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Air flex or Mohair?

9K views 20 replies 11 participants last post by  nikelodeon79 
#1 ·
I've searched and the consensus seems to be that people either like mohair string cinches or Weaver Air flex.

I do mostly "casual" riding and only about an hour at a time. I do trail ride occasionally, but I wouldn't go for over 2 hours at a time. My horse is starting training on Tuesday and we will be doing a lot of arena work. I'm going to be training in dressage, but will start in a Western saddle since my horse is green and that's what I most am comfortable in.

I used to use either felt cinches or the "waffle" type neoprene. I did like the waffle neoprene and didn't ever have issues with rubbing, but like I said I don't generally ride for hours at a time. I've always steered away from rope cinches because I don't really like that there's nothing in between the buckle and the horse. I found some neoprene buckle covers, but the covers plus the cinch really puts the price out there, and I still have a saddle pad to buy, as well.

So, mohair or airflex?
 
#4 ·
I have only used my air flex cinch a few times (only had the horse a month or so)

but the one ride was 6mile trail ride, next day was a 12-14mile trail ride and the air flex was awsome. a few of the other cinches were sitting on camp chairs around the fire drying, the air flex was in the trailer dry.

didn't rub, didn't cause my horse to sweat. for my horse at least it was a great buy.
 
#5 ·
I have never used an Air Flex cinch so I can't give you an opinion on that.
I do use mohair cinches and I have never an issue with the rings causing problems. The ones I have had issues with the ones with the roller buckle (smart cinch?) It seemed like it was always pulling hide and hairout if I wasn't careful.
 
#7 ·
the only time i ever use ring protectors is on a horse that has gotten way overweight and sometimes the buckles may pinch but other than that i have never had any rubbing or pinching. my spotted saddle mare has real sensitive skin and every other girth rubs her raw but she wears a 26" rope style classic equine mohair and has never been rubbed by it.
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#10 ·
I know its hard to find a good cinch, I am sure that the person that thought roller buckles were a good idea on a cinch obviously didn't ever ride a whole lot.

The tack store down the road has quite a few mohair cinches without roller buckles and come in a wide variety of lengths. Never paid much attention to the synthetic ones since I don't use them. But if you decide what you want and can't find it let me know, I might be able to help you out.
 
#13 ·
I have the Wintec waffle pattern neoprene. No sores, rubs or cinch issues at all with it, even working for a few hours on the trail in South TX heat and humidity. My guy doesn't seem to have overly sensitive skin though, so I expect he would be fine with any good quality girth. That's what I think is the important point: don't cheap out. No matter which type you go with, make sure you get a good quality one. Poor quality anything will cause problems in the long run.
 
#14 ·
the classic equine which we use do have a roller but they aren't that bad. i had huge issues with the weaver girths with rollers because you can cinch your horse up way too tight but the classic equine only has one roller that helps some but you still have to do the work to cinch your horse up and the roller is much smaller it doesn't hang outside your tie strap and pinch
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#15 ·
I've had my Air Flex for about two months now, and it is pretty good. It isn't the absolute best girth, but it is better than a lot I have tried.

My horse sweats A LOT, and when I would untack him, even after a short ride at a walk, he would be soaked under the cinch. Now that I have switched to an Air Flex when I untack him, he is only slightly damp (what it should be like, not soaked) even after a longer ride with lots and lots of trotting.

I would recommend the Air Flex, but I really haven't used mohair so I can't add to that. It is pretty reasonably priced (cheaper than nice mohair, which is why I bought it as my parents made me pay for it) and I would say worth the money. Haven't had any problems, no rubbing or irritation. I am only a "casual ride", not much longer than an hour or two 3-6 times a week and no showing/working so I don't know if that plays a role either.
 
#19 ·
The mohair. I did find one on craigslist, a Mustang brand. Anyone know how the quality of those is?

If I do go with the Weaver, I'm not as concerned with the roller, as it doesn't actually touch the skin.
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