Horse doesn't like girth?

Question

I feel bad. When I had gotten my horse, he didn't have a problem with the girth and I used to tighten it fast, and I think I may I pinched him and now he flattens his ears and fidgets. I bring it up slowly, but I feel horrible that I may have caused this. Once I pick up the girth and just bring it up to put it on the holes, he flattens his ears. Could I message his girth area before? Would petting his neck and a soothing voice cure it (if I stop and talk and pet him, his ears go forward, but if reach for the girth again, he flattens). Would a treat help if he doesn't flatten his ears? I really want to get him back to normal. The lesson horse I used to ride never had a problem, and no one told me to bring it up slowly until a few months after purchasing this horse. Please help! I don't want him soured forever!

We feed him after we ride. I don't really want to feed him grain before I work him. I know I get kind of sick if I eat before I ride/run/walk ect.

He is a very quick learner and has improved on everything (even accepting the bit) except for the girth. One time my mom was in front of him and I reached down to tighten the girth and she looked away and we heard a snap and part of her hair was wet. We don't know if he bit or if he was trying to get a fly or something and that was when we really realized the problem. I really want this habit to go away! He is such a good horse and I cured him of his fear of water, refusing the bit, running away when getting caught, but the girth is just frustrating me!

No he doesn't puff out. He just lays his ears back and he has never 'bitten' or whatever again, it was only once and we weren't sure if it was over the girth. Should I work slowly on just placing the girth on his belly and get him to be okay with that, then start tightening it very slowly?

Answer 1

The best luck I've had with "girthy" horses (whether like yours and just "upset" or those that bite or act out) is to go through your normal routine of grooming, bring the girth up under their stomach where it would normally sit without actually attaching it to the billets (for English...). If they bite, block them with your arm, if they kick or move, stay with them but out of the range of fire. Once they relax and stand, stop reaching for you or 'un pin' their ears, drop the girth back down, offer a small amount of praise (a simple pet, or "good boy", but nothing over the top) and do it again. Slowly work until you can keep the girth there long enough to get it hooked, do not tighten it. Take the saddle off and that is it for that day. Work on ground work, play, whatever else, but don't ride. The next day, try it again. Don't be surprised if it takes a few days to get the behavior better, but eventually it should work. It works on the premise of ignoring the behavior you don't want and rewarding the behavior you do want. It is a long process, but it generally gets more long lasting results than if you do gimmicks or trick him into ignoring you. A word of advice though, you will have to be extra careful when girthing from now on as you can always bring the behavior back with one "wrong move". They may also react to the surroundings, the weather, etc, so it will be a lifelong thing to keep in mind. You may not have to deal with it daily, but you have to remember it whenever saddling him. I would recommend doing all of your saddling yourself, or showing one or two people how you want it done if you've got friends that ride, or someone that helps at shows. Best of luck!

Answer 2

Well, I would probably take it step by step, don't expect the change to happen over night. I would probably start by letting him sniff the girth and the saddle to let him know that it won't eat him! =] Then I would slowly put the saddle on, and let it sit there, don't put the girth on or anything. Wait a few seconds and if he doesn't lay back his ears tell him good boy and pet him. Then pick up the girth and wait for his reaction. If his ears are flat against his head, put the girth down. Just keep repeating until he knows that you can handle the girth. Once he accepts it, give him a treat, praise him. Then put the girth on loosely and walk him around a bit. (If he puts his ears back, keep repeating.) If you don't want to walk him around yet, if he was a really good boy, STOP THE WORK! This will let him know that he did something right!

I imagine this could be a trust issue if you did accidently pinch him or something. Just work on building the trust back up!

Also - if the girth is uncomfortable for him even after working with him, consider another more comfortable girth.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think there is a combination of issues going on here. First you did most likely hurt him and second now you are approaching him with caution and guilt. He is apprehensive and you are possibly making it worse by acting "weird" around him. I would think that if this horse had 100 good girth experiences and 1 bad, he will quickly get over it. See if he acts the same way for someone else. If yes, you need to change how you girth up, if no, you need to change how you are approaching the horse.
PS- if it is the girthing up process some horses do well walking a circle around you when you tighten up, also a breast collar on a western saddle will keep your saddle more secure and you don't have to tighten so much.

Answer 4

Many horses get fussy when you tighten their girth. Some ways to avoid this is to put the girth on really loosely, and then walk your horse around a little bit, and then tighten it a hole or two; and then walk him around a little bit more, and then tighten it again until the girth is tight. Also once the girth is on and tight make sure that you take your hand and run it underneath the girth, and pull your horses legs forward to flatten out and get rid of all of the pinched skin bunched up underneath the girth.

GOOD LUCK <3333

Answer 5

Try a different cinch.I use a neoprene cinch with some of my horses,it seems to work for mine.I do have a mare that doesn't like the girth,but I've used a one legged hobble on her. A one legged hobble looks like a leather belt,with a buckle on it,you put it on just above the hoof,lift up their leg and buckle it over the knee.It holds up the front leg while you're saddleing them and prevents them from moving around.It is not painful for the horse,it just helps until they get used to a saddle or a girth.

Answer 6

Have you checked him to make sure there are no sore spots where the girth goes? Run your hand around him and see if you get a reaction anywhere. Also check the saddle, it could be causing pressure on a sore spot when you tighten the girth

Answer 7

try giving him some grain or something to eat while you tighten his girth. Where I ride there's a horse that is girth (means she bites when someone tightens her girth). We give her a bag full of grain (not too much) and then she's fine. Just work with your horse slowly

Answer 8

Are you sure you are not continuing to cause discomfort?

Have you tried a different girth, perhaps one of the sheepskin lined ones?

Are you pulling his legs up after you tighten o make sure it isn't pinching?

If you can get a helper to sooth him as you tighten, not to distract but to comfort, it might also help.

Don't worry it is highly unlikely you have soured him. Just give him some time to give back some trust.

Answer 9

A pony I used to ride had this problem. Try putting a fuzzy cover on the girth and moving the saddle closer to the withers.

Answer 10

They all seem to hate the girth. Does he blow out his belly and then later on you have to tighten the girth again. My horse used to do that all the time.