ridecamp@endurance.net: Neoprene girts (was Re: Re:stocking up, etc.)

Neoprene girts (was Re: Re:stocking up, etc.)

Duncan Fletcher (dfletche@gte.net)
Thu, 16 Oct 1997 21:07:02 -0700

I have had mixed success with using a neoprene girth on a galled horse. I
was unsuccessful with first horse. In fact even after healing any girth
would gall the horse until after I rerigged the saddle and began to use a
crupper (a older horse with flabby skin and a shape that was determined to
put the girth up against the elbows). With the second horse in which the
sore was insect related, I was able to continue to use the horse moderately
with a neoprene girth and the use of petroleum jelly - it healed in couple
of weeks despite being ridden. Mine get dirty, but no more so than any other
material, and the clean with a wipe from a sponge as opposed to having to
remove them totally and wash them in bucket of water.

There is also a huge difference in neoprene girths. I have one that is made
of very heavy neoprene and another with very thin neoprene that tends to
wrinkle. I wish I could tell from catalogue descriptions which was which.

Duncan Fletcher (from a wet and muddy western Washington)
dfletche@gte.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Margy Kramer <margyk@hocking.cc.oh.us>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Thursday, October 16, 1997 6:02 AM
Subject: Re:stocking up, etc.

>I know lots of folks love neoprene and I've even heard that you can use
>then on a galled horse and they will heal as you ride (sounds like a
>horse story to me) but I have never had much luck with neoprene girths.
>I've been able to use them for months without problems and then ride in
>muddy or sandy conditions and find that they get allow a blob of mud or a
>layer of sand to form on the inside front underside. This acts like
>sandpaper and causes the swelling and scaling in front of the girth area.
> The last time I used a neoprene girth we were briefly in an area that
>had been flooded that spring and have sandy soil deposits along the
>creek. When I untacked the girth had a layer of hardended sand all
>along the inside front edge. My horse rapidly developed swollen pouches
>and it was a week before the scaly areas were normal. From now on
>nothing but mohair string girths.
>

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