those of you with girthy horses

J

Jesstickle

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I remember a couple of people saying they had a girthy horse that was checked by someone (chiro/osteo/someone else?) and found to be tight in the girth area.

My horse's back has been checked numerous times (physio, vet and McTimoney) and given the 'all clear' but the girthiness remains. Vet is out to jab the week after next so will mention to them again and saddle fitter is out next week as well so we should be all good in that respect.

Basically I can't remember who the magical person was that actually checked this bit of your horse!! Please help as I am a durr brain!
 
Someone posted on another thread that they were shown by I think a physio how to draw their fingers up the pectoral muscles before saddling and when they do this they have no issues with girthiness.
I must admit I am going to try it - my little mare has always been girthy. She has the softest most comfortable girth and I got her a sheepskin cover for it - her saddle fits - I even heat her back with a heat lamp before saddling. I have tried it all to no avail. I just have to do her giirth up very loosely and by the time I have led her the few strides to the manege she is happy to be girthed. Really odd.
 
YasandCrystal said:
Someone posted on another thread that they were shown by I think a physio how to draw their fingers up the pectoral muscles before saddling and when they do this they have no issues with girthiness.
I must admit I am going to try it - my little mare has always been girthy. She has the softest most comfortable girth and I got her a sheepskin cover for it - her saddle fits - I even heat her back with a heat lamp before saddling. I have tried it all to no avail. I just have to do her giirth up very loosely and by the time I have led her the few strides to the manege she is happy to be girthed. Really odd.
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Ooh interesting, hadn't heard that. Do you know, did they mean draw up the front from underneath up the chest, or up from the rearmost pectorals under the girth area up the ribs?
 
YasandCrystal said:
Someone posted on another thread that they were shown by I think a physio how to draw their fingers up the pectoral muscles before saddling and when they do this they have no issues with girthiness.
I must admit I am going to try it - my little mare has always been girthy. She has the softest most comfortable girth and I got her a sheepskin cover for it - her saddle fits - I even heat her back with a heat lamp before saddling. I have tried it all to no avail. I just have to do her giirth up very loosely and by the time I have led her the few strides to the manege she is happy to be girthed. Really odd.
Click to expand...
I want to be your horse! A heat lamp, AND sheepy girth; OMG!
 
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YasandCrystal said:
Someone posted on another thread that they were shown by I think a physio how to draw their fingers up the pectoral muscles before saddling and when they do this they have no issues with girthiness.
I must admit I am going to try it - my little mare has always been girthy. She has the softest most comfortable girth and I got her a sheepskin cover for it - her saddle fits - I even heat her back with a heat lamp before saddling. I have tried it all to no avail. I just have to do her giirth up very loosely and by the time I have led her the few strides to the manege she is happy to be girthed. Really odd.
Click to expand...

Mine is exactly the same! If i walk her five steps she is totally happy for me to do it up! No heat lamps here but she does have sheep!
 
Oesteopath.
I always seem to find its a mare thing (as long as youve ruled everything else it could ne out of course) Ive recently started using a fairfax girth and it seems to have stopped the girths-ness on my two mares! One mare just fidgets a bit so after doing it up loosely then tightening later she is fine but a dead sheep girth or the fairfax seem to make her much happier!
 
Yep its a mare thing :D one of mine is a right moo with her girth and rugs always has been and always will be :D
Also when its me doing the job in hand she is a right cow (she knows she can be and I never tell her off ) but when my 10yo daughter tacks her up she's so sweet butter wouldn't melt .
 
philamena said:
Ooh interesting, hadn't heard that. Do you know, did they mean draw up the front from underneath up the chest, or up from the rearmost pectorals under the girth area up the ribs?
Click to expand...

I am going to try this too. If you don't hear from me again its because my horse has killed me for touching her inappropriately :o:D:D
 
It is not always just the pectoral muscles that can cause girthyness. Yes, they can be a factor, but just because you don't get a reaction in the pecs does not mean there is not any muscle soreness higher up. The Serratus Ventralis, Trapezius, Latissimus Dorsi, Deltiod and occasionally the Triceps Brachii can cause girthyness (the circled area. The Pectorals are where the pink line is - the Subclavius which is also a pectoral muscle sits at the base of the neck. You can see it between the Omotansverse mucle and the cervical part of the trapezius)
girthyness_zps3654b4e3.png

... Also don't forget about any potential Myofascial Trigger Points that could be active.
 
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