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Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

906.0. "girth sore help" by GEMVAX::FISHER () Wed Mar 21 1990 10:53

I have two friends who have the same problem and asked for 
help.  I figured someone out there must have an answer for 
them.  I will describe the problem the best I can -  the 
horses are getting severe girth sores on their elbows.  Both 
of these people stretch the horses after putting on the 
girths, and both have used and not used girth covers.  I 
have seen neither horse; I do know, however, that one had 
sores/bumps large enough that they had to be removed by a vet (or 
drained, I think).  Both have ridden bareback and the sores 
then healed and disappeared.  They then returned as soon as 
the saddles/girths were used.  They have tried various size 
girths, different saddles, and they still return. The 
interesting thing is both of these people have owned their 
horses over 5 years and this is the first time they've 
experienced the problem.

My recent suggestion was covering the area with moleskin -- 
this has not yet been tried (I remember reading about it in 
an old Practical Horseman).  Anybody have any experience 
with this, or any suggestions on helping them?  Any hints 
would be appreciated -- especially preventive.

Thanks a lot,
Dawn
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
906.1VMSSPT::PAANANENWed Mar 21 1990 11:1110
    Tell them to try putting some Gold Bond powder on the girth and
    on the skin in the areas that are affected. This helped when my
    horse developed a sore due to a bug bite that was in the girth
    area. The GB powder will make the skin and girth slippery so
    that there is less friction to cause irritation. Also keeps the
    area dry. 

    Hope this helps!
    K.
906.2wag...LEVADE::DAVIDSONWed Mar 21 1990 11:248

shot in the dark:

    Have they "recently" changed farriers??  I ask as it sounds like their
elbows are actually rubbing the girth... which would make me think that
perhaps they are toeing out in front?
906.3IdeaPFSVAX::PETHMy kids are horsesWed Mar 21 1990 11:427
    I have a very sensitive horse, and I get around this problem by using
    Cottage Craft nylon reinforced cotton girths. These are machine
    washable, and I wash them everytime I use it, along with the cotton
    saddle pad. It does seem strange that this started with horses they had
    for some time....
    Sandy
906.4(??)DISCVR::HERRONFri Mar 23 1990 17:529
    		DO THEY WASH THERE GIRTHS REGULARLY? OR ON THE OTHER HAND
    	        MAYBE NOT RINSED OUT WELL ENOUGH?  ALSO WHAT ABOUT THE
    		PADDING UNDER THE SADDLE, MAYBE TO THIN. I USE SHEEPSKIN
    		GIRTH COVERS ON MY GRITHS. ALSO YOU CAN BUY A NYLON GIRTH
    		THAT IS SHEEPSKIN AGAINST THE HORSE AND NYLON ON THE OUT
    		SIDE. I THINK ALOT OF ROPERS USE THEM.
    
    		HOPE THIS MIGHT BE SOME HELP!
906.5Shoe boil?DISCVR::HERRONMon Mar 26 1990 18:368
    		I was talking to a friend of mine that has about 40
    		years with horses and she said that this sounds like a 
    		shoe boil. The toes on the hind hoofs maybe to long.
    		She said that you can buy a "doughnut" to put around 
    		the ankle to help protect the elbow when they lay down.
    
    		good luck
906.6Shoe Boil bootsREGENT::WIMBERGWed Mar 28 1990 15:086
    
    Shoe boil boots are really ugly but they work. Dover Sadderly
    carries them and you can order them thru the catalog.
    
    Nancy
906.7thanksGEMVAX::FISHERWed Mar 28 1990 17:3418
    I want to thank everyone for your help.  I called both women and gave
    them all the feedback. We instantly eliminated shoe boils as they do
    not appear while riding (I have personal experience with those little
    darlin's).
    
    One of the woman knew the cause of the girth sore -- she tried one of
    the cloth saddles with the wrong girth.  She has used the gold bond
    powder and greatly thanks you for that tip.  She said it is wonderful.
    
    The other woman is talking to her farrier.  It turns out her problems
    started when she changed to a new one -- can't be a total coincidence.
    Hopefully when the horse is shod again, the problem will go away.  She
    too thanks you for the gold bond -- it hasn't eliminated the problem,
    but the area isn't as raw as it was.
    
    Thanks to everyone on behalf of my friends,
    
    Dawn