Girth galls

[Luciajayne]

Hi, I have a pony I have owned for 6 years and when I bought her she had permanent girth balls on both sides under her armpits. They are about 5cm long by about 3cm. They do not grow hair and there is permanent skin showing which at times show raw skin. Does anyone know of any products which would help her. Thanks

 

[Red-1]

Have you had a vet look, to make sure they aren't sarcoids?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We had a pony at the RS I worked at back in the dark ages. She had a lot of loose skin in the girth area and had permanent girth galls. We used to use sheepskin pads to try and protect the area but it didn't work. I think she was an extreme case though. I really have no idea what to suggest.

 

[Luciajayne]

Have you had a vet look, to make sure they aren't sarcoids?

Yes the previous owner had her checked by the vet which said they were girth galls. She did have another lump which was a non cancerous tumour. When they bought her she had been abused and they believed this was part of the abuse. She does have an extremely forward girth groove which is believed to be part of her problems according to the saddle fitter.

 

[Red-1]

I had one with an extremely forward girth groove, I had a moon type girth, that was fitted with the curve facing backwards, so the girth was way behind the groove, way away from the elbow.

Without removing the cause, the girth, from the area, I don't think any creams, lotions or potions will cure it.

Once the area is rested, which may mean a lot of time off, any open sores need to heal. After that, you will likely be left with scaly skin, a sort of scar tissue. I have had success with surgical spirit. If massaged in twice daily, it has the effect of 'melting away' scar tissue, I have found. It takes a long time to work, but twice a day, massaged in, the rough skin will be taken back. It is apparent when to stop, as the skin will become thin and delicate and not be able to take any more surgical spirit without causing pain, so I stop. Once you are back to actual skin, it will be very delicate as it is new skin, and it will need even more care. Something to keep it soft and pliable would help at this stage, many products would do the job, but NO girth.

Only once proper, pliable skin has re-formed, so it is of a decent thickness, can you start to slowly toughen it up again. I don't use surgical spirit for this, as I feel all surgical spirited up at this stage!

I am not recommending any of this, as the twice daily surgical spirit, when massaged in as opposed to 'applied,' is quite brutal to the skin, I am just saying what has worked for me. I would have the vet out to re-examine so it is your own vet speaking to you, and take his/her advice.

But none of this will help if you then put on a girth that rubs again.

 

[Luciajayne]

I had one with an extremely forward girth groove, I had a moon type girth, that was fitted with the curve facing backwards, so the girth was way behind the groove, way away from the elbow.

Without removing the cause, the girth, from the area, I don't think any creams, lotions or potions will cure it.

Once the area is rested, which may mean a lot of time off, any open sores need to heal. After that, you will likely be left with scaly skin, a sort of scar tissue. I have had success with surgical spirit. If massaged in twice daily, it has the effect of 'melting away' scar tissue, I have found. It takes a long time to work, but twice a day, massaged in, the rough skin will be taken back. It is apparent when to stop, as the skin will become thin and delicate and not be able to take any more surgical spirit without causing pain, so I stop. Once you are back to actual skin, it will be very delicate as it is new skin, and it will need even more care. Something to keep it soft and pliable would help at this stage, many products would do the job, but NO girth.

Only once proper, pliable skin has re-formed, so it is of a decent thickness, can you start to slowly toughen it up again. I don't use surgical spirit for this, as I feel all surgical spirited up at this stage!

I am not recommending any of this, as the twice daily surgical spirit, when massaged in as opposed to 'applied,' is quite brutal to the skin, I am just saying what has worked for me. I would have the vet out to re-examine so it is your own vet speaking to you, and take his/her advice.

But none of this will help if you then put on a girth that rubs again.

The girth currently used and recommended by the saddle fitter is an anotomical girth which doesn’t rub the girth galls as the girth sits way further back and avoids the area. In the 6 years I have had her she has only been ridden for the last 2 years and even after such a long time off with no to little riding only minimal hair has grown after using countless creams.

 

[Red-1]

If nothing has touched the area for 2 years, and it still shows raw skin from time to time, I would defo have a vet have another look.

Otherwise, as said above, I found the surgical spirit work helps reduce the scar tissue, but it is 20 minutes massage twice a day with the surgical spirit, not a quick rub. Quite an undertaking and initially it looks like nothing is happening. I would defo not do that without a vet taking a biopsy though, in case it is a sarcoid and you activate it.