Girth gall type thing...

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gingerspice

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My horse in his girth area has had a few small lumps this week that looked like some fly bites (which were else where on his body and now gone), after exercise on Friday they had rubbed, removed the hair a bit but not raw or angry. He has had the weekend off anyway and now they are 3 or 4 lumps, they do seem to have a 'head' to them but don't bother him.

I was wondering if you would class them as girth galls, although coming back into work, he hasn't really sweated up yet much! He has always had clean girths etc. He is a bit fat, but as said having had the summer off we're working on it!

And then what to do with them?
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Any suggestions?! Ideally he needs to stay in work, would a natty bit of sheepskin be the best option?

Any help much appreciated
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They're girth galls hun. The danger with riding when he's got them is that you'll make them worse until a week or two of not working becomes an expensive vet's visit and a month or two of not working. Just keep them gently cleaned and if the skin isn't broken wiping them with a dilute solution of surgical spirit can sometimes help. If the skin IS broken and you put surgical spirit on it, your ned will end up halfway up the nearest tree, refusing to come down! I'd check and double check his girth. Sometimes the tiniest bit of dust or sweat or a bit of grass can get trapped and cause a rub. Also his winter coat will be coming through now so he may have had some tangled hair there. They could be just fly bites that have been rubbed by the girth but the result is the same. You could treat yourself to a good quality washable sheepskin girth sleeve but sadly, there are no real shortcuts to letting skin mend. Could you work him just on the lunge or bareback for a few weeks?
 
Thanks B_o_F for your advice, how disappointing but I'll get treating and no saddle/girth for a bit then as want them to heal as best as possible.
Off to inspect that girth again...
 
It's really frustrating, isn't it? My daughter's pony had one last year right in the middle of the holidays, we kept the saddle off for a month and I bathed the area with warm salt water twice a day for a week before we put the saddle back on to harden the skin up. Worked a treat. And the bareback riding did wonders for the daughters seat!
 
Its really frustrating forderough, but thats good to know the salt bathing works - just done that as not got any s.spirit and been out riding bareback - crikey, makes you sit up- what fun!!
They have turned into two scabs today, the lumps seem to have gone.
 
Once they have healed, i find using a sheepskin girth sleeve and putting baby powder all round the girth area really helps.
 
I'm sure you could be persuaded to go bareback again!
tiggs - great idea about baby powder thank you, that does make sense and I've bought a sheepskin sleeve today ready for the return of the girth!
 
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