The Truth Behind Cinch Galls

[@KennethMcMurry-h9s]

Very well done I have never cleaned none of my cinches

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

me either

[@charliewhon6548]

Interesting thought. I’ve never had a horse with a cinch gall. I’ve seen them a time or two on other horses though. I always thought it was riding with a dirty cinch and a sweaty horse, a cinch that was too short or that was too tight, or a misplaced saddle. Pondering: The term desensitizing. I teach my students that this is the word that many people use, but what we actually are trying to achieve is a method of habituating the horse. I want my horses to be a good level of sensitive, in a way that they are responsive but not reactive. That takes habituation to those things we know horses are typically reactive to.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Habituating is a good way to put it.

[@charliewhon6548]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I can’t take credit for it. I adopted that word from Cherry Hill who wrote a book entitled: “How to Think Like a Horse.” It is required reading in my lesson program. In fact, I’m beginning to read through your book now, and it just might make my required reading list too. It’s taking me a while to get to it because this is my busy time of year. But so far I am enjoying and learning as I read. Thank you!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@charliewhon6548 I am truly honored you would even think of making my book required reading, I can't describe how humble that makes me feel. I will look up Cherry Hill's book and see what I think.

[@charliewhon6548]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt of course! I appreciate your no nonsense, yet mindful approach. What I appreciate most about Hill’s book is that she does a good job explaining-in a basic level of understanding,-a horse’s natural instincts. Furthermore, she doesn’t tend to be anthropomorphic. You have an understanding of all that just off observation, by where and how you grew up. I also had that opportunity way back growing up. That in itself helps one come to understanding horses without having to read about it. However. where I am teaching now, young people don’t have an understanding of a wild horse. They don’t realize the amount of movement they need on a daily basis, and opportunities to be the animals they were created to be without a human hanging on the end of a line. Most horses here are stabled or kept in small areas and many of them are treated more like pets or prizes, than partners in life’s work. I want my students to understand that and treat their horses in a manner that meets those needs.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@charliewhon6548 My ego loves that you think that of me, raised in it etc. My Dad is a musician and my Mom is an artist, I grew up around horses because they are upper class and we could afford them but I didn't learn about them until I ran off to become a cowboy. Lots of books. Internet and videos and even clinics were not a thing then. Part of why I do this is because I had to fight on my back to get here. Let your students know that there raising does not mean they can't be pros. Thank you again for the comment and the conversation.

[@Cecilyeg]

Interesting information. The only galls I have had in quite some time have to do with a particular harness, a Zilco, used with a particular cart. They just don't work together. I much prefer a mohair girth on my saddles or a well made leather one on my English saddle. I have shared this in hopes it will save another horse! I'm enjoying getting to binge watch your videos since I injured a leg. I have the rest of the week and all weekend!

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

sorry to read about your leg being hurt. I dont know much about cart or driving horses, Im not sure what I said applies to cart galls

[@Cecilyeg]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt a girth gall is a girth gall in my experience. I will now pay more attention to your information as I observe while I train.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@Cecilyeg Well take everything with a grain of salt lol

[@406dn7]

I've made more than a few mistakes, but I've not galled any of the four horses, I've had the last 20 plus years. FWIW, I've always used some sort of neoprene cinch. I've considered getting a mohair cinch, but the neoprene cinches are so easy to clean. I have always thought that galling a horse might be from having the cinch too close to the horse's elbow.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Being close to thee elbow is a fit issue. A really good chiropractor once told me that those neoprene cinches have made him more money than anything out there because they have no give in them.

[@allanlavallee7171]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I have never used a neoprene cinch but having worn rubber and muck boots and seeing the effect on my feet I will stick to mohair cinchs which have never galled any horse I rode. Natural fibers rule - for man and beast.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@allanlavallee7171 yep its the same thing

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I wish I could get mohair socks

[@alwentzel4776]

Thanks for the information

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

absolutely

[@fairenough7984]

Maybe "acclimating" is the word instead of "desensitizing" to get the brace out of them. I guess I'm just lucky, and have not had issues with my horse galling, but have friends that have this happen, so I am forwarding this to them.🐎🐎🐎

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

acclimated is a great word!

[@dylaningle3113]

Hmmm never thought about it like that. Haven't had one in a long while. Maybe because I've changed( like you) how I do things now.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Neither have I. I used to expect them at about ride 5

[@zszs123]

Excellent video.. But just in case of raw spots if you can still find it Bickmores gall cure motto on the title of product is work the horse its an excellent product. 👍

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

it sure is. I cut a piece of inertube and cover the spot with bickmores and rubber. works like a charm.

[@micahspur]

I think it might by a little different in high humidity back east. I never remember galling anything in all my years out west, maybe I did. Off i go to work lots of different horses.

[@jbrittain4605]

I'm in Swamp east Missouri, haven't galled one in a long time. And i have changed to alpaca , Mohair, and the bamboo fibers girths. I also have changed my groundwork.

[@ropinlightning]

J you are on point...in high humidity areas it definitely helps to cinch up with the likes of mohair.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Back east you get a lot of fungus problems from the humidity and they do get rubbed and sore but not a gall from bracing. For the record I have galled them on both coasts lol.

[@ropinlightning]

Thanks for your added contribunion Bret...it got me to thinking, so l read up on the pros and cons of a mohair cinch...I don't know about how those critters are taken care of over in S.A., but I'm impressed to read that mohair wicks moisture and heat away from a horse as well as has antifungal and antimicrobial properties natural built into the mohair. I heard that mohair was the best cinch material. The horses lm riding do well with mohair. I'd have to say, I'm more of a believer in them now than ever. Just my 2 cents. 👍

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@ropinlightning mohair is the way to go. A lot of them say 100% mohair but are woven with a lot of nylon in them(nylon weaves into mohair easily) the way to test is put a lighter to the edge, mohair will smolder but nylon will flame. I also really appreciate that you did your reasurch.

[@modocroughstock5700]

Great video

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

thank you

[@modocroughstock5700]

' Nope, never cleaned a cinch in my life!" 😂 "Start a colt with some hobbles and get on em' No! don't get on a colt with hobbles!" Gotta love it... We did in Spray

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

good deal. where next?

[@modocroughstock5700]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt You're on your way my friend, I've been wondering about those boots the lady was putting on her horse that morning?

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@modocroughstock5700 no savvy. I dont recall.

[@modocroughstock5700]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt no not you brother, we did the hobbles on the Spray Oregon Ranch as a kid

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@modocroughstock5700 Oh I see. Perfect.

[@markmahnken6409]

My first horse I owned I used to get cinch sores not sure exactly why. I'm guessing the cinch was too short and saddle was placed too far forward allowing the cinch to be too close to the elbow along with a narrow cheap dirty cotton cinch. I think finding the pocket that the saddle is supposed to rest in behind the shoulder allows for proper cinch placement an inch or two behind the elbow along with a longer cinch where the metal D sets above the elbow is key for me. I can't bring myself to use neoprene cinches, just goes against my grain. Anyone who uses neoprene is automatically suspect in my eyes. I've also had colts with thin skin and shorter hair that got what looked like scalded a bit from first time sweating with a cinch but it goes away when they toughen up in that area. Not sure about what you are calling bracing, have to give that some thought but that's why we do this to toss ideas around. If you do get a cinch sore you can take an old felt pad and cut a couple small squares and place them on each side of the sore under your cinch to give it some breathing room and time to heal. Haven't had to do that in 45 years though. On another thought that you might address for fun is why does almost everyone with horses for sale have white spots left and right of their horse's withers? I think it's from poor saddle fit. I've never had that happen personally but I see it a lot, especially the Mexican saddles and their horses but not limited to them at all. None of my horses have white spots. I imagine packers might run into this also? I'm mostly an arena guy so maybe I don't ride them long and hard enough to create white spots? But I've seen arena ropers with the white spots also. Curious...

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Thanks. I will address white spots for sure. The scalding you are talking about sounds like a cinch sore that is usually caused by fungus. Most people think this is the same as a gal but a gal is from the horse stiffing its body and pushing against the cinch.

[@johnhenry2041]

@@HorsemanshipAsAnArt I would thoroughly enjoy a video on your thoughts on saddle marks and other assorted white spots. Have you seen or know anything about white marks(looks more like pin fire marks than from getting made by gear)? They run along and fairly close to the spine on both sides. Starting farther back than the withers continuing almost to over the kidneys. I've noticed mostly on horses in old western movies and from Mexico. Only theory I've heard is from one, sure enough cowboy, who said they were starve marks.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

@@johnhenry2041 Stay tuned, I know the answer

[@lesliejacobs3002]

You are a cowboy..”never cleaned a chinch in my life😊”….thanks for the information.

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

you bet

[@Andrew-sanders]

Interesting never thought of it that way. Dad made me get horses soft everywhere before I could ride them as a kid so became habit. Only galled one so far over 40 plus years and blamed it on it being stupid fat but maybe missed something. By stupid fat I mean a mustang on free choice Arizona alfalfa for over a year he jiggled everywhere. Road as many as 30 a day at dude ranches every day ranch work ride thousands over the years so going to stay with that one was fat coused. But I do know because of the way tought made things easyer down the line training one because every peace of that horse has been soft since before first ride

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

Fat will do it. Iv sore fat horses myself.

[@kevinwilson381]

What bits do you recommend to start a colt on and move up

[@HorsemanshipAsAnArt]

I like to start with a Don Dodge snaffle then go to a plain ring snaffle in 10-20 rides. I stay in the ring for about a year.