I was trying my sheepskin bareback pad on Sid today. He was fine with the pad, but the moment I produced my old dressage girth (which fitted, amazingly enough) he had a Jekyll & Hyde transformation. Ears pinned back, head swinging, teeth clacking. I wasn't scared because I think he is all mouth and trousers, but he tried really hard to scare me off fastening the girth.
I did it up very slowly, one hole at a time. Every time I raised it we had the same performance from him, plus heavy breathing and quivering skin. When I slipped my hand under to ensure that his skin was smooth I thought he was going to jump away. Once it was done up (not tightly, I wasn't planning to sit on him) he calmed and I led him around and over some poles and he was fine.
I took him back to the shelter and removed girth and pad. I had a good look at the skin on the girth and couldn't see any inflammation, irritation or soreness. He doesn't mind being brushed or stroked there and positively likes being scratched.
I suppose maybe someone caught his skin in the girth one time, or one owner has been rough and abrupt in girthing him. I'm posting because I'm not sure how to treat it. My natural response is to be very gentle and try to reassure him as we go, but would it be better for him if I just let the whole performance wash over me and did a straightforward job of doing up the girth? I am honestly uncertain of the best thing.
What do you all think?
I did it up very slowly, one hole at a time. Every time I raised it we had the same performance from him, plus heavy breathing and quivering skin. When I slipped my hand under to ensure that his skin was smooth I thought he was going to jump away. Once it was done up (not tightly, I wasn't planning to sit on him) he calmed and I led him around and over some poles and he was fine.
I took him back to the shelter and removed girth and pad. I had a good look at the skin on the girth and couldn't see any inflammation, irritation or soreness. He doesn't mind being brushed or stroked there and positively likes being scratched.
I suppose maybe someone caught his skin in the girth one time, or one owner has been rough and abrupt in girthing him. I'm posting because I'm not sure how to treat it. My natural response is to be very gentle and try to reassure him as we go, but would it be better for him if I just let the whole performance wash over me and did a straightforward job of doing up the girth? I am honestly uncertain of the best thing.
What do you all think?