Pain Behind Girth Area

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

Today while out grooming my horses, my husband's TWH showed signs of being in pain and sensitive in the area on his belly just behind where the girth would go. There also seemed to be a smidge of swelling.

Background info: he's about 18 yrs old, and hasn't been messed with much this year, only ridden a handful of times. He lives outside 24/7.

When I was currying his back, on his left side just behind his withers, he seemed very sensitive, shrunk his back down to avoid the contact and even swung his hind end towards me. Didn't get the same reaction on the other side.

Then when currying on his belly just behind the girth, he gave an audible grunt and swung his head around to touch his flank. Did this on both sides. On the one side he even opened his mouth to bite my arm but stopped short of actually hurting me.

Any ideas what this could be? Poor boy, now I'm worried about him.

[Pretty Pony]

Originally Posted by Sonseeahray's_girl

Today while out grooming my horses, my husband's TWH showed signs of being in pain and sensitive in the area on his belly just behind where the girth would go. There also seemed to be a smidge of swelling.

Background info: he's about 18 yrs old, and hasn't been messed with much this year, only ridden a handful of times. He lives outside 24/7.

When I was currying his back, on his left side just behind his withers, he seemed very sensitive, shrunk his back down to avoid the contact and even swung his hind end towards me. Didn't get the same reaction on the other side.

Then when currying on his belly just behind the girth, he gave an audible grunt and swung his head around to touch his flank. Did this on both sides. On the one side he even opened his mouth to bite my arm but stopped short of actually hurting me.

Any ideas what this could be? Poor boy, now I'm worried about him.

I might be way out to lunch with this, but I was thinking could it be girth galls? That's the first thing that came to mind so I dug out my trusty British Manual of Horsemanship and looked it up and it says girth galls are caused from the girth pinching or bruising. They are a painful swelling in the girth region. It says a tubluar synthetic or leather girth is less likely to cause a problem than a string or nylon one and to not use a saddle again until the galls are completely healed. So basically no riding until the swelling and pain goes away. Like I said, I might be totally out to lunch with this. Was this before or after a ride, or from just pulling him out of the pasture? That might help people figure out what is wrong.

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

Sorry, I thought I had been more specific, but I realize now I wasn't.

He hasn't been ridden in over 2 months, so it's not a girth/tack issue. But thanks for that info.

Any other ideas?

[redboy]

It could just be sensitivity.
Especially if he's 18 years old.
My older gelding can be sensitive along his back,
so I just try to buy good, thick padded, orthopedic type saddle pads,
and make sure I stretch his legs, flex him, and properly adjust my pad for an air channel along his spine.
I would think the same could apply to other parts of the body also.

Or, maybe a previous owner 'spurred' him harshly, and he's being defensive, or reactive to an old 'hurt' or harsh treatment.

Hope it's nothing more,..., of course, once he settles into his 'new barn', he'll probably be so happy, he'll forget all about any old aches or pains.

[Slim Pikkens]

Any possibility he's been kicked by another horse?

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

We've owned this gelding for 5 yrs, and he's never reacted like this before, so I don't think it's remembered pain, but good suggestion.

I thought of him being kicked, but it seems strange that it would be in the same spot on both sides of his belly.

I'm gonna go out again today and see if he does it again.

[Horselady44]

Check for any bites/cuts as well Some of them are really small but he may be having a allergic reaction to something. Just a idea.
Do you think something maybe is out of place on him? Is he lame at all?

[Red Gate Farm]

Have you changed his bedding or pasture? Perhaps he's been lying down in a new area and something got embedded in his skin or an allergic reaction to some plant?

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

Hmm, some good ideas. I'll check later when I go to do evening feed.

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

Well, he's not reacting today Weird. I rubbed him all over, he kinda stood there with his usual annoyed expression but no big reaction like yesterday. Lunged him both ways a bit at a walk/trot, but the ground is so mushy right now, so I didn't want to push it. Got some saucy head tossing but I really think it's more stubbornness and not feeling like working since he's been living the life of Riley this year

So, I guess nothing to get worked up over.

[TheUpNorthCowgirl]

Something like this happened to me late last fall. I was grooming Dusty and I ran my brush over a spot high on her side just behind where the pommel of the saddle would sit and she reached around and bit at me, ears back and all. She had NEVER done that before and when I investigated further I found a patch of rain rot under her fur. It made a swelling (vet says she's allergic to the fungus or something) and an ouchy typical rain rot scab. I must have hit it just right and hurt her. When I was investigating further she got really pissy with me, switching her tail and putting her ears back. The next day after I pulled the scabs and medicated it I got no reaction *shrugs* Maybe something to consider.

[Sonseeahray's_girl]

Hmm, good to know, thanks UNCG...hey that looks like Uncle G!

I poked and prodded through the fuzzies, and no scabs, crusties, or broken skin that I could see. I almost WISH it was something like that, so that I'd have a reasonable explanation for it!