Extremely sore girth area

[Hormonal Filly]

Bought my mare a new GFS Leather curved girth last week. Looked like it fitted nice. On the second ride Noticed if I touched the girth on her sides once done up, she would pin her ears back.

Wasn’t sure she was happy with it so she had a couple of days off and went back to my Arma sheepskin girth yesterday on a ride, no issues.

Today I touched her girth area during grooming and she nearly bit my arm off! She’s never bitten in her life, is an extremely soft mare. Behind her armpit and the bottom of where the girth sits has no rubs, but is so extremely sore and tight. I gently massaged her there which seemed to ease it slightly.

Going to give her a couple more days off, maybe I did it too tight? Or it pinched?

I’ve never seen her react like it before, almost wanted to give her a bute!

 

[SweetDreams]

I would definitely take gastric ulcers into consideration, hope she’s feeling better soon

 

[Barton Bounty]

Bute would aggravate ulcers, if it was that. Try some aloe vera juice to start with and see if you get any relief as this does seem like a very sudden onset of symptoms which may be flagging up an underlying issue.

Considering what you have been through with the recent saddles etc too

 

[Birker2020]

I'd think it could be muscle pain, Bailey had a muscle from the back area, Latisimus Dorsi I think it's called, that caused pain running down into the girth area.

People automatically suspect ulcers when horses are filthy but I believe sometimes it can be pain radiating from the back.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I would definitely take gastric ulcers into consideration, hope she’s feeling better soon

It’s only where the girth sits and behind her elbow. She isn’t touchy anywhere else (no other symptoms) which is what makes me think it’s girth related and not ulcers. Especially considering it started when I bought this leather girth.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I'd think it could be muscle pain, Bailey had a muscle from the back area, Latisimus Dorsi I think it's called, that caused pain running down into the girth area.

People automatically suspect ulcers when horses are filthy but I believe sometimes it can be pain radiating from the back.

That’s interesting thank you.

This morning she is much, much better.

Slightly sore at the bottom of the girth area behind her front legs. No reaction to her belly or anywhere else being touched. I did feel all across her back, feels nice and loose, I’m quite good at feeling soreness but will message my physio. I think it’s all related to the new girth.

My saddler has recommended a string girth so ordered one today and will wait for that to arrive before riding again.

 

[Birker2020]

Can you get a girth sleeve?

 

[AandK]

My late gelding had something similar many years ago. Was showing some mild discomfort when first girthed up, muscles in under girth were v tense etc. KS/ulcers were mentioned at the time, but he had jarred himself up somehow (think he had an abscess/corn not long before). Had some physio and he was right as rain and didn't have any further issues in that area again.

 

[shortstuff99]

It is pretty common for horses to get sore there. It is also why wow developed the free space girth so that no pressure was applied to that area.

 

[Wizpop]

Could it be the fact that the new girth is curved? They don’t suit all horses.

 

[Hallo2012]

if its anything like the shape of the fairfax/prolite girth it might just be that-one of mine hates that shape/material

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Much better again today, new string girth arrived it feels nice and soft. I just don’t know how I’ll attach a breastplate for cross country?

Could it be the fact that the new girth is curved? They don’t suit all horses.

if its anything like the shape of the fairfax/prolite girth it might just be that-one of mine hates that shape/material

Possibly.. I’m going to sell it, I now have 5 girths I need to sell! The WOW free space looks great but I don’t have £300 to spend on a girth at the moment

 

[Birker2020]

Much better again today, new string girth arrived it feels nice and soft. I just don’t know how I’ll attach a breastplate for cross country?





Possibly.. I’m going to sell it, I now have 5 girths I need to sell! The WOW free space looks great but I don’t have £300 to spend on a girth at the moment

On ebay, make an offer!

 

[Hormonal Filly]

View attachment 124108On ebay, make an offer!

Ooo thank you. I’m current borrowing a saddle from my fitter which needs a long girth. She did say could have the saddle straps lengthened but need to decide/buy something in order to do that. Still waiting on 2 more saddles to try before committing.

I’d have to idea what length short girth she would be! She is a 50” long.

 

[lauragreen85]

I would try a course of the ponease ulc fix to rule out ulcers, it works everytime for our horses

 

[Spotherisk]

If there was no issue with your Arma girth why not just continue to use that?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

If there was no issue with your Arma girth why not just continue to use that?

The saddle was slipping, my saddle fitter said it could have been due to the arma girth being sheepskin.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Have ridden with the string girth 4 times now.

She is now only reactive with the saddle on just before I do the girth up. It’s more so to my hand than the girth.

I’m guessing it’s anxiousness worried it’s going to hurt.. no reaction when riding and feeling the girth now.

My vets due next week so going to ask his thoughts.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

She’s being scoped, hopefully next week.

On the YouTube video of ulcer pressure points she is slightly reactive to the point at the bottom of the belly, none of the other places. The worst area is her pecks between her front legs, will fly around and try to bite me.

For a mare that’s never even put her ears back at me in 2 years, very unusual behaviour

 

[dreamcometrue]

My mare develop a similar reaction to being girthed up. Had her scoped in September and grade 2 ulcers were diagnosed. She is just finishing her course of omeprazole.

I hope you manage to resolve the issue OP x

 

[sbloom]

Ooo thank you. I’m current borrowing a saddle from my fitter which needs a long girth. She did say could have the saddle straps lengthened but need to decide/buy something in order to do that. Still waiting on 2 more saddles to try before committing.

I’d have to idea what length short girth she would be! She is a 50” long.

The longest one that doesn't interfere with the saddle pad (that's not to say it can't go up over the pad, Mattes use a photo of that happening, the sheepskin lining may be key on that!). Buckles as high as possible.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

My mare develop a similar reaction to being girthed up

She doesn’t actually react to being girthed up, it’s my hand she reacts to. Doesn't react to being brushed in the same spot.. but reacts to my hand?

I spoke to my physio who sent some massaging techniques. It’s definitely around her pecks which are most sore, where the widest part of the dodgy leather girth would have sat. At first she pulled a face to my hand in that area, I kept my hand there, then relaxed and happily ate hay ears forward. No reaction to doing girth right up once on.

Will update once vet has been