Girth cramp

Why does a horse get girth cramps?

Girth spasm is an umbrella term for girth discomfort and can be caused by both physical and mental issues in the horse. Horses react very differently to the discomfort or pain from the girth and girth bed - some simply show signs of discomfort when the girth is tightened, while others suddenly buck and run when the rider has sat up.

Typically, the pain comes from the muscles that lie in the girth bed, and the term "girth cramp" probably also comes from the belief that these muscles go into spasm due to pressure from the girth. This isn't always why horses show signs of pain, so it's a good idea to have your horse checked by a vet if you don't know what's causing the discomfort and pain.

What can you do about girth cramps?

A great way to protect your horse's girth is to gradually tighten the girth. This is especially important for young horses that are not yet used to the feel of the girth. It's a good idea to tighten the girth a little in the stable aisle, tighten it a little more before you go to the riding arena, tighten it a little more before you sit up and again when you've warmed up your stride. This way, you'll protect the girth and prevent the horse from stressing over the situation where the girth is being tightened.

Choose the right girth for a horse with girth cramps

There are many different girths on the market, as every horse has different needs. A horse with girth cramps benefits greatly from a girth with pressure distribution, as it is the pressure from the girth that often triggers an "attack" of girth cramps. We recommend a Matrix girth that has a core made of the special material Flexform, a viscoelastic foam that acts as a lightweight memory foam. Flexform provides extra padding, good stability and moderate shock absorption. The Flexform core also means that the girth shapes itself to the horse's girth and provides both pressure distribution and shock absorption to protect the muscles in the girth. The Matrix Flexform girth is available with both Coolback and Woolback - artificial or real lambskin.

Pictured: Sielja Dantved and Korpus with Matrix Coolback girth
Photographer: MEP-Photo