doing the girth up...

i didnt realise there were thoses rules and as you cant delete a post i changed it because a really need some advice on this problem im having with doing up my horses girrth :)
 
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okay thanks i might talk to my vet then. are ulcers common in horses???

If you do a search for ulcers you might find a lot of posts. They are sometimes found in stabled horses or horses which have been stabled and then get this condition if feeding and management is not ideal.
In the meantime ask your instructor to show you how to tack up a sensitive horse, and check tack is fitting properly and horse has no issues.
 
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Hi there

Highly likely this is a discomfort signal. As some have said investigate ulcers but this could be a muscular issue also. Can I ask what sort of girth you use? Elasticated one end, both ends, short/dressage girth, string girth, neoprene etc? Reason I ask is that a horse I have rehabilitated had ulcers. Problem became under control but other issues developed, i.e. girthing became uncomfortable again, extremely tense under saddle, bucking etc.

I'd recently had a new saddle fitted and someone had advised I use a non-elastic girth on this particular horse- reason being elastic girths expand with movement, which doesn't suit all horses and they felt a non-elasticated girth would suit this one.

BIG mistake- after trial and error i discovered the girth was causing so much tension to her ribcage she was sore, so no wonder there was rearing/bucking and generally objecting. After plenty of massage therapy and a new girth, elasticated at both ends to ensure even force, and her rib cage could move more easily, the problem disappeared.

I'm a massive fan of regular massage therapy on horses, particularly working ones. I have seen drastic improvements in horses that have had issues like this and receive massage therapy regular, like on a fortnightly basis at least.
 
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