Very embarrassed and guilty.

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Hey guys,
Took my beautiful warmblood youngster on her first Fun ride yesterday which she absolutely loved and was amazing,
but on untacking and washing off after a hot 2.5 hour ride I noticed the skin around her girth area on both sides and down under her sternum was very hot/inflammed and sore.
Very Girth gally looking.
No skin removed, no bleeding, but very very hot and sore to touch(She chestnut so she let me know very obviously).
I washed it, applied cooling gel at the venue.

Once home I applied Leovet silver slave, and again this morning.
Im aware I wont be able to girth her until its totally resolved, nor would I.

But now Im wondering what girth wont do this again.
The one I had I think is memory foam neoprene type. Elastic on one side.
I didnt think I had it overly tight yesterday but I obviously did and Im mortified


And help greatly appreciated.

 

[maya2008]

Sheepskin girth sleeve is your friend. Preferably actual sheepskin. Neoprene can get very hot and irritating.

 

[CJoe]

I have a friend who just had this problem for the first time in 10 years, same horse, same tack, never had an issue?! Dont beat yourself up!

 

[SEL]

The old boy in my avatar (cantered over the rainbow bridge a couple of years ago) had an awful issue with girths when he was still in work - and I did get back from rides and find broken skin.

For him leather was better and literally just before I retired him I tried out a WOW H-girth and that seemed to sit better on him.

I think the elastic girths do lead to the risk of over tightening them though.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would use a sheepskin cover I actually prefer leather girths over everything else.

Neoprene can make them really hot

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Saddler suggested Stubben Cord girth for her? I used to use one a child many moons ago! Anyone have any experience?

 

[ihatework]

Some horses can be prone to it and chestnut’s are particularly sensitive.

In general you should avoid elastic on one side, either both sides or no sides. For my chestnut that galled I found no elastic better.

You also need to be completely on top of saddle fit and stability.

Proper sheepskin and no elastic worked for mine. Although I have heard good reports on string girths but never used myself

 

[Barton Bounty]

Saddler suggested Stubben Cord girth for her? I used to use one a child many moons ago! Anyone have any experience?

I have two, both 46” sadly too small for my monster but yeah they are light and breathable

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Some horses can be prone to it and chestnut’s are particularly sensitive.

In general you should avoid elastic on one side, either both sides or no sides. For my chestnut that galled I found no elastic better.

You also need to be completely on top of saddle fit and stability.

Proper sheepskin and no elastic worked for mine. Although I have heard good reports on string girths but never used myself

Agreed on the saddle fitting, the saddle I was using was on trial as Im at a loss of what saddle suits her.
Saddler says a U shaped head and hoop tree, but trying to find that exact saddle is like looking for a pin in a haystack

 

[HopOnTrot]

I had a memory foam neoprene girth on my roller, my mare was sore from 20 mins long reining in walk 4-5 times a week.

Switched to a leather contour girth and the pain went.

 

[nutjob]

I have the lemieux merino / lambswool girth cover for my sensitive soul. I do have a sleeve made from sheepskin but it takes for ever to dry. I've also been advised not to have elastic at one end, either in the middle, both ends or not at all. The stubben string girths have been recommended to me by saddle fitters and my physio but having spent many an hour untangling this type of girth in the 1970's they are not for me! They were terrible for pinching the skin and causing sores but I assume the new type are somehow different as a lot of people like them now.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

I have the lemieux merino / lambswool girth cover for my sensitive soul. I do have a sleeve made from sheepskin but it takes for ever to dry. I've also been advised not to have elastic at one end, either in the middle, both ends or not at all. The stubben string girths have been recommended to me by saddle fitters and my physio but having spent many an hour untangling this type of girth in the 1970's they are not for me! They were terrible for pinching the skin and causing sores but I assume the new type are somehow different as a lot of people like them now.

Thats my fear that they will pinch?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Do you pull legs forward just before getting on? I did read that if the horse has quite a bit of excess skin round that area it's best not to pull the legs. I hope she recovers soon

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Do you pull legs forward just before getting on? I did read that if the horse has quite a bit of excess skin round that area it's best not to pull the legs. I hope she recovers soon

I dont, she doesnt have much excess skin really. This is the first time I have ever had a horse with this happen. I wonder was the long ride and heat and sweat partly to do with it.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

My now retired mare cannot wear anything but sheepskin lined, elastic both ends or even the cheap Shires fluffy faux sheepskin girths also with elastic both ends did the trick. A real diva without, hot sweaty rides became quite challenging even with neoprene lining.

 

[ester]

Memory foam provides very little padding once it’s warm so I suspect that + single sided elastic are contributing. Also my own ginge was always worse at coat change time.

It’s a bit trial and error I’m afraid my own couldn’t wear leather, was ok with plastic - but needed to be covered with nuumed if moulting…. String didn’t work for us as they are wide and they just bunched together in his narrowish girth pocket and made him bleed

 

[Roxylola]

Just to point out, not tight enough could be contributory, if it's snug it's potentially less irritating than loose and moving (I'm actually worlds worst for riding with baggy girths though). That said I have always got on well with wintec elastic girths, they're very plasticy but they seem to work well

 

[poiuytrewq]

Been there done that OP! it happens, don't beat your self up over it.

On a slight off topic, I'm about to buy a new girth and had heard so many great reviews on the Pro choice Ventech- but this thread makes me think is neoprene really all that comfortable and won't it rub?

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Been there done that OP! it happens, don't beat your self up over it.

On a slight off topic, I'm about to buy a new girth and had heard so many great reviews on the Pro choice Ventech- but this thread makes me think is neoprene really all that comfortable and won't it rub?

Im looking at buying two. The stubben cord and the Equiline lambswool jump girth! Because who needs to eat

 

[Jambarissa]

@poiuytrewq I use the ventech, never any issues with mine but I do wonder if the construction helps. The neoprene bit is removable, and it's wider than the girth so the edges of it dont really have any pressure on them, it's more like a cushion between the girth and the horse.

The fluffy synthetic shires girths mentioned above (arma supafleece?) are really good. I hate synthetic fluff with a passion but all the horses like them.

 

[Jenko109]

Not read all replies, but I had a mare who was the same.

I had the most beautiful KM Elite sheepskin girth sleeve. It fixed the problem.

 

[Pidgeon]

Saddler suggested Stubben Cord girth for her? I used to use one a child many moons ago! Anyone have any experience?

Stubben girths are very good. Having a sensitive ginger myself, be careful with sheepskin covers as may get too hot.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

Stubben girths are very good. Having a sensitive ginger myself, be careful with sheepskin covers as may get too hot.

I was going to use string for hotter fun rides and the like, and sheepskin for colder days out showjumping? Im terrified to put any girth on her now...Ill have to compete bareback..

 

[Pidgeon]

I was going to use string for hotter fun rides and the like, and sheepskin for colder days out showjumping? Im terrified to put any girth on her now...Ill have to compete bareback..

Trial and error. I thought I was doing the right thing and got Pidge a full sheepskin numnah, cue way too hot and a nasty patch size of my hand on his side that needed vet attention. Sold the numnah and went with half wool. Don't beat yourself up about it, we all have days like this.

 

[SantaVera]

Sheepskin girth sleeve is your friend. Preferably actual sheepskin. Neoprene can get very hot and irritating.

Agree,sheepskin is best.

 

[Lamehorses]

Elastic one side is a definite no. Neoprene memory foam sounds lovely, but I suspect gets very warm & doesn't breathe.
I really rate the stubben cord girths. My sensitive mare is seldom even sweaty under her girth now. It washes & dries like new. Absolutely nothing like the string girths of the 70's

 

[sbloom]

So many ways in which girths can rub - check the saddle wasn't the cause, it could be if it was running forwards. It can then either be the forward back motion, the position of the girth and how far back from the elbow, even if the saddle is in the right place OR it can be because the elbow is super close to the ribcage giving no lateral clearance. The former depends on girth groove shape, what you need for the straps on the saddle you're going to use (for instance if you're going to use point and balance then you need a long "split" whether elasticated, they way I fit, or non, the way many others do) and a sheepskin may help, the latter is more about how thick the girth is. In this case the best one to try is the Stubben string girth, which I love, despite it being non-elastic is has a little give to it and it solves all sorts of issues. Only to be avoided on horses with very "deep" girth grooves, usually caused by big bellies - if the girth groove is deep and short front to back then the Stubben will fold over and may pinch.

 

[CastlelackSportHorses]

So many ways in which girths can rub - check the saddle wasn't the cause, it could be if it was running forwards. It can then either be the forward back motion, the position of the girth and how far back from the elbow, even if the saddle is in the right place OR it can be because the elbow is super close to the ribcage giving no lateral clearance. The former depends on girth groove shape, what you need for the straps on the saddle you're going to use (for instance if you're going to use point and balance then you need a long "split" whether elasticated, they way I fit, or non, the way many others do) and a sheepskin may help, the latter is more about how thick the girth is. In this case the best one to try is the Stubben string girth, which I love, despite it being non-elastic is has a little give to it and it solves all sorts of issues. Only to be avoided on horses with very "deep" girth grooves, usually caused by big bellies - if the girth groove is deep and short front to back then the Stubben will fold over and may pinch.

I dont think she has a deep girth groove to be honest, and plenty room bewteen elbow and ribcage?

 

[Prancerpoos]

Stubbed cord girths are great - but careful how you wash them as they shrink in anything other than cold hand wash.

 

[sbloom]

Stubbed cord girths are great - but careful how you wash them as they shrink in anything other than cold hand wash.

Yep best left to soak and rinsed gently.

OP her GG is very tight to her elbows, obviously I'll have to take your word for it about how far the elbows are from her ribcage, it's just so common that elbows are tight (and postural work, working especially on the thoracic sling can improve this). I would wait if you can until you have your new saddle as what work with, and is the right length for, the current saddle may be completely wrong for the new one.