Re: "cinchy" horses

["Tamara Jane Habberley" <tamarahabberley@lineone.net>]

My cob is very cinchy - he hates it being suddenly tightened and his front
near leg will sort of stiffen and then shake if the girth is done up to
quickly. I stick to english Gp saddles as western girths really do upset
him.

I 'think' the intercostal nerve runs from behind the elbow along to the back
end as does a major vein and in some horses ether the nerve is trapped when
tightening the girth or the vein is effected and this effects the
circulation.

I get on with the girth very loose ( he puffs out any way) then gradually
tighten it as we go along. he is happier with a girth with some give as
well.

the 'well meaning expert' yard owner at the last yard I was on walked up one
day whilst I was in my stable and heaved her not inconsiderable weight ( 20
stone plus thats about 280 pounds) against my horses girth - saying 'this
will cure him' or other such twaddle. Needless to say he collapsed and I
went ape at her! So I agree its more sensible to humour the horse.

Tamara

----- Original Message -----
From: <BMcCrary27@aol.com>
To: <laneyh@mbay.net>
Cc: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2000 6:00 PM
Subject: RC: "cinchy" horses


> We have one young gelding who is cinchy; he was this way as his trainer
began
> trining him to the saddle.  He would become very anxious and sometimes
throw
> himself on the ground, then become sort of catatonic.  The trainer was a
very
> sensitive and understanding person, not given to force or punishment.  She
> asked around the vet and old-timer circles and came up with the following:
> Vet said it's possible for the horse to have pinched nerves, Old-timers
said
> some horse are just like that and it's not something the trainer or rider
has
> done.  Another viewpoint held that the horse felt claustrophobic, i.e. the
> cinch was confining him and he was scared.  So between the trainer and
myself
> we worked out a procedure.  Put on the saddle and wait a few moments for
the
> horse to become accustomed to it.  Buckle girth on the loosest notches and
> wait a few moments.  In the beginning I had to lead him around a few steps
or
> at worst, let him walk circles around me on a halter rope until he
relaxed.
> Then I would take up notches on the girth, one set at a time, watching his
> reaction each time.  If he appeared anxious, I'd lead him a few steps,
then
> take up another notch on the girth.  Finally, when the girth was snug
enough
> to allow me to mount safely, I'd get on and walk him out.  Fortunately, he
> did not react to being mounted or ridden and did not throw himself on the
> ground with me on him.  I'd ride about 1/2 mile, then check the girth
while
> still mounted.  It usually needed taking up one notch.  Then we were home
> free and off for a ride.  This has been a gradual process for about a
year,
> but gradually he is becoming less reactive to the process.  As long as I
show
> him the saddle, put it on carefully and not hurry in girthing him, he's
> gradually gotten over his anxiety.  I had one well-meaning person offer to
> "cure" him of throwing himself on ground by tieing him up with a rope
under
> his tail.  I answered, "Yes, and how do you suppose he's going to react to
a
> crupper in the future?  If you want to try this procedure with a horse you
go
> buy your own horse, but you're not trying this with one of ours".  My own
> procedure is working, the youngster is overcoming his anxiety (he's coming
6
> in May), and he's not been traumatized by some forceful procedure.  Some
> horses can tolerate a little force or punishment and some can't.  I
decided
> this one would not be improved by punishment. He's going to be a really
nice
> horse in a couple of years (needs to mature), safe, trusting, and a dream
to
> ride (very smooth).
>
> Barbara
>
>
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