Gotta' girth to ride!

Girthiness may be attributed to discomfort due to having the girth tightened around the belly, but it can also be a symptom of less obvious troubles.

Any time you experience resistance of this type with your horse, you should ask yourself whether you have really evaluated what might be causing such a negative reaction. Have you and your veterinarian discussed your horse's overall condition? A chronic, untreated lameness can cause a horse to manifest his discomforts in many ways, girthiness being one of them.

Or your horse may simply be moody and his display of temper is just part of him. Some horses would simply rather not be girthed at all. As humans, we could liken the experience to having eaten a big meal and putting on a tight belt. But the tightening of the horse's girth is a necessity that allows us to ride, and ensuring that the girth is sufficiently snug, without pinching, is an important safety precaution. As always, it is upon our shoulders to make the experience as comfortable for our equine friends as possible.

Here are some suggestions that may help remedy the situation. When tacking up your horse, first make certain that your saddle pads are flat on his back and withers, then gently place the saddle on the horse's back. Don't slam it, and don't allow an attached girth to drop, or swing down and bang the horse as you place it in proper position. It is always a surer bet to completely attach and detach the girth each time you ride.

While your horse is standing during the tacking-up process, the girth should be attached at least tightly enough to hold the saddle in place if the horse should shy or bolt. Your new, expensive saddle dragging in the dirt is not a memory that you will cherish.

First, tighten the girth so that it hangs an inch or slightly more. Do not attempt to snug it up all the way. Then, take your horse for a brief walk for a minute or two. You will notice that the girth is now much looser. Go ahead and tighten it a hole or two, or three. True, your horse may warm to this either, but now he will have let some air out of his belly - he's not "blown up" - and begun to relax. The skin around the girth, in front of it, under it and behind it, will have also loosened now, making him more comfortable.

One way to hasten the loosening process is to "stretch" your horse's front legs before mounting, just the way you might before initiating a workout at the gym. Use caution and proceed slowly and methodically when doing this for the first time.

Pick up the front leg as you would to clean out the hoof, but stand directly in front of your horse, his nose on your left shoulder if you are stretching the right leg. Bend the leg at the knee and then grasp it below the knee and pull it up and toward you as you move slowly away. You will see the skin stretch around the girth area. Repeat this exercise with the other leg. Now, the girth is quite a bit looser than when you began. The horse may be quite surprised at this bit of physical therapy at first, but will learn to relax and enjoy it after repetition. While doing this, of course, make sure your horse is either tied with a safety knot or someone else is holding him if you are not certain he will stand quietly for you. And release the foot immediately if you feel your horse lean or begin to lose balance.

Perhaps you have noticed that as your ride progresses, so does the loosening of your girth. That is why you will want to check it upon mounting, again in a minute or two, and then again in five to ten minutes. In fact, it is always a good idea to slip your hand down under your leg to check for any slack that could be hazardous.

Of course, you always want to be certain that your girth is clean and free of bacteria that could cause fungus to grow on the girth or on your horse. This is particularly important in summer, when bacteria thrive. A hot and sweaty girth area is a prime spot for a fungus to begin that can also spread to other parts of your horse's body - and to other horses with which he comes in contact! These funguses are extremely stubborn and difficult to control.

If you are using a leather girth, as in the show ring, invest in a washable girth cover for your sensitive horse. Some even claim to fight bacteria. You will want a nice, fleecy, white one for showing in the English disciplines. For schooling, purchase a totally washable wool girth with absorption and ventilation properties. Nylon or cotton cord girths are also washable and will not chafe. The latest technology features a gel-filled girth by Roma, or Aerborn's product that promises to "pull moisture away from the horse's body," so it will not absorb dirt or sweat that can harbor bacteria.

You may never dissuade your horse from being girthy, but over time, the steps you take to lessen his cinch-tightening angst will pay off in a less irritable start to your daily rides.