is made with a neoprene lining, meaning your saddle stays perfectly in place.
Having used it on my horse Jake, I found it helped to increase the movement from his shoulders. It was great to feel a difference as he often rides quite tight from the shoulder. I also felt a big difference when jumping! He was much smoother over fences, really opening up through his shoulders and stretching over bigger fences.
He is a sensitive soul and fully clipped, which means I have to be careful with what products I use so he doesn’t rub. Having used the girth frequently over a few weeks, he had no marks on him and remained comfortable.
I also tried it on another horse, Felix. Felix is very girthy when tacking up, and I found that after a few uses he started to become more settled when saddling. Both horses are built very differently, but the girth fitted them perfectly. The Tapestry Comfort Girth is easy to clean and wipe off, perfect for this muddy weather!
The design on a whole is fantastic, and I would certainly recommend it if you have a sensitive horse that would benefit from a well designed, pressure relieving girth.
“The Tapestry Comfort Girth really stands out from the crowd!”
“It was great to feel a difference as he often rides quite tight from the shoulder”
“After a few uses he started to become more settled when saddling”
Leah Adams and Calypso
Calypso relaxes into her training sessions with her comfy new girth
I purchased a Tapestry long girth for my tense, anxious and slightly cold backed horse as I wanted my horse to wear a girth that was comfy, practical and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
The first time I rode my mare with this girth on she was like a completely different horse. Normally she takes a good 20 minutes to accept and work nicely without being jumpy, but instantly she worked over her back and felt more relaxed.
My instructor was very impressed with how relaxed my mare was and how quickly she got there. She holds herself very tight and upright, but with the Tapestry girth, she lowered her neck and actually extended her stride, which is amazing.
The neoprene pad is so lovely and comfy, elastic on the girth is very firm but allows the horse to breath well. It must feel like such a relief for the horse, to know it can perform without compromise or the feeling of being constricted.
I have since bought a ‘summer size’ girth and a dressage version of the girth. I don’t think I will ever use another girth again.
“The first time I rode my mare with this girth on she was like a completely different horse”
“My instructor was very impressed with how relaxed my mare was”
“It must feel like such a relief for the horse”