Why is my horse suddenly getting girth rubs?

[LegoMyMego]

I've been riding my horse in the same saddle set up (saddle, girth, saddle pad, etc.) for the past 4 years and now, out of the blue, he is developing rubs from the girth.

:confused:

The only thing that is changed is that I'm not riding as much because I'm 3 months pregnant. :) But since I'm not riding as much I've adjusted his feed to keep his weight in check.

What would cause him to all of a sudden get rubbed by the same girth I've been using for years (and I'm a neat freak so I wipe it down after every ride so I know its not a dirt issue, and I haven't changed tack cleaning products either.)

:confused: :confused:

[FancyFree]

Mine started to get rubs out of the blue too. But I was riding more with harder work involved. I can't fathom what yours would be from with less work. I got a girth fuzzy. problem solved. That is odd though.

[merrygoround]

While you have controlled his weight, perhaps his musculature has shifted.

[Dune]

I dunno, I've had a couple horses do this. Actually they were galls not rubs, so not sure if this will help or not. For one horse, I bought a Trevira (string) girth and that took care of it. For another, I bought a Fleeceworks cover for the girth and that helped. Mostly, though, I think what helps is that I ALWAYS stretch out the front legs after tightening to the last hole. My horses never get them anymore.

[LegoMyMego]

While you have controlled his weight, perhaps his musculature has shifted.

Ahh..good point.

I've ordered a Mohair girth that I keep hearing great things about, so hopefully that will help.

Still....it's weird.

[merrygoround]

I still swear by,and at them. By them because they do prevent chafes, and at because they frequently come w/o keepers, and although they have some"give", it's not stretch.

[Bogey2]

do you condition the girth enough? My older girth got stiff because it was drying out after years of use and my horse started getting girth galls.

[buck22]

I tend to girth loosely, or at least I did before I got a horse that galls easily, because I found a loose girth galls him. Perhaps, since you have been using the same exact tack for so long, your girth might be looser during the ride than you suppose and causing a rub from moving? Despite being incredibly round, my horse does hold a saddle well, so I can ride around with a girth thats come quite loose and not realize it.

Also on my horse, I've noticed that if I pull his front legs out quite far after girthing, he develops folds of skin at the armpit and those folds will rub against each other (not actual interference from the girth, just the skin on skin rubbing) and he will develop quite a nasty rub very quickly. I still do stretch his legs out after tightening the girth, but not dramatically.

[angel]

Are the girth rubs just on the left side?

[Icecapade]

I tend to girth loosely, or at least I did before I got a horse that galls easily, because I found a loose girth galls him. Perhaps, since you have been using the same exact tack for so long, your girth might be looser during the ride than you suppose and causing a rub from moving? Despite being incredibly round, my horse does hold a saddle well, so I can ride around with a girth thats come quite loose and not realize it.

Also on my horse, I've noticed that if I pull his front legs out quite far after girthing, he develops folds of skin at the armpit and those folds will rub against each other (not actual interference from the girth, just the skin on skin rubbing) and he will develop quite a nasty rub very quickly. I still do stretch his legs out after tightening the girth, but not dramatically.

hmmm thats interesting, I'll have to try that, I have a string girth and recently switched to a wintec I think... but that one and my little western one which is also quiet short (18") both have been galling a little... I wonder if its from over stretching. I'll try not stretching as much.

[LegoMyMego]

Are the girth rubs just on the left side?

Ummmm....YEAH. How did you know? :lol::confused:

[angel]

You are getting girth sores on that side because you are riding a hollow-right horse. As you are working toward collection, you are shortening the reins rather than correctly riding your horse up into correct contact. When your reins are too short such as they are, they encourage your horse to be even more crooked than his natural tendency. This means his left barrel is pushing into the girth while the right is falling away from the girth. As he pushes more into the left side, the natural movement of the girth is more restricted (tightened), and creates the rubs. You need to keep more weight on your left stirrup and work harder to keep his right hind under better. He is also not honestly in your right rein, and too much in your left rein. The problems will be worse when you are moving in a clockwise direction. Riding correctly in better balance will help this problem, but until you can get him straighter, you might try using a string girth which allows for less restriction and greater flexibility as his left side pushes into it.

[LegoMyMego]

You are getting girth sores on that side because you are riding a hollow-right horse. As you are working toward collection, you are shortening the reins rather than correctly riding your horse up into correct contact. When your reins are too short such as they are, they encourage your horse to be even more crooked than his natural tendency. This means his left barrel is pushing into the girth while the right is falling away from the girth. As he pushes more into the left side, the natural movement of the girth is more restricted (tightened), and creates the rubs. You need to keep more weight on your left stirrup and work harder to keep his right hind under better. He is also not honestly in your right rein, and too much in your left rein. The problems will be worse when you are moving in a clockwise direction. Riding correctly in better balance will help this problem, but until you can get him straighter, you might try using a string girth which allows for less restriction and greater flexibility as his left side pushes into it.

Ummm...while that all makes sense, I've not done any ring work in months. We've been hacking on trails, pretty much on the buckle at the walk, and he got a rub.

[Dune]

You are getting girth sores on that side because you are riding a hollow-right horse. As you are working toward collection, you are shortening the reins rather than correctly riding your horse up into correct contact. When your reins are too short such as they are, they encourage your horse to be even more crooked than his natural tendency. This means his left barrel is pushing into the girth while the right is falling away from the girth. As he pushes more into the left side, the natural movement of the girth is more restricted (tightened), and creates the rubs. You need to keep more weight on your left stirrup and work harder to keep his right hind under better. He is also not honestly in your right rein, and too much in your left rein. The problems will be worse when you are moving in a clockwise direction. Riding correctly in better balance will help this problem, but until you can get him straighter, you might try using a string girth which allows for less restriction and greater flexibility as his left side pushes into it.

Ummm...while that all makes sense, I've not done any ring work in months. We've been hacking on trails, pretty much on the buckle at the walk, and he got a rub.

Hmmm, can't wait for the answer on this....:confused: Although I have to say all of the horses of mine that have gotten galls/rubs have had them on the left side as well. My theory is that it has more to do with the girthing process (since we do most of the tightening from the left side) than any one-sidedness or crooked riding. Of course that's much less esoteric and downright boring, so maybe my idea doesn't fly...:lol: