The WOW FreeSpace Girth: What It Is, How It Works, and Why More Riders Are Trying One

Something has shifted lately. I've been selling more WOW FreeSpace girths than usual, and not just locally, riders from all over the country have been ordering through my webshop.

I don't think that's a coincidence. More riders across the US are hearing about the FreeSpace girth, trying one, and telling their barn friends about the difference it makes. So I wanted to put together a real explanation of what this girth actually does, because "it removes pressure from the pectoral muscles" doesn't mean much until you understand why that matters.‍ ‍

The Problem With a Standard Girth

A conventional girth sits directly over your horse's pectoral muscles and the area where the front legs retract. Every stride, your horse needs those muscles to move freely so the foreleg can swing back and the horse can lift through the base of the neck and back. A girth that presses right into that area, especially when tightened, can restrict exactly the movement your horse needs for a big, free stride.

This is part of why some horses get girthy, pin their ears at girthing up, or seem to shorten their stride once mounted, even when the saddle itself fits well. The saddle isn't always the problem. Sometimes it's what's holding the saddle on.‍ ‍

How the FreeSpace Girth Is Different

The FreeSpace girth uses a two-part Active Cushion Sternum Plate. The top layer is a reinforced plate that stays rigid under tension, so it doesn't collapse in toward the horse the way a standard girth does. Underneath, the Active Cushion holds that plate away from the horse's rib cage and sternum.

The effect is that the girth straps bridge over the pectoral muscles instead of pressing into them. There's no pressure sitting directly on the muscles your horse needs to engage the abdominals and retract the front legs. You should actually be able to slide your hand between the sternum and either side of the plate once it's done up correctly. ‍

I've watched this make a visible difference in horses that were previously choppy through the shoulder or reluctant to lift their back, and it's one of the first things I check when a client's horse feels restricted despite a well fitted saddle.‍ ‍

Choosing the Right Sternum Plate Size

‍ ‍This is the part riders get wrong most often when ordering online without a fitter's input.

‍ ‍The FreeSpace comes in two sternum plate widths:

• Standard, at 7.25 inches (18.5cm), measured between the back edges of the elbows

• Slim, at 4.5 inches (11.5cm), for horses that are narrower between the front legs‍ ‍

Dressage vs. Long Version

‍Beyond sizing, you'll also choose between two girth lengths:

The Dressage version uses buckle ends that sit close to the saddle flap, either separate (single buckle guard) or joined using a double buckle guard.

The Long version extends further and comes standard with girth sleeves, designed to prevent the straps from pinching skin as the horse moves.

‍Which one you need comes down to your saddle, not your discipline. Saddles are made with either short or long billets, and that's what determines whether you need a short or a long FreeSpace girth, not whether you ride dressage or jump. Similarly, whether you need single or double buckle guards depends on how far apart your billet straps sit on the saddle: closer together calls for a double buckle guard, further apart works better with single guards so the straps can angle in different directions. This is easy to get wrong ordering online without checking your own saddle first, so it's worth confirming at your fitting.

If you ride Western, the same technology is available in a Western FreeSpace cinch. It uses the same two-part sternum plate to keep pressure off the pectoral muscles, built into a cinch style that works with Western rigging. I carry these as well, so Western riders don't have to miss out on the benefits of the FreeSpace girth just because most of the marketing around it leans English. Reach out or check my webshop for current availability.

Who Benefits Most From This Girth

‍ ‍In my experience, a few types of horses tend to show the clearest improvement with a FreeSpace girth:

• Horses that are girthy or reactive when tacking up

• Horses with a short, choppy stride in front despite a saddle that otherwise fits

• Horses recovering from girth sores or sensitivity behind the elbow

• Horses that feel restricted lifting through the base of the neck and back

• Horses in regular hard work, where every bit of unimpeded movement matters

‍ ‍That said, a great girth doesn't fix a saddle that's the wrong shape for your horse. If the tree itself is creating pressure points, changing the girth won't solve that. I always look at the whole picture, saddle and girth together, before recommending a change.‍ ‍

Real or Synthetic Leather: FreeSpace Girth Options

The FreeSpace is available in both. The synthetic (vegan) leather holds up well with minimal care, a quick wipe with water keeps it looking good, which makes it a practical choice for a horse that lives out or a barn without a lot of extra time for tack care. Real leather comes in a range of colors if you want the girth to match your saddle, and it ages the way good leather does with regular conditioning.

‍ ‍Neither option changes how the sternum plate functions. It's really a question of maintenance and appearance, not performance.‍ ‍

Should Your Horse Be Wearing One?

If your horse is comfortable, moving freely, and you're not seeing any of the signs above, there's no need to switch just because a girth is popular right now. But if something has felt slightly off, a shortened stride, girthiness, unexplained sensitivity, it's worth having it looked at rather than guessing at a solution from a product description.

As a saddle fitter based in Illinois and serving clients throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond, I carry the FreeSpace girth in both sternum widths, English and Western, and can measure your horse, confirm sizing, and fit it properly during your appointment, whether or not you ride in a WOW saddle.

Curious whether the FreeSpace girth is right for your horse? Book a saddle fitting appointment with The Saddle Doc, or browse the FreeSpace girths currently in stock in the webshop, including Short, Long, and Western options.