Girth pressure measurements reveal high peak pressures that can be avoided using an alternative girth design that also results in increased limb protraction and flexion in the swing phase.

The research article investigates the impact of girth design on horse comfort, performance, and gait. The study finds that specially designed girth can reduce pressure on the horse, increase limb protraction and flexion, and enhance overall horse posture and comfort.

Study Objectives

The study primarily aimed at:

• Determining the location of peak pressure under a range of girths.
• Comparing horse gait between a standard girth and a specially designed girth aimed to avoid detected peak pressure points.

Conduct of Study

• First, a calibrated pressure mat placed under the girth of 10 horses was used to determine the location of peak pressures. This led to the design of a new girth (Girth F) intended to avoid these pressure points.
• Following this, 20 elite horses/riders with no lameness or performance problem were ridden using Girth F and their standard girth (Girth S) to compare the effect on the horse’s gait.
• Both pressure mat data and high-speed video of the horses were taken for analysis.

Study Findings

• The research found that standard girths have peak pressures located over the musculature behind the elbow, a common location for pressure sores in horses.
• Girth F showed significantly lower maximum forces (22% left and 14% right) and peak pressures (76% left and 98% right) compared to Girth S.
• Gait evaluation showed that the use of Girth F was associated with 6-11% greater forelimb protraction, 10-20% greater hindlimb protraction, 4% greater carpal flexion, and 3% greater tarsal flexion than Girth S.

Conclusion

Girth F that is designed considering peak pressure points not only helped in reducing these pressures but also improved limb movement and potentially the comfort of the horse. The study highlights the potential influence of considerate girth design on a horse’s performance and overall comfort.