Strange behaviour when saddled

[Slave2Magic]

My mare has no problems when ridden. She had her saddle checked 2 weeks ago and had her back checked also. When she is saddled I do up the girth carefully 1 hole at a time. It looks like she breathes out, feels tightness, panics and runs forward? If I walk her round for a bit she is fine after that. Any ideas? Most confused.

 

[BigRed]

maybe you pinched her once when doing up the girth and she remembers the pain ?

My friend had a pony that had a panic when someone took off his rug without undoing the leg straps. He never forgot about it and literally shook like a jelly when you took his rugs off.

 

[SDH]

what type of girth do you use? have you tried any others?

my horse hates the girth being done up, saddler advised me to switch from material girth to synthectic one and he does appear happier ....

 

[barbaraNcolin]

My boy is also funny when saddled but we've never got to the bottom of it, we now just "cope" with it. He seems to dislike the girth being round his belly rather than his saddle being on his back. He's also much better in the summer when he's had the sun on him. I now lunge every time before I ride to get it over and done with rather than risk being chucked on the floor. He only seems to run out of fright rather than nastiness. I know this doesn't offer any advice but it's nice knowing there's other people in the same boat!

 

[OrangeEmpire]

It could be a mare response to thinking the saddle is an unwelcome attempt at covering by a stallion? not sure what the solution could be other than what you are doing, but possibly an indication to what is going on in her mind?

with my mare I have two girths - one long on that i do up initially so that it is touching her but slack, then I prat about doing her bridle, boots and anything else before removing that girth and putting her regular girth on at the first hole. I then prat about sorting my hat, changing riding boots etc (basically lots of faffing!). She tenses if the girth is tightened too quickly. As long as i only tighten it as she tucks in her tummy she's fine.

if it is girth-specific you could use a sheepskin girth cover to soften it?

 

[Flame_]

There are quite a lot of horses that sometimes have an extreme reaction to girthing and the truth is, no-one really knows why.

My physio told me its particularly common in horses with front feet problems. Her theory being that because the horse holds itself tightly through its front end due to pain in the feet, the muscles running from the chest inbetween the front legs get tight and sore. Then when the girth is tightened over these muscles it causes the horse to react. I don't think this is in any way a scientific diagnosis, but it follows IME and IMO is very plausible.

 

[Slave2Magic]

Im glad I'm not alone on this one! It is rather puzzling though. Its not as if she does anything bad once im on. Never bucks, rears etc. I use a humane girth but have also tried a sheepskin sleeve and a Stubben string girth. Its as if she breaths out and suddenly feels it on her. Its not a total panic rather a sudden rush forwards with her bum under her.