A GIRTH-SORE IMPOSTOR

Girth sores are typically associated with stiff, dirty or ill-fitting tack. Or they are found on overworked or poorly conditioned horses. How, then, did your well-kept horse with clean, quality tack end up with a girth sore? Look again---your horse may have something else entirely.

The girth area is a common site for ringworm to appear. Despite its name,

ringworm is actually a fungal skin infection that is easily passed from horse to horse on shared equipment. It can also be passed by a rider’s boots, which would rest on the horse just behind the girth area during riding. Ringworm causes round, hairless patches on a horse’s skin that can crust, ulcerate and bleed if irritated by tack. That’s why ringworm can easily be confused with a girth gall.

Your veterinarian will be able to differentiate between ringworm and a girth gall and recommend the appropriate treatment. If the culprit is ringworm, you’ll also need to disinfect all your tack, brushes and shared equipment, as well as your boots.