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  Discussion on Girths for cold-backed Thoroughbred
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 29, 2002 - 9:40 pm:

An 11-year-old thoroughbred gelding I lease is horribly out of shape from years of being out of work. Today, after I tacked him up, taking about 5 minutes to tighten the girth, he flipped out--jumped, bucked, and took off, looking very fearful. After lunging he was calmer and seemed sound enough, Someone at the barn felt the elasticized girth was a hole or two too tight and that our cooler weather had made him cold-backed.

Can weather make a horse cold-backed?

Why was she so concerned about the girth? The fact that it is elasticized was a big point with her; she felt it because it is elasticized it should be looser.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,
Ellie

Posted on Friday, Aug 30, 2002 - 7:15 am:

Cool weather does make horses friskier but generally not cause them to flip out. I am unsure why she was so concerned about the girth maybe she has some past experience with them on this horse. Were you able to ride him after lunging?
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 30, 2002 - 9:27 am:

I must admit, I didn't try-----and felt rather bad about that until the barn owner agreed with me. His behavior was pretty scary and quite out of character.

Her advice was to (1) try a different saddle, although I've used this one once before (2) always lunge him before riding. I'll be trying again but probably won't have time until Monday, when I'll use the other saddle and a string girth.

Ellie

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 3, 2002 - 1:20 pm:

A word of caution on string girths...Be sure to stretch his legs forward if you use a string girth. My friend's horse reared with a string girth, but not with a neoprene girth.

Personally, I have sworn off string girths for just that reason.

Good Luck!!

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 3, 2002 - 3:52 pm:

I tend to prefer string girths as I feel they are less likely to cause rubbies/galling.

Some people feel that the elastic ends on girths allow you to "over tighten" a girth and this can bother sensitive horses.

Maybe you want to just tighten the girth so the saddle doesn't slip and then lung/tighten over a period of time. Intersperse each hole tighten with a lap or two on the lunge. Allowing a horse that feels confined to move off is helpful.

Also make sure the saddle fits and is not too far forward. His shoulders should be free of the saddle tree. You can eyeball this by making sure the point of his shoulder (scapula) is several fingers in front of the saddle. Usually, the girth will be a handwidth or more behind the point of his foreleg.

Stretching each foreleg a bit will help keep the skin from pinching.

Be careful of your own safety.

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 3, 2002 - 4:35 pm:

My girths have never rubbed my guy, but great to know Chris!

You explained the stretching of the forelegs much better than I!!!
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