girthing issue

[joingall]

Has anyone ever heard of girth pain syndrome? We have a 5 year old mare who we bought as she was going to be out down. She was backed and ridden by the person that bred her and then slowly but surely she started to not want to be girthed and pulled faces, tried to bite and eventually started going into a massive bucking session even if the girth was put on one hole. Her owner was going to have her put down which is when we bought her. She is lovely and we have spent 6 months doing ground work and letting her settle. We can now touch her girth area even though her ears go back the teeth don't appear anymore! I can sit on her bare back no problem and put a saddle on her but the moment that girth is on she blows out and she goes mad bucking like a rodeo horse. You can tell she is frightened and not doing out of nastiness. I have been told that she should never be ridden but just wondered if anyone else had any experience of this? Her breeder has spent thousands on medical tests and she is perfectly healthy. I just don't know what has happened in the past. Have researched girth pain syndrome but it doesn't seem to be recognised in uk only in USA and Australia. ( also in veterinary)

 

[jhoward]

around the girth area are lots of nerves, these can become pulled/trapped. it would give a horse a good reason to object, a good work up with an osteo would possibley help.

the other areas to look at are the withers/shoulds as these tend to be the areas that a saddle will tighten on first when girthing up.

 

[Ella19]

can't say i've heard of it sorry.

Just a though have you tried just putting a sircingle on? does she do it then? May rule out girth/saddle options

 

[PonyFeet10]

It sounds like her problems are quite serious. If I were you I'd get an osteo to do a full work up over her body before anything else. If she's tensing which obv she is, then as she is also biting etc I would put it down to her being in pain.

She could have had an injury when she was a foal/youngster which was never put right and now, whenever even a slight pressure is being put on that particular area it hurts.

Does she tense up when you run your fingers down her spine? Ears back etc?

Also there is a possibility she could be cold backed, but somebody with more experience in that area my be able to guide you more with the possibilities of that.

As for riding, I wouldn't sit on her at all until you find out where the problem / pain is coming from. You could be making the problem worse without realising by doing so.

Can she stretch her head around to touch either side of her body with her nose? You can check this by using a treat!

Also can you turn her in a very tight circle on the spot (both left and right) and she crosses her legs over one another to turn? (Front and back legs!)

If she can't cross her legs over when turning then that is a deffinite problem going on with some part of her back / shoulders / quarters.