Stomach pain a potential cause of girthy horses?

For a long time now, I've been suggesting to every owner of a 'girthy' horse that they look into the possibility of stomach ulcers.  It feels like an uphill battle - it's not cheap to get your horse scoped (which is the best way of determining whether your horse has ulcers) and the treatment (gastroguard) is even more expensive, not all ulcers can be seen on scoping, and some vets seem reluctant to investigate for ulcers.  Today I've ordered some impartial information on ulcers that I'm hoping will give me more 'ammunition' in my quest to help more horses be more comfortable, and this email that I received today in response to my latest Brain or Pain newsletter has spurred me on yet again:

"Hi Sue,

Talking of horses being 'girthy', for many years Chloe was very sensitive and grooming her chest, tummy, doing up her girth would cause her to attack whatever was in front of her.  She would never snap at me - she is so generous.

I put her on brewer's yeast about ten months ago - and since about two months ago she has lost all her sensitivity. She is now happy to be groomed everywhere, girthing up doesn't cause any problems.  I reckon she had low-grade ulcers - despite having a high-fibre diet and lots of turn-out.  I think the brewer's yeast (being a pre-biotic) has helped, as has her new environment.  Both she and George are so much more relaxed now they have their own home and don't have to share with anyone else.

We do the best for our horses given our circumstances - but it seems that Chloe was quite stressed while at livery yards.  She is Alpha Mare, so I guess having to keep control of a herd took it's toll.

The girths we use do have a big effect, but also so does what we put in our horses' stomachs.  I wondered about a fairfax girth, but can't afford it, but then Chloe improved on her diet, so the girth can wait!

Best wishes

Angela

Asymmetric saddle causing rubbing of hair at withers

Does your saddle cause the hair to rub on one side of your horse's withers but not on the other side?  Please take a moment to read this message below from a Brain or Pain reader:

Hi Sue

Reading your latest newsletter and the article on saddle fitting advice has reminded me of something you may wish to share with your readers. I had a strange pattern on one side of Charlie’s back last year after using my Bates GP saddle. It looked kind of scrubbed to one side near the withers and the other side was normal. My saddler advised I may eventually need to use a wider gullet insert as his shoulders filled out (the muscle was very wasted there due to the previous ill fitted saddle that was too narrow) so I decided to try that before getting the saddler out. I bought the next gullet size up and went to put it in, carefully following the instructions and a video demo on the internet and I was horrified to find that the screw on one side of the current gullet was very loose and was allowing the gullet insert bar to wobble a lot – hence the scrubbing effect it was having on Charlie’s back. The saddle had been bought second hand and I had never thought to check how secure the gullet bar was in it because it is my first experience of such saddles. I would urge all users of saddles with these changeable gullet bars to check them often (and especially if buying one second hand) to ensure that all changed gullet bars are fitted just as in the instructions. I dread to think how this felt to poor Charlie.

Hope this helps others

Mandi