STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

up4thechase

My boy too was also very girthy and has actually bitten me to the point where I thought I had been double barrelled by another horse when my friend touched him in the girth area. I had an area the size of a football on my thigh with blood drawn and raised about an inch high and it went BLACK. I did alot of work desensitising him after I had his soreness eliminated as any horse who is in pain can revert to using this method as a defense mechanism so he doesn't get ridden. And if he is a T/bred and been in a racing stable some stable staff can be quite nasty to horses that wont stand up, suck in air etc whilst being saddled and in return the horse gets a kick in the guts. And also some of the girths that are used on jockey pads actually pinch the horse. So back to desensitising. It takes along time for a horse who has learned to be girthy to unlearn it. And bare in mind that they may never be over it. I have to watch my boy the whole time I am around him. Also u can try to put his bridle on first. I find with my boy that once his bridle is on he is a much nicer horse and he doesn't worry about his girth as much (it took me a while to figure this out). Try touching an area where he is comfortable with and gradually move to where he isn't keeping his head turned to you at all times and watching his body language. when he starts reacting keep your hand there and wait for him to soften. When he has softened remove your hand and praise him. Hope this is helpful and good luck.

SomeoneElse

Apparently, the major cause of girthiness is a result of rib injury at birth: Birth Trauma + Abnormal Wither + Ribcage Sensitivity of Horses.

It appears veterinary chiro and acupuncture is the preferred remedy, though it needs to be 'Willoughby Veterinary Chiropractic' (does Sean Millar use this method?).

QHCowgirl

Just I thought also, after you have solved the problem. I bought one of those new Cair Girths from Horseland ($195.00) for my girthy TB, it has made a huge difference to him, He was a shocker for "blowing up" when it came to tightening the girth up, now he just stands and lets me do it with out having to "trick him". The only problem is now he hates the normal old wintec girths and will have a hissy fit if I go to use one, he has expensive tastes!!

sharlas

Hi - can someone PM me Kevin Kelly or Sean Millars contact details - and whther you know if they are prepared to travel to places like Geraldton