Suddenly Girthy

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nato

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My mare has all of a sudden become extremely girthy in the last month. I originally put it down to her being in season, as she only started acting like this when she came into season. I put her in the field for two weeks and she was still the same when she came back in - she's been in for two weeks now.

She's only girthy when tightening the girth - fine with grooming and loosening/undoing the girth. She actively kicks out with front and hind legs on the side that I'm tightening the girth on, and I try to do it gradually. She'll do it before I even start to tighten it, i.e. even when I pick up the girth to tighten it. She's also started swishing her tail when I put use a more forceful leg in the saddle to send her forward.

It's very out of character for her, hence why I'm a bit concerned. Saddle was reflocked only late last year and seems to fit fine, no girth galls etc. On the whole she is in good form, healthy weight and no loss of appetite (in fact I think it's increased!) and feeling very well in herself with the spring grass lately! Her overall temperament is the same as she ever was, it's purely when I go to tighten the girth.

I am thinking best thing to do is start with a Chiropractor and go from there? Or does it sound like ulcers or something else?

I also briefly thought that maybe she was just being a wagon, considering she is unfazed when undoing the girth?
 
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I think I would start with getting a physio out, having the saddle checked again before looking at investigating ulcers unless there are any other symptoms that make you suspect them, best to rule out the cheaper more obvious possibilities first, that she has no girth galls and the saddles seems fine does not mean it is not causing her some discomfort when doing the girth up.
 
Thanks. What are they key symptoms of ulcers that I should be watching out for? I can't think of any change to her environment that would have caused this. Can worms create this? She doesn't need to be wormed but just a thought.
 
nato said:
Thanks. What are they key symptoms of ulcers that I should be watching out for? I can't think of any change to her environment that would have caused this. Can worms create this? She doesn't need to be wormed but just a thought.
Click to expand...

I just looked up the symptoms there - she has no other symptoms of ulcers outside of this girthyness which is only when putting the girth up, not even when taking it off or putting the saddle on her back.

Think I'll start with the chiro/physio. Thanks :)
 
Sounds like ulcers to me.
Mine had ulcers and started off with being girthy but was absolutely fine to ride, ate up well, didn't look poor. He thengot annoyed with me brushing him around girth and chest area. As it was quite gradual I didn't really realise there was a problem until I realised I had to tie him up to tack up and jump away from his knashing teeth.
Undoing the girth or tightening up once on board wasn't a problem at all, but they are all different.
 
My first port of call would be saddler, if she is upset about it being done up it could be uncomfortable, I know it was done late last year but she could/should have got wider with work and spring grass. If that's fine I would get her back checked before worrying about ulcers.
 
I'd get the saddle fitter or physio first, it really doesn't sound like ulcers to me. Could she just not feel like being ridden, or the perhaps the girth is too thin, so cutting into her? It may also be pinching her, hence why she doesn't like it being done up?
If you've had physio and saddle fitter out, and you still haven't found anything, then I'd call the vet (personally).
 
Thanks everyone. I'm sure it's not the saddle as she does this even when I'm putting on a lunging roller, her GP or dressage saddle. And she does it even as I go to grab the girth.

I try to do it up gently so it's definitely not about pinching.

You make an interesting point about the grass - she had been turned out in a sort of 'pen' all winter with no grass, just hay, and would have started going out to the field after 3+ months of intermittent grass (when she was on holidays for a week or more for example). This could very well be the case!

I have organised the chiropractor for peace of mind, it's getting worse now for sure so want to resolve it as soon as possible!
 
I would go saddle fitter then physio/massage therapist.

Sudden onset girthyness can be caused by a poorly fitting saddle or muscle soreness (which can be caused by saddle fit) in the Serratus Ventralis, Latissimus Dorsi and Deep Caudal Pectoral muscles.

IMO it doesn't sound like ulcers, but if you have no luck with the saddle fitter and massage/physio, then I would get a vet.
 
"only last year" is quite a long time, most horses get a fraction narrower in the winter and a too wide saddle can pklace pressure right along the top edge of the panels and lead to girthiness (which is often a sign of poor saddle fit). I'd consider saddle and ulcers probably in that order. Monitor your own saddle fit (movement of the saddle when riding, but also how many fingers you can stack under the pommel after you've ridden with girth still done up firmly) and you'll catch these problems before they cause other issues.
 
Thanks everyone. When I said "only last year" it was referring to November, she hasn't changed shape much in the 5 months. I've sent the saddle off to the saddler to check for any things that stand out, chiro is coming in the next few weeks, and if no luck then time for the vet!
 
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Even small changes can make a big difference, 6 months to November and many people have their saddles checked every six months, the Saddle Research Trust recommends more often than that but that's not affordable for many people. See if your actual fitter would look at photos first to see if anything looks off, I personally don't think there's much merit it sending it away to be checked, it's much more likely to be a fitting issue than a structural issue.
 
What type of girth are you using? Is it one with a lot of elastic in it, at both ends? If so, make sure that you are not inadvertently over-girthing.

I would get physio to check ascending and descending pecs......not saying it's impossible, but not likely that something that all chiros would pick up on.....depends on their years of experience and other CPD interests.
 
Saddle fit is ok as per check! Not a chiro issue... So physio is up on Monday to check her over. She seems to have improved the last few weeks as I've been doing lots of stretches with her, carrot stretches and stretching out and down on the front legs... She was in season which may have contributed too. Looking forward to seeing what the physio has to say.

Will update you all!
 
My gelding does this exact same thing if the grass or haylage is too rich for him and he isn't getting enough fibre. I highly recommend Happy Tummy charcoal it works a treat for him.
 
Did you say you had to send the saddle away? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but if you did that doesnt mean it fits! My bombproof safe for a disabled person cob gets VERY upset if his saddle is even slightly off! Barging and shoving when hes tacked up and napping horrifically! Totally out of character, and it only has to be a little bit out for him to be upset
 
I would definitely get physio as first port of call. My mare was showing all hormonal signs but it went on for too long, turned out to be her back.
 
My gelding did this recently. I wondered about ulcers but it was an issue related to a saddle that he had only had on four times. It had dropped behind the scapula on one side and impinged the muscle, fascia and this had travelled to one under the girth area causing the soreness when girthed. Myofascia release work on him sorted it out and I swopped his saddle. He is great again now.
 
Another who had this issue come up suddenly and also head tossing on tacking up and during work. Was combination of saddle needing reflocking and possibly barefoot horse holding herself tensely causing pain around back/wither/shoulder. Saddle sorted, physio out and I have my calm happy horse back for saddling and no head tossing. She is now going into shoes on recommendation of vet and physio as a lot of the tension is thought to be related to her hold herself differently over rougher ground, even though she isn't noticeably footy. Then another physio check but she is well on way to normal again.
 
So I had the physio out last night, she managed to find scar tissue on her tummy in the shape of a hoof :( Looks like she got a right kick in the field! Feel terrible as I didn't notice it for so long, but the physio said that it was hard to notice if you weren't looking for it.

At this stage the physio feels she's not in pain but the behaviour is learned, so we need to train that out of her. Couple of days of lunging so she understands it's not all about the saddle and need to use a sheepskin girth cover to ensure maximum comfort - can anyone recommend any? Have tried to find a Le Mieux one to no avail. Any others that come in a close second? I found a KM Elite one that seems good.

Thanks for all the advice, so glad I got to the bottom of thigns.
 
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