Girth rearing

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FleurM

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Hi, we have recently bought an 11.1 welsh pony and she is brilliant in every way apart from having her girth done up. I have to untie her and let her walk around while I am doing it up VERY gently and slowly. I would like to find a way of improving this, if you try to do it in the normal way she rears.
Any natural horsemanship techniques I could try?
I must mention this is only for the initial buckling, once it's been on a minute she is usually ok with the tightening up and always ok when you undo the girth after riding, no matter how quick or not gentle you are with it.
Hope there are some ideas out there!
thanks for reading.
 
My gelding is the same. I just accomodate it as I expect he has his reasons and it's only a little thing.
I like to do girths up very gently any way.
I think there is a nerve that can be acted on by the girth and some horses will actually collapse on girthing.
Go with it and call it her exception to the rule. The rule being her otherwise goodness.
 
Just continue as you are. She has possibly had it overtightened in the past and is not happy with it being done so fast. Most horses blow out and need the girth done up again after a bit of walking about.
 
I never do a girth up tight. I tighten it just enough, mount, walk and tighten as we go. I always think it must be just awful to have a saddle put on and the girth tightened immediately.
 
Do the girth up on alternate sides, take your time. one inch at a time.
If there is any doubt, use a breast girth and a comfort girth or a clean fleecy cover, make sure the girth buckles or the edge of the saddle is not nipping, use a saddle pad which comes down over the edge of the saddle where it meets the girth.
Make sure the skin is not wrinkled [train to allow front legs to stretch forward, no girth sores etc. and girth should not "run forward", it should sit in the "right place".

It will usually need tightening when rider in position, though maybe not with a tiny rider.
 
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teabiscuit said:
I think there is a nerve that can be acted on by the girth and some horses will actually collapse on girthing.
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I can second this, I had a young horse with this, on tightening she would go blind, tense up and then collapse. After trying everything the vet could think of I sold her as a brood mare, as she was well put together, not to be ridden.

On a different topic, I learned a life lesson, as the next owners tried to ride despite agreeing not to due to this problem, and she fell on them and hurt them.

My mare was a beautiful soul, as yours, good once the girth was actually on. I would be aware, as if in pain your horse may not be able to control their reaction. The vet thought the nerve injury would be caused by an accident such as a slip or fall in the field.
 
might the rearing be a reaction to being tied up when the problem initially occurred...sounds like you are being patient and thoughtful... I have used furry girth sleeves or wider girths.. there is definately a panic button in that girth area... had one who sometimes humped his back and bounced off all fours, legs straight..he did get better ... but always careful with him.
 
She starts panicking the minute I start putting the girth on and all I try to do is the bottom hole on each side initially which it not even touching her tummy. I've tried giving her treats while doing it but not sure it helped we were still waltzing around the yard! Of course I can just live with it, but my 5 and 7 year old girls would like to learn how to tack up.....normally!
Also, when you try to pick up her front legs to stretch them when the girth is on she goes bananas too.....
She has definitely had a fright at some point, and she's now 17, I don't like to see a horse be afraid so would love to get some improvement. You guys are great for replying so soon, thanks so much.
 
You don't need to stretch the legs forward.

And has the fit of the saddle been checked by a professional?
 
Red-1 said:
I can second this, I had a young horse with this, on tightening she would go blind, tense up and then collapse. After trying everything the vet could think of I sold her as a brood mare, as she was well put together, not to be ridden.

On a different topic, I learned a life lesson, as the next owners tried to ride despite agreeing not to due to this problem, and she fell on them and hurt them.
Click to expand...

Just wondering if that was potentially genetic?
 
equi said:
Just wondering if that was potentially genetic?
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The vet said not, that it was due to a traumatic injury to the nerve. It was frustrating as it would seem to improve from time to time (when long term rested), and at other times she could not even take one of those lightweight elastic surcingles.

Obviously if the vet had advised it could be genetic then we would not have considered her as a broodmare. A real pity as she was kind and lovely, and bareback we had some FAB rides.

She was great dressage, jumping and hunting in between the "attacks", but it was too unpredictable as to when the nerve would be caught, and I was so upset that this was causing enough trouble to her that she would literally fall straight to the floor with no chance to even try to save herself so she was taken out of work permanently.

My life lesson? I would sadly put her to sleep if it happened to me now. Too much risk for a horse that cannot even take a rug roller.
 
I use Clicker training with my lad with lots of success with other issues, but not for this problem.
I'm not sure how to go about it. Any ideas welcome!
OP if I have any progress I'll let you know.
 
amymay said:
You don't need to stretch the legs forward.

And has the fit of the saddle been checked by a professional?
Click to expand...


its definitely not the saddle, she has been like this for many years, i was told and shown about the girth issue when i bought her, good kids ponies are hard to find so i decided i could either live with it or find small ways to improve it (the un-tying her being one).
 
I would get her looked at by a good physio, if she is also reluctant to stretch it may be that her muscles are tight and a couple of sessions with a physio could make her more comfortable.
 
My lad is similar, he doesn't like the girth done up too quick or too tight, but is fine after a couple of minutes.

What I do is make sure he has a long enough girth that I can do it up loosely on each side. Once the saddle is secure I make him reverse a few strides, then bring him forward again, before tightening the girth to mount. Then he is happy, can also adjust girth whilst in the saddle, and again he is fine.

Mine has regular back checks, has been seen by the vet and my instructor is also my saddler, so can only put it down to a bad experience or quirk, though interestingly if he has a grass belly, he is more reactive to being girthed. I have found if I have him on brewers yeast this helps.
 
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