Methods to help a girthy horse

[GraceLikeRain]

Also, going into winter it might help to try a back on track back pad or something to help his back stay really warm. Cold-backed and girthiness seem to be linked to some degree because I think it is tied to tension and anxiety. Warm mucles are happy muscles.

I also never girth a girthy horse tied. I put it on one and one, move off of concrete and out into the open, one and two, walk 30 feet, raise it to two and two, etc. The last girth check is done from the tack following the walk warm up. I also walk a few circles in hand and do some turn on the forehands where I really encourage the back hind leg to cross under. My mare was not 100% but it did make a big difference.

[x]

For a girthy horse I will first of all use an elasticized girth, and for a bad girthy horse, a double end elastic girth such as Professional Choice’s girth that has grippy neoprene and that I don’t have to tighten as much. I think you trainers idea of longing and tightening after each circle is spot on–I do it as follows: put the girth on very loose (first hole) in the barn, then walk to the ring, then tighten the girth some, then walk some, then tighten the girth some, then walk some, and repeat until it is at appropriate tightness–and I make sure that is not any tighter than I need it to be. Then I will walk some before I get on. Basically the same thing the trainer was suggesting with the longe.

[Doctracy]

[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8370775]
This is often related to back pain, a saddle that doesn’t fit and tightness in the shoulder area. I do TTouch and can often receive this problem.

Also, a chiropractor can help. A rib out of place can make the horse really sore and sensitive in this area. I had a horse that came to me for training who would drop to his knees after saddling when asked to walk forward. The owner was told he was “lazy.” I had a osteopathic vet work on him. She put the rib back, end of story, the horse never had a problem again.

From here, your horse sounds like he is in pain to me.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know why so many people have to make up negative reasons such as “their lazy” for behaviors such as this,rather than logical things like pain. Not just horses,either. I har this with patient’s parents so often, when it’s a learning problem or medical issue. Makes me sad that these horses and kids have parents like this.

[NoSuchPerson]

[QUOTE=Lusoluv;8370322]
Some may disagree, but treating during girthing helped me through this issue along with the multi-step tightening process. Each time I raise the girth a hole, horsie gets a SMALL treat. This made him look forward to girthing in about 4 days. [/QUOTE]

@Doctracy;8370396

I do the treats,too.

When I read the OP, I started debating whether or not to admit that I solved my horse’s girthiness problem with slow, multi-step tightening and generous treating. Treating seems so often to be frowned upon here.

However, now that I know I’m not alone, I will come out of the closet and say that I did exactly as Lusoluv described when I bought a horse that was girthy. He doesn’t even flick an ear anymore when I fasten the girth, just waits for me to hand over the treat.