Have you ever had a horse crush you against the stall wall or try to bite or kick you when you are placing the saddle on its back and doing up the girth? If the answer is yes then you have probably had to deal with a girth gall.

Galls and pressure sores are a sign of very poor equine management due to ill fitting or poorly maintained saddles/girths that are excessively tightened. The withers, back and girth area are highly sensitive to the horse and if over girthed or excessive movement from the saddle occurs, the skin is quickly abraded and traumatised. Imagine walking for miles and getting a raw, weeping blister that you do not cover or treat, then having to continue with the walk. It is painful and distressing. There is no wonder that a horse objects to being tacked and girthed up.

The mare photographed had been sent away for training and came home in this very sorry state, much to the disgust and distress of the owner. She had had poorly fitted tack on her back and was made to stand tied up most days for up to ten hours with the saddle in situ and her girth excessively tightened. She was unable to be ridden by her owner for some weeks due to the huge amount of pain she experienced, which not only resulted in the mare being terrified to tack up, but it was a total waste of money for her so-called 'training' period.

Girth galls form behind the horse's elbow and on the girth area and are created by long-lasting pressure causing severe ulceration, loss of hair, swelling, thickening of the skin and depigmentation. In some cases they may look minor but they are serious, enormously painful and require urgent attention.

They appear typically when a dirty, ill-fitting, over-tightened girth pinches and rubs the loose folds of skin behind the elbow or when a new saddle that positions the girth differently is used. A horse that is unclean and not hardened to the girth will be more prone to this condition.

The first step in treatment is to stop riding immediately. You may think that this should not have to be said, but it is necessary - the mare pictured was made to continue with her 'training' thus irritating the condition further. The girth is the cause of the chronic irritation and by removing it you rest the area giving it time to heal. Be warned as this may mean you will be unable to ride for some weeks.

Treat the galls carefully by cleaning with warm saline water (one teaspoon of water to 500ml warm water) or 50:50 hydrogen peroxide in warm water, thoroughly pat dry the effected area before applying a thick protective antiseptic cream such as Dermobion, Ichthammol or Desitin three times daily.

If a horse develops a swelling, the application of an ice pack to the area for 10-15 minutes, two to three times a day will help to alleviate some of the pain and help to reduce the swelling. Do not massage the area with a liniment. Always keep galls as dry as possible to promote healing, but if it becomes infected, more painful to touch and the swelling increases despite regular care and treatment, you must consult your veterinarian for further advice.

As with 99pc of equine aliments, prevention is better than cure. With a horse that is new to being girthed or coming back into work after a rest period, rubbing alcohol, white spirit or menthol can help to harden the surface before abrasion occurs or against further abrasion when totally healed. Covering your girth with a protective fleece such as a high quality, thick, natural sheepskin may work well, but you must keep it clean with regular washing to maintain its cushioning properties. The use of a thick, soft, neoprene girth or ones that are shaped rather like an egg timer produce less friction behind the elbows. If you use a leather girth, clean it daily, checking for any stitching or dirt balls that might rub against your horse, and oil it regularly to ensure softness and suppleness.

This article concerns girths galls, but at the same time it must be said that all tack must be well maintained, clean and supple as sores can appear on any part of the skin that is in contact with tack, including the bridle and halter.

Always remember when you have tightened the girth safely, not overly tightened, stretch each fore limb forward to help to settle the girth in the correct position. If after everything your horse is still getting galls, look at changing your tack.

If you are in a position where you have to use other people's tack, check for the correct fitting yourself. If you are not experienced seek expert advice, do not leave it to inexperienced cowboys to make the decision for you. Galls are a serious and painful condition that require immediate medical treatment, and a condition that should never arise in the first place.

Published: 01/07/2005