Total Saddle Fit Shoulder Relief Girth Review and Giveaway

Olivia   August 28, 2017   123 Comments on Total Saddle Fit Shoulder Relief Girth Review and Giveaway

A year ago I did a review of the Total Saddle Fit StretchTec Shoulder Relief Dressage Girth. It was a completely unsolicited review; I just genuinely like the girth. It solves the problem of Nilla’s forward girth groove which is exacerbated by her having no withers and being downhill. Normal girths just end up in her armpit and pull the whole saddle onto her shoulder. The TSF girth keeps everything in place.

A year later, I still love this girth. Since my initial review, I have added the sheepskin liner because Nilla is a sensitive little mule and I like having that extra layer of comfort and protection. Because it works so well, I don’t just use the girth for dressage. I’ve done gaming events and hilly trail rides with the girth and it really helps keep the saddle where it’s supposed to be.

Trail riding

I like the girth so much that this year, when we bought Eugene a dressage saddle and needed a girth for it, we bought another StretchTec girth. Eugene has a bit of a wide barrel and a narrow girth groove and this girth helps to both keep his saddle where it’s supposed to be and keep the girth away from his elbows.

We recently had a saddle fitter come out and check the fit of Levi and Eugene’s saddles. While Eugene’s dressage saddle wasn’t a good fit for him, she loved the TSF girth and recommended getting one for Eugene’s jumping saddle as well. She didn’tt recommend a TSF girth for Levi because his shape is different and he doesn’t need one. The TSF girth isn’t for every horse, but for those horses – or mules – that need an anatomic girth, I think it’s the best one out there.

In my review from a year ago, I mentioned that, while I loved the new StretchTec girth, I didn’t really like Nilla’s TSF jumping girth. I bought it used and I was an older model from before they changed their leather. While I liked how the TSF jumping girth worked for keeping Nilla’s saddle in place and freeing up her shoulder, I didn’t love the leather. Luckily, the new girths are made with a much higher quality leather.

much better

The difference between the new one for Eugene and Nilla’s older one is pretty dramatic: the padding on the new one is soft and supple and the top is a more flexible dark brown leather color instead of the stiff, reddish color of Nilla’s. Really, the only thing I would change is for TSF to come out with a StretchTec version of the jumping girth. I like Eugene’s new girth enough that I would consider getting one to replace Nilla’s if she weren’t out of work right now. Maybe for Christmas 🙂

A few weeks ago, the owner of Total Saddle Fit found my review of the StretchTec girth online and reached out to thank me. I asked him if he’d be interested in doing a giveaway of a girth here on DIY Horse Ownership and he agreed. The prize is the winner’s choice of one Total Saddle Fit girth. You’ll be able to pick the model, size, and color you want. I’m so excited; I wish I could win the contest myself.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive anything in exchange for doing this review or for the previous review. None of the links in this post are affiliate links and I don’t get anything in exchange for running this giveaway. I genuinely like TSF’s girths and I’m excited for someone else to get one.

For a chance to win your choice of Shoulder Relief Girth, complete the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

123 thoughts on “Total Saddle Fit Shoulder Relief Girth Review and Giveaway”

  1. Sara

    The stretchtch version looks like a nice girth. Gem has a huge rib cage and tiny girth groove so I fight the forward moving saddle a good bit. I purchased one of the very first generation TSF girths and was not impressed at all. The leather quality was awful plus the girth was so bulky it created a lot of rubs. I know they have since changed it up and I’d be tempted to try a new version if I needed a new girth in the future. Or win one!!

    1. Olivia Post author

      I completely agree. Nilla’s old jumping girth is not good. The sheepskin liner does make it work for me, but the new ones are much nicer. The dressage ones with the Stretchtec are even nicer.

  3. Lisa Goodwin

    This looks like a very nice girth. I really like the padding, and the way it gives freedom of movement. My horse Frisby could really use this! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!

  4. Emma

    I’ve always been super curious about these girls. Not ever quite enough to pull the trigger bc I had perfectly fine girths of my own. But…. Charlie needs a new dressage girth so this contest is timely lol

  5. Jamie H.

    Thanks for the review. My mare has a forward girth groove and I’ve been wanting to try one of these, I may have to bite the bullet if I don’t win the giveaway!

  6. J A

    they have cinches as well girths (with a neat roller to help tighten more smoothly) . i switched as part of some changes i made to help my mare with her sore back. but i have a rolly polly gypsy with no withers that can use one too

  8. J. Alexander

    I’ve been wanting to try one of these for a long time and finally bought a normal size equine who might be able to wear one. Maybe it’ll help with his girthiness.

  14. Megan

    I was recommended one of these girths by someone for TC because his shoulder is so giant. I haven’t looked much into them yet though, good to hear you guys have had good experiences with them though!

  15. Terri Deaton

    Perfect timing! I have a similar issue with one of my horses. Her girth groove is soooo far forward and she has no withers. I have delayed getting her under saddle because I am wary of giving her a bad first experience. I have heard some good things about these girths and it sounds like I just need to order one and find out for myself.

    1. Olivia Post author

      If she’s that bad, you might want to add a crupper in addition to the TSF girth. I still use a crupper with Nilla to keep her saddle fully back.

  21. Nicole Sharpe

    :O This is so exciting! I actually asked my fitter about an anatomic girth, and she wasn’t sure if Murray really needed one. I’d love to try it, but it’s a bit tough to just eat the purchase price to try it out. I’m glad they work so well for Nilla and Eugene though!

  22. Liz

    Man, I’m torn as to which one I’d get if I won. Grif’s jump saddle could use a new girth, but Q is now going western and could really use a new girth, too. So a girth for jumping or the western cinch would be great…decision, decisions haha.

  23. Erin Kerby

    I tried the TSF dressage girth when they first came out, and it didn’t really work for my baby horse at the time. But he is almost growed now, so maybe I should try it again! He is a short-coupled and round-ish Lusitano with a narrow, slightly forward girth groove…

  26. Carly

    JenJ gave me one of her old dressage TSF girths and I absolutely loved it. Bobby outgrew it pretty quickly and I eventually rehomed it, but I’d love to get another one. I guess I haven’t been keeping up with them too well because I didn’t even know they had so many options out!

    1. Olivia Post author

      They’re not for every horse. The saddle fitter did not want me to use one on Levi for example, but it might work for Paige given she’s pretty broad.

  31. Stacie Seidman

    I’ve really been hoping they’ll make a stretch tec jumping girth. Badger wears this really unattractive but pretty cool girth from Prestige, but I don’t think he should show hunters in it. A stretch tec would be most similar to his ugly one and more attractive to show in.

    1. Olivia Post author

      Saddle fitting for my mule has been the longest, most frustrating saddle shopping experience. This girth certainly helps.

  33. Amelia Pitts

    I have TSF girths for my dressage and jump saddles and love them! I am super interested in the Stretch Tec version. I think it would be just that much more comfortable and effective.

  34. GEMMA KOONTZ

    I’ve always wanted to try a TSF girth on my fjord as he has a bit of a funny shaped girth area. Great to hear that it’s worked for your equids that are similarly built.

  38. Kaity

    Nice! I’ve always wanted to try an anatomic girth, but then Leo retired and now Spring is in a pretty constant state of changing shapes.

    1. Olivia Post author

      Does girthing change shape the same way backs do? I hope not. Levi’s back has been changing but so far his girth groove has stayed the same.

  41. Pingback: On Saddles, and Wish Lists | Reluctant Cowgirl

  42. lifeisbetterthere

    I’ve been crushing on Total Saddle Fit for some time now. One would go great with my new (used) dressage saddle! Thanks for the giveaway.

  43. Pingback: Sand Pit – DIY Horse Ownership

  44. kaisamaattanen

    I don’t know if I can participate this raffle from Finland but I’m in desperate need of this kind of girth for my mule!

    1. Olivia Post author

      I don’t know either. He didn’t say if he would ship international. I would guess that a TSF girth would really help you though.

  49. Appydoesdressage

    I just bought a TSF for Mia’s jumping saddle and I really like it! She needed something that helped sit the County back a little more due to her shoulders and needing to use the 2/3 billets instead of 1/3. I would love a 30 inch black one for her dressage saddle or a 50 inch black one for a show girth! <3 <3 <3

  51. heartofhope10

    Yeah I would definitely love to try out the jumping girth, they mention the effect on freeing up their shoulders and front end and I’d love to see how it helps.

  52. Elizabeth

    I really like the StretchTec Shoulder Relief Girth’s design, but who knows if my next horse will need one! Very cool opportunity to win a well made girth! 🙂

  54. Pingback: JK Presents Schooling Show – Hunter 2’6″ – DIY Horse Ownership

  61. Pingback: Last Chance to Win a Total Saddle Fit Girth – DIY Horse Ownership

  62. LoveLaughRide

    I’d be very interested to try one of their newer births. I have one of the older ones and while I really like how it helps my saddle fit I actually hate the girth. Despite meticulous care the underside leather cracked really early on, it leached dye onto my horses white sides and it became discoloured in a very short period of time.

    1. Olivia Post author

      The older one I have for Nilla never leached dye, but it was not as nice as the newer ones. I will say, the addition of the sheepskin liner to the old ones makes them much more usable.If you don’t end up winning, I’d recommend getting the liner.

  65. Samantha Luttrell

    I’ve been debating one of these (the dressage version) for my round as a barrel Anglo-Trakehner mare-
    I just started her under saddle, and am trying to find a saddle/pad/girth combo that keeps the saddle off of her neck 🙂 I also wanted to say that I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog- I adopted a 6 year old Mustang mare in January, and have been so impressed by her athleticism and intelligence.

    1. Olivia Post author

      Mustangs are awesome. You might want to consider a crupper in addition to the girth for your first mare. For Nilla, I need both to fully keep the saddle off her neck. For my husband’s horse, the girth is enough.

Comments are closed.