Advice on girthy new horse...

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Christmas Crumpet

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Mare was a bit girthy and difficult to bridle when we tried her out.

Brought her home, saddler came (Nutwell Saddlery) and she fitted one of my saddles to her. Fitted it very slightly wide because she is quite skinny so large dead sheep underneath. Saddler all happy with this.

Mare has been difficult to put bridle on - fine once bit in mouth but a bit difficult to put in. Have swapped bit for a simple loose ring lozenge - she was in a jointed snaffle but didn't like it. Vet has been tonight and confirmed she has a big tongue and low roof of mouth so I think she will like this bit better. I did find cantering her today that she actually cantered on and didn't hide behind the bit so that's one positive. Her teeth are fine, had a few hooks but all sorted. Vet also checked her all over and said she was slightly tight behind the saddle on her off side but all ok otherwise.

She is also very girthy, will bite or kick out. What I am concerned about is how do I know how much of this she does as standard? Obviously if she'd been fine to saddle up and then started doing it, then I would immediately try to find the problem. She already does this so is it something she will always do?

Saddler coming back out in 2 weeks time to check saddle and make any adjustments.

She is Irish and not long over. Standing at the mounting block is difficult too yet once I am on, she stands like a lamb. She has been quite busy out exercising but I am hoping part of that is due to a new routine and being ridden on her own.

Any thoughts?!!
 
my irish sports is the same apart from he doesnt kick or bite when girthed! he is learning to stand to be mounted with a duelly head collar over his bridel and well throw his head up when we try to put it on.
does your horse refuse to go forward off the leg?? mine does
im not sure if he is just being a baby with the leg or it is something deeper. :confused:
 
I would recommend getting a Nuumed wool girth sleeve. I had a mare who didnt like her girth doing up and it really helped. We just used to do the girth up 1 hole at a time and only on 1 buckle to start off. It helped a lot, think her previous owner used to do the girth up tight straight away. Seems to be a common problem with the girls, however my gelding is similar when doing his girth up. Again I just do it up slowly.

With the mounting block problem, I think it will stop in time as your horse settles.

My own mare used to put her head out of reach when I first had her when bridling her, shes not so bad now, again just time and patience. Maybe someone in the past banged your horses teeth with the bit and she expects it every time.
 
Funnily enough I did think about a girth sleeve - nice and soft one. I will get on asap and try that. I do the girth up one hole at a time - she's fine doing it up when you are on. I just don't want to be upsetting her further. Its difficult to tell whether they are in pain if they already exhibit the behaviours!
 
Our new boy is like this, ex riding school and think he'd prob had girth done up too quickly.

I use a girth sleeve and do girth up on first hole, leave for five mins and do up on second hole, pull legs forward etc etc till done up. He's much improved with this regime xx
 
A friend's horse used to squeal, kick and bite when doing up his girth. He also used to squeal and bite if you simply went to pat him/put headcollar on etc as well though.
Over 6 months, friend was consistant with him and he stopped squealing/bitinng and kicking.

My mare has never had a bad experience with girth. Always one hole at a time and she can get a little girthy. Those that don't know her most likely wouldn't see it, but I see little signs in her. (Will look into those girth sleeves). I don't do her girth up tight, to the point that my non horsey OH told me and demonstrated that he could fit a fist between it and her. - This is when we'd finished schooling/jumping
ETA - She's also not impressed when I do it up when mounted.

It may be something you can reduce her reaction in but it may simply be her.
 
Mine is much better with a woolen fleecy thing over the girth or just using a material girth made him much better! Now he just pulls faces wheras before he was kicking, biting and wouldnt stand to be girthed (fine when saddle was put on). Hes had all checks by a vet, even taken him into our vet hospital and it was the girth that was causing a lot of our problems, especially when we mounted if we tightened it just before!
 
Definitely try a girth sleeve as others have said.

We recently bought a fleece shires girth sleeve (cost about £5, so not a big waste if it doesn't work) and my girl is a lot happier to have the girth done with this on.
 
Brilly willy!! Will purchase one today and keep you all informed.

Hunting her in her lozenge bit today as well so will see how that goes. Fingers crossed!!!
 
If that doesn't work it might be that where the vet noticed she was a bit tight behind the saddle. maybe a chiro or massage

Micah started doing this biting threatening to kick but once chiro had been he stopped He had a previous saddle before he came that obviously didn't fit and he was still a bit sore, it wasn't much but he is a wimp
 
Strangely enough, she was far, far better today to saddle and bridle. She only turned round and looked at me when I did up her girth on about 3rd hole. Probably sounds strange but she wasn't tied up and seemed far, far happier. Still going to get fluffy girth sleeve. The nicer I can make it for her, the better.
 
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