Girth Galls and Saddle Sores

Galls or sores that appear as a swelling under the skin can be left. Whether open or closed, no equipment should be placed over the area until it is healed. It will be uncomfortable for your horse to wear a girth, harness, or saddle over an area that is already sore. (Your horse may express its discomfort by behaving badly.)2

Prevention

Keep your tack clean. A build-up of sweat and grit may irritate a horse's skin and cause a sore. If you're trail riding, twigs, burrs, seeds, or other foreign objects can get caught between the horse and its tack. Leather and string girths or cinches can become stiff with age and cause uneven rubbing or pinching, so check the condition of your tack regularly.

Grooming is very important to prevent sores. For example, if your horse 'pecks' at their chest area to bite at flies, they may cover the area between their front legs with saliva and chewed hay bits. You have to clean this area carefully so there is no chance the dirt will buildup and potentially cause a sore. As dirt can become encrusted, use water and a sponge to wash the area before tacking up and put on a spritz of grooming spray to make the job easier next time.

Make sure your tack fits your horse. If your saddle constantly rubs back and forth as you ride, it could indicate a poorly fitting saddle. A too narrow or too wide girth or cinch could cause problems too.

Many people think it's a good thing to do up cinches, girths, and surcingles on harnesses really tight. This could cause pinching. You should be able to slip your hand between the girth and your horse. If your saddle pad or blanket bunches or shifts, try a different shape or material. Often a shifting pad or blanket indicates a poorly fitting saddle. A soft girth or cinch cover can prevent chaffing as well.

Prevention for Horses With Sensitive Skin

Sometimes, despite all efforts to prevent girth galls and saddle sores, you may find you can't seem to prevent them. This happens with horses that have particularly sensitive and thin skin. Often Thoroughbreds and other fine coated horses will have this problem.3 Just like you break in a new pair of stiff running shoes that are causing blisters on your feet, you will have to let your horse get used to its tack. Some people suggest washing the blister prone areas with saltwater to toughen up the skin.

Another strategy is to increase the time the horse is ridden or driven gradually, so the skin has a chance to toughen up.

Fleecy girth or cinch covers can be purchased to put a soft barrier between horse and tack. Pads can help saddles sit better, but it's a bit like wearing thick socks in new shoes: the pad may relieve the problem in the short term. However, it's important for the saddle to fit the specific horse, or it may need to be re-stuffed if it's an English saddle.