This girth has a specific fit adapted to horses with an athletic, wedge shaped body.  In a way it addresses the reverse problem that the crescent shaped girth solves. The saddle has a tendency to slip backwards, also pulling the girth backwards, because all the lines of the horses body:  back, ribcage and sternum to belly, taper towards the rear. So instead of opening to the rear, this girth simply opens to the front, to a degree. Naturally the internal construction is essential for the function of the girth. We developed this design because specific problems were pointed out to us by several riders and horse owners on quite a few jumpers and specifically in eventing horses.
 
How to measure your horse: using a soft dressmakers tape measure, find the central groove in your horses sternum (area where the girth passes under your horses belly in line with the girth groove) and place one end of the tape measure here. Bringing the tape up firmly against your horses side, measure to approximately 5-7 inches above the point of the elbow. This will vary based on the size of your horse: the larger the horse, the higher you measure to. Then multiply this measurement by 2 and select the size girth closest to your measurement. It can be helpful to put your saddle pad on your horse. You will find that the buckles of your new girth will only be a couple of inches below the bottom of your pad (see photo example). Do not worry if you only have a couple of holes left in your girth billets when your girth has been fully firmed-up. This is desirable and really quite necessary, otherwise the elbow relief area will be too low and the ergonomic benefits lost.
Length is always specified buckle end to buckle end.
 
SLIM-LINE Short Athletico Girth with detachable lambskin cover. Material of Girth: Visible surfaces in leather. Available in Black, Brown or Champagne coloured leather. Plastic insert has to be removed for washing and drying.
 
Many horses are very sensitive in the sternum area, resulting very often in problems when saddling as well as when riding.

We have realised, during our long term studies that many girths are not really functional , and in some cases have an  adverse effect! Many girths look correctly designed but are in effect, in most cases, not. Others are obviously faulty in design. One of the basic problems we found, was that the pressure distribution on the sternum was ineffective. The pressure is actually only concentrated along the centre line on the sternum, sometimes only about 2-3 cm wide.

The MATTES© Contoured Saddle Girth is made of a system of internal straps working against a plastic centre piece, resulting in absolutely equal pressure distribution on the sternum.  The textile structure also has good flexibility despite a relatively rigid construction. There is also the chafing problem in the elbow area, with barrel shaped horses, where the girth has a tendency to slip forward. Generally a contoured girth with a narrow waist in the elbow area is ideal in this case. Additional SOFT-EDGE with LAMBSKIN result in an ideal product.

This girth was developed because we were constantly approached by horse owners with horses with the beginning or already chronic, 'Equine Sarcoid' in the elbow area.