Possible girth Gaul

[Haffenden1987]

I rode out yesterday and then suddenly got caught in a lot of rain so unfortunately me and my mare got soaked. Get home and untack to notice that she has a sore just behind her elbow where girth would go. It's not a open wound just a patch of hair missing and slightly red. I ride in a leather girth that is cleaned every time we ride and she's also never had this before. She's 22. Could it be that the rain caused it to rub? Is it something else or God forbid is it something I have done.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Give her a few days off until the gall is no longer red/sore, check that your girth is nicely shaped around her elbows and get a sheepskin girth cover. Keep the cover clean for every ride by either brushing dry sweat off it if it's hardly sweaty, or washing it in a wool wash if it's very sweaty. It's possible that you'll only need to use it if there's a chance of rain, but it's not much hassle to use them every ride.

This keeps my very thin skinned mare gall free.