Another vote for Thinline
Re: “…pain he holds in his body…”. Have you tried Linda Tellington-Jones’ TTouch methods? Youtube.com has several videos. She has published several books specifically for horse training and treatment. Her clients have included Olympic competitors (e.g., Ingrid Klimke and her dad the late Dr. Reiner Klimke, Carl Hester, Klaus Balkenhal the founder of Xenophon Society, Nicole Uphoff, Kyra Kyrklund, Emile Faurie the British Olympian and national coach, etc). In addition to it improving the lives of countless horses, over more than 30 years, the TTouch method has been effective with many domestic and wild species (e.g, San Diego Zoo), her methods are also used for humans. I’ve taken a TTouch clinic and seen the “miraculous” results. It’s easy to learn. Not a massage or chiropractic method. Try it. You may become a convert like me, the ultimate skeptic.
My mare was sensitive and I ordered the Nunn Finer girth that has the end straps that can flex and adjust.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nunn+finer+piaffe+girth
She hasn’t been girthy since.
first, I would add a diet balancer. A working horse doesn’t get what they need from grass.
Magnesium is known to help with muscle soreness.
Also,
IMO the wider girths are going to be more comfy. I’m IN LOVE with some of the new girth designs. However, they are cost upwards to $300.00.
From what you have described, your horse is absolutely symptomatic of ulcers. But he very well could be ulcer free.
These days, every slightly negative behavior is a symptom of ulcers.
–but you never know. My friends Irish horse had ALL of the symptoms of ulcers yet he was clean. Where as my OTTB who was a thrill to be around and totally chill was so full of them that it took me 2 full months of gastrogard to clear him up.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/passier®-anatomic-dressage-girth/p/X1-02198/
this is the one I love so much. I wish I wish I wish I was loaded.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/stbn-eqsft-drss-grth-w-lthr-bk/p/X1-02280/
VTO listing:
http://www.vtosaddlery.com/product/DRESSGIRTH/SESDG.htm
this one isnt’ too bad on the pocket book.
http://www.doversaddlery.com/wintec-cair-short-girth/p/X1-02230/
Also, someone at one point mentioned that short girths put more pressure on the horse.
That’s all they said. Several of us have brought the question back from the dead but no one seems to know the truth of it.
If it is true, then make sure your girth isn’t too short. It can go higher, closer to the flap of the saddle as long as it doesn’t touch.
I use the soft touch girth from VTO. They are on close out but only in 30 and 32.
But it is truly soft. I actually put the Wilkers cotton girth liner on mine too.
I buy the jump length and then cut it and sew the ends. I get two dressage length covers out of it.
I call my OTTB Princess. Short for Princess and the Pea. And he is fine in the above girth.
You could also scrutinize your saddle pad. I think girthiness radiates from or too the entire depth of the barrel.
I’m pretty darn sold on the Steffen Peters dressage pad. It’s the nicest saddle pad I’ve ever used. (I’ve never used the Mattes products)
It has a built in shock absorber. Like a thin lineish type core.
lol. never hear of these until this thread!
