Blowing out when girthing

[SNC]

Has anyone got any suggestions on a clicker programme to stop a horse from blowing out when you are trying to girth them up. 

[Casey76]

Not clicker training, but I just use persistence and patience.

First of all make sure the girth is long enough to do up without any effort at least on the first hole.

For really difficult horses I normally start by just holding the girth in my hand, not even touching the skin, then by gently holding the girth against the skin, then using a gentle on/off pressure (so against the skin/off the skin), then very gently in increments doing up the girth on the first hole.

Then I usually leave for 5 minutes or so before returning and attempting a further tightening of the girth.

For some of the really difficult school horses I used to take about half an hour to get the girth on and fastened.

[ros]

I'm not sure that you can CT a horse not to do something that's essentially an objection to something physical  I'd be looking for the problem tbh 

[SNC]

Thank you. 

Ros its not a problem, its just what she has learnt to do.  She does it to the weightape too. 

[Lyndsey Lewis]

Has anyone got any suggestions on a clicker programme to stop a horse from blowing out when you are trying to girth them up. 

Oooh what a cool question.  I've never thought about it...all my guys tend to blow up a little when girthing but usually by the time I get all my stirrups set up and get to the mounting block, I can tighten the girth to where I need to.

How about watching really carefully for when she blows out and clicking and treating it and getting it on cue. So you might start to put the girth on, see she starts to 'enlarge', c/t and then say the word 'Blow' or something...??

Then hang around until you see some relaxation or the girth getting looser..??... and c/t for that and say 'breath'...???

So then you have two new behaviours...breath in, and breath out...??...so Blow and Breathe...??

If the blowing out is just a mental defense, the playing with c/t while girthing might help with attitude...??...if it's a physical issue then I guess I would try and track that down. Maybe a bit of a sore back or sometimes I've heard the muscles under the girth just behind the elbow can be tight and that can cause some defensiveness with the girth...??

Interesting though. I'd love you to keep us posted if you give it a go!

[SNC]

Thank you.  I will have a play about 

[cirocco]

When Jim came, he would puff himself up and stop breathing.... I think someone heavy handed had pulled the girth till his eyes popped.

Anyhow, I just did one hole at a time between other things. I have tippex on the hole where it should be tightened to, put on when we get home, so Im sure its the correct hole. id not worry, its an old trick most horses learn.