09/21/2025
Oh the pectorals. We as horsemen need to acknowledge that the “girthy” or “cinchy” horse that is giving you attitude, is only trying to communicate with you. We need to always consider physical issues before addressing this as a behavioral issue. These groups of muscles play a vital role in the stabilization and movements of the forelimbs. They help to adduct, extend, flex and support which is highly important for overall musculoskeletal function. Especially when horses put 60% of their body weight on their forequarters.
Remember that proper conditioning, strengthening and stretching of the pectorals can help prevent injuries and improve performance. It is highly important to provide proper fitting equipment to prevent such things as well.
We owe it to our horses to find the root cause of discomfort and not ignore those signs. It’s easy to play off certain body language as, “oh, she’s just being a mare” or “oh, he’s just grumpy during cinching up”.
No, no. You need to listen to your horse. Sure, the physical issue has how turned into a behavioral one. But again, finding the root of the problem is going to be the most beneficial in the long run. You owe them that much. So let’s continue to keep your horse feeling their absolute best, no matter their age or discipline.
