Girthy horse, but only in the summer?

[L&M]

My cob has become increasingly girthy over the last few weeks - he is out 24/7 on 'ok' grass, old turf that has been grazed down as weight would be an issue otherwise, but plenty for him to pick at. He has no hard feed except for a handful of nuts after exercise.

Remebering back to this time last summer he was similiar, and even had an incident when he shot across the yard when being saddled....

He has a master saddler fitted saddle that is checked every 6 mnths, and has had both chiro and physic checks recently, so am hoping it is not back related. He is perfectly happy to have the saddle on, but even when gently tightening his girth, and slowly ratcheting it up, he can hump his back and look panicked on occasions. His teeth have also been rasped recently.

However come winter he is fine, despite being stabled overnight and on haylage and fibre based hard feed.

I am going to speak to my vet on Monday to investigate, whether it be ulcers or back related, but find it odd that these symptons only manifest in the grass growing mnths so am wondering if there is a link there?

Any ideas?

 

[kassieg]

I would consider ulcers definitely. The fact that his is better when on hayledge & fibre based feed makes me think that without it, it could be ulcers or possibly not even got to ulcers yet but he could have a lot of stomach acid. Try giving him some hayledge a bit before you tack up & see how that makes a difference but I would also consider getting him scoped

 

[cellie]

Have you tried girth sleeve made huge difference to my horse who is ultra sensitive. He had other probs but girthing made him very anxious.

 

[L&M]

What were his other problems if you don' mind me asking? Have a girt sleeve somewhere so will give it a go...thanks

 

[MrsNorris]

Has he had his saddle checked whilst he's at his biggest? Not saying he's fat or anything, but a slight change in body weight, especially if he carries fat around his shoulders/withers like my cob, could just be enough to make his saddle pinch maybe?

 

[teabiscuit]

Is he clipped in winter or does he have his winter coat? Maybe his summer coat makes him girthy? Just a thought.

 

[_HP_]

Try feeding hay/haylage for a while (soaked if necessary) to see if it makes a difference. It may be ulcers flaring up due to lack of fibre.

 

[PollyP99]

Is he clipped in winter or does he have his winter coat? Maybe his summer coat makes him girthy? Just a thought.

This^^ I shared a horse that was only girthy I summer! he was clipped so always assumed it was sensitive skin related. He would make faces and try to bite but only in summer.

 

[cobgoblin]

Has he had his saddle checked whilst he's at his biggest? Not saying he's fat or anything, but a slight change in body weight, especially if he carries fat around his shoulders/withers like my cob, could just be enough to make his saddle pinch maybe?

This^^ especially if he's light coloured or white in his saddle area.

 

[Highlands]

What girth do you use, my previous highland didn't like cottage craft girths because they have a middle seam

 

[L&M]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have tried all sorts of girths, including leather. Our saddler is also our instructor, so is usually pretty good at picking up changes, but will get her to have another look when next out.

I will try him on some hay, but even when he is in during the day if the flies are bad, it is hard to get him to eat hay as is only interested in the grass...

 

[Brightbay]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I have tried all sorts of girths, including leather. Our saddler is also our instructor, so is usually pretty good at picking up changes, but will get her to have another look when next out.

I will try him on some hay, but even when he is in during the day if the flies are bad, it is hard to get him to eat hay as is only interested in the grass...

It sounds like a bit of hindgut acidosis. Eating a lot of high sugar grass (short grass tends to be higher in sugars than longer grass, and few spells of heavy rain with sunshine in between makes summer grass go a bit crazy). Horses' hindguts are not good at dealing with this and it leads to them becoming more acidic, and then the bacteria that normally digest the fibres get killed off. You can test for hindgut discomfort by (very gently) running a finger from a place about where your saddle flap would end behind elbow horizontally along side towards stifle. As your finger passes the last rib, even if you're not pressing hard, a horse with hindgut discomfort will react. A horse whose gut is working fine won't even flick an ear at you. (Be careful where you stand - a very sore horse may kick out even if you're applying practically no pressure at all).

It does make affected horses seem more girthy and they do react to being tacked up.

 

[L&M]

Thats great Brightbay and will try it. If it is hind gut related could I supplement?

He can also get jumpy if I adjust his stirrups after the initial girthing, especially if they swing near his ribs, so would tie in with what you have suggested.

I am assuming that scoping won't show ulcers if in that area?

 

[Brightbay]

Thats great Brightbay and will try it. If it is hind gut related could I supplement?

He can also get jumpy if I adjust his stirrups after the initial girthing, especially if they swing near his ribs, so would tie in with what you have suggested.

I am assuming that scoping won't show ulcers if in that area?

I think it can be subclinical - so they can have colonic ulcers I think, but they can also just have acidosis that longer term might lead to colonic ulcers. There is a test called Succeed that claims to be able to distinguish gastric from colonic ulcers, but if it's just acidosis they may be sore but test may be negative. Worth talking to your vet (Succeed also - surprise, surprise - market a product to treat hindgut problems. I would do a separate thread on there to see what people's experience have been. The other product for hindgut issues is called EquiShure. I do know someone who has used this one successfully.

I have known a few who do suffer from tenderness during grass flushes in summer (my current horse included), I think it's probably quite common.

 

[cellie]

What were his other problems if you don' mind me asking? Have a girt sleeve somewhere so will give it a go...thanks

Hi sorry for delay in replying he had sacriolliac pain and 2 impinging vertabrae ...kissing spine. Hes young so we had injections in june then shock wave therapy and physio and hes made huge amounts of progress learning to work long and low. I had no idea of amount of pain he was in he didnt buck was just grumpy. I called vet out as he exploded one day when I tightened his girth broncing like mustang , once I released girth he was fine again. I have found with sleeve and using straps further back he doesnt tense anymore, his saddle had point strap and it was to far forward for him.