Sore girth area (muscular) - any advice / ideas?

[PJW_11]

My young horse (4YO ISH) has been showing signs of being a bit uncomfortable for the last couple of weeks.

He is perfectly sound, but ill be riding him and he will suddenly dart forward / sideways as if something sudden has happened. He is particularly bad in canter and has been striking off on the wrong leg and changing legs in canter (something he didn’t do before). He also has his ears back the majority of time when being ridden and seems to tire quickly.

I finally managed to get a physio out who said he was a bit sore, particularly in his girth area, both sides. When I googled this after her visit it all made sense with his recent behaviour. I did have a short girth dressage girth on him with a sheep skin cover. I have now bought a Pro lite girth with a sheepskin sleeve in the hope that will improve matters.

I have ridden him a couple of times since (with new girth) and he is still showing signs of being sore when ridden (although not so bad) but maybe he’s still recovering or it’s remembered pain?

Weirdly he doesn’t really react to you touching / prodding the area and he doesn’t object to you doing up the girth.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I can do? Should I give him some time off to let it recover? I am planning to give him a break over December and January.

I had his saddle checked about 3 months ago and was told it was a perfect fit. He also had a 5 stage vetting around that time and nothing came up.

Thanks

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Some horses just don't suit short girths as it can sit on a muscle that runs along the side of there body, one of my horses can't wear one so I had his dressage saddle made with regular girth straps, might be worth trying a saddle with a long girth for a while to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Mule]

I'd give him a week or two off and see how he is after that. If he still isn't right I'd get the vet to have a look at him.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would give him some time off to allow the bruising or wahtever it is to improve. Then I would change to a completely different girth. And if no improvement, I would get the vet out to check him.

 

[atropa]

Have you tried massage? One of my mares developed very sore girth muscles from an unsuitable girth and the physio should me some massage techniques which helped alongside a hot water bottle

 

[Red-1]

I would give some time off and then change shape of girth.

My mare had set back withers and a very forward girth groove. Initially I went for a long C shaped girth, which she was happy with, but when she changed shape I had to change saddle and ended up with a short Fairfax narrow gauge girth with a LeMieux cover.

All was well for her, except that the sheepskin was black and it bled dye onto her white coat. So, I ordered a new cover, this time a Nuumed one.

Rode once on the flat with it, she seemed OK. The next time, I jumped and, although she was initially OK, she started to hump and buck after the fence. I thought it was simply excitement and 'rode her through it,' doh, and bless her she complied.

When I un-tacked it had bruised her both sides and skinned a portion too. The horse was an angel!

Interestingly, she did have some days where she would be a bit scooty after a fence over the years.

So, sheepskin/fluffies and a shaped girth may not be the answer. Your horse may need a totally different shape. Or, a saddle that sits differently, or is girthed differently (which is where a long girth can be more flexible with a saddle with multiple straps hidden under the flap!).

 

[ycbm]

I have owned one horse who hated elastic ended girths. Rare, but it could be that.

 

[PJW_11]

I would give some time off and then change shape of girth.

My mare had set back withers and a very forward girth groove. Initially I went for a long C shaped girth, which she was happy with, but when she changed shape I had to change saddle and ended up with a short Fairfax narrow gauge girth with a LeMieux cover.

All was well for her, except that the sheepskin was black and it bled dye onto her white coat. So, I ordered a new cover, this time a Nuumed one.

Rode once on the flat with it, she seemed OK. The next time, I jumped and, although she was initially OK, she started to hump and buck after the fence. I thought it was simply excitement and 'rode her through it,' doh, and bless her she complied.

When I un-tacked it had bruised her both sides and skinned a portion too. The horse was an angel!

Interestingly, she did have some days where she would be a bit scooty after a fence over the years.

So, sheepskin/fluffies and a shaped girth may not be the answer. Your horse may need a totally different shape. Or, a saddle that sits differently, or is girthed differently (which is where a long girth can be more flexible with a saddle with multiple straps hidden under the flap!).

Oh gosh! That’s a shame to hear the fairfax caused the issue for your mare! I bought the pro lite (same design as fairfax) hoping it would solve it. What did you do? Did you have to swap back to a long girth? I have a really nice mono flap jumping saddle which was pretty expensive and suppose to be the perfect fit... But if matters don’t improve maybe I will have to swap to a saddle with a long girth...

 

[PJW_11]

Have you tried massage? One of my mares developed very sore girth muscles from an unsuitable girth and the physio should me some massage techniques which helped alongside a hot water bottle

I have been doing some in the evenings. Could you feel noticble knots for yours? Because I can’t really... I will keep going in the hope it’s doing some good!

 

[atropa]

I have been doing some in the evenings. Could you feel noticble knots for yours? Because I can’t really... I will keep going in the hope it’s doing some good!

Yes I have to say the knots were very noticeable on my mare, I was amazed I could feel them so clearly. She was sore enough with them to be trying to bite when we tacked up and groomed. She has a huge shoulder so I think it was really impinging her movement having a straight girth on, she's so much better now with a Prolite but I do keep an eye on her muscles.

 

[Red-1]

Oh gosh! That’s a shame to hear the fairfax caused the issue for your mare! I bought the pro lite (same design as fairfax) hoping it would solve it. What did you do? Did you have to swap back to a long girth? I have a really nice mono flap jumping saddle which was pretty expensive and suppose to be the perfect fit... But if matters don’t improve maybe I will have to swap to a saddle with a long girth...

I mostly rode in a dressage with a long girth and got a C short girth, but it wasn't as good as the long girth.

My saddle fitted beautifully too, a Childeric. I will be selling it soon as I sold my competition mare and I don't think a Childeric Mono jump will suit a cob LOL!