Girthy horse

[Kate.Trommer]

We have an ootb that Iv been working with and every time the girth even touches his stomach he freezes up, his eyes get glazed over and the he freaks out backs up and collapses. We’ve tried everything we can think of like starting out w a bareback pad instead of a saddle, using a larger girth, using a sheepskin cover, using treats/distractions and tightining it supper slowly. But nothing will work and every time he flips out. Anyone have ideas?

 

[ycbm]

I assume you have ruled out ulcers?

if so, there is a nerve that runs beneath the girth, I think, and some horses simply cannot tolerate a girth. It's rare but I've heard of it before.
.

 

[Muddywellies]

Before posting on here, I assume you've had a vet assessment, along with physio and saddler? This horse is a prime candidate for ulcers and i'd be very surprised if a vet has dismissed this.

 

[doodle]

Gastric ulcers!

 

[LegOn]

Some horses have a compression in their sternum and chest from difficult births - they way they are pushed through the birth canal and while it can be manipulated young and before their muscles and bones start to form together, it can be helped in later life by a good Osteopath. A friend of mine works as an Osteo and she has come across it a few times and been able to help!

Crazy actually the work she does on puppies - the little 'runt' of the litter coming out all squished up, when she releases their gut and back end, they are able to stretch out and ingest properly - no longer the runt! Its unbelievable work!

 

[Hackback]

Do you tie him up or saddle him loose in the stable? I find my girthy horse (no ulcers) is better loose, he tends to panic if he's tied up.

On the instruction of my physio, before I saddle up I have to massage his back to get the blood flowing, run my hand down his side and gradually work under his belly (in the girth groove) until he stops fidgeting. Also stretch out both fore and hind legs (forwards and before I saddle up - doing it with a girth on causes panic). I then put the saddle on, reach under for the girth, hold it against his belly for several seconds until he relaxes, before fastening it on a loose buckle. Then go and do something else, come back put it up a hole each side, go and do something else, come back etc. It takes a while ... After riding she told me to loosen the girth and leave the saddle in place for a while so the blood flow returns to his back gradually, before removing and massaging his back again. It's a work in progress but he is a bit better and he looks really well. I also find that it helps if he has a few nuts to eat while I'm messing about with the initial back/side/girth area massage.

Weird thing with mine is that he used to be fine until one day I'd forgotten my own girth and borrowed someone else's. It was miles too big for him so I didn't even get chance to fasten it tight, but as I was pulling the straps through the buckle he had a massive panic attack causing everyone on the yard to come running to see what was going on. I really don't know what caused it, can only think there was a wasp on it or something although he had no marks to show for it. That was years ago but he still hates being girthed.

 

[Wizpop]

I would also rule out ulcers first and foremost- he sounds like a prime candidate unfortunatel.

 

[Kate.Trommer]

we take him into the arena or a pasture he freaks out worse if he’s tied up and we’ve ruled out ulcers. Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[Kate.Trommer]

As of rn we have ruled out ulcers we’re thinking it’s more psychological or nerve issues.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Have you ruled ulcers out by scoping him?

 

[Red-1]

I had a horse with this, it was nerve damage. She was always girthy, a bit cold backed, I was skint and she was cheap.

She initially got a lot better, I would walk her in a tight circle as I did the girth up. As e went on, she would even tie up to saddle. She became relaxed. Ridden she was a dream.

She was so good we decided to move to a better yard to start competing, needing to be boxed to get there. On the way up the ramp she slipped and fell, on the ground she froze, did galloping legs, got up and shot off as if she had had an electric shock.

From that day on, she was unreliable to girth. She too froze, would slam to the floor as if poleaxed, sometimes thrash on the floor. Other days she was fine.

She did have a little sarcoid near the girth, so she had the summer off after it was removed, after the 3 months off she was initially better to girth, but soon it got worse again. She was always better if she had a couple of weeks off.

She was still ace to ride, we did hours on the moors bareback! She was ready to go competing, apart from the girth.

The vet eventually said it was the nerve. He pressed it and she froze, she couldn't even see, didn't react to someone pretending to punch her eye (vet did this as a test!).

I initially retired, but eventually she even reacted to having an elastic surcingle.

It was 30 years ago, but at that time the vet didn't have a cure.