Girth cramp

Why do horses get girth cramps?
Girth cramp is a general term for girth-related discomfort and can be caused by both physical and mental issues in the horse. Horses react very differently to discomfort or pain from the girth and the girth area – some simply show signs of irritation when the girth is tightened, while others may suddenly buck and bolt once the rider mounts.

Typically, the pain originates from the muscles in the girth area, and the term "girth cramp" likely stems from the belief that these muscles go into a spasm due to the pressure from the girth. However, this is not always the reason horses show signs of pain, so it is highly recommended to have your horse examined by a vet if you are unsure of the underlying cause of the discomfort.

What can you do about girth cramps? A highly effective way to protect your horse's girth area is to tighten the girth gradually. This is especially important for young horses that are not yet accustomed to the feel of a tightened girth. It is a good practice to tighten the girth slightly in the stable aisle, tighten it a bit more before entering the riding arena, check it again before mounting, and do a final adjustment after you have warmed up at a walk. This approach eases the pressure on the girth area and prevents the horse from getting stressed about the girthing process itself.

Choose the right girth for a horse with girth cramps There are many different girths on the market, as every horse has unique needs. A horse prone to girth cramps benefits significantly from a girth with proper pressure distribution, as the localized pressure from the girth is often what triggers an "attack". We recommend a Matrix girth, which features a core made of the specialized Flexform material – a viscoelastic foam that acts as a lightweight memory foam. Flexform provides extra padding, excellent stability, and moderate shock absorption. The Flexform core allows the girth to mold perfectly to the horse's anatomy, providing both pressure distribution and shock absorption to protect the sensitive muscles in the girth area. The Matrix Flexform girth is available with both Coolback and Woolback – synthetic and genuine sheepskin, respectively.

Pictured: Sielja Dantved and Korpus with a Matrix Coolback girth. Photographer: MEP-Photo (https://www.mep-photo.com/)