Moderate

Girth gall

Girth gall is a sore, rub, or open wound in the girth groove or behind the elbow from a dirty, tight, or poorly fitted girth. It can become infected. It is not cellulitis (sudden hot limb swell), not proud flesh (exuberant granulation), not rain-rot, and not summer sores. A photograph cannot diagnose a girth gall. A still cannot tell a girth gall from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the girth skin to share with a vet, not a girth-gall test, and there is no girth-gall scanner.

Symptoms to watch for

A sore, rub, hairless patch, or open wound in the girth groove or behind the elbow — the look is a clue, not a still-photo verdict

Heat, swelling, discharge, or pain when the girth is done up — a reason to book a vet, not a photo verdict

A wound that can look like a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound — a still cannot tell them apart

Raw or weeping skin where the girth sits after work — location is a clue, not a diagnosis

A change in size, heat, or discharge is a reason to book a vet, not a photo verdict

An infected girth wound can swell or weep — that is a vet visit, not a photograph

Common causes

A dirty, tight, or poorly fitted girth that rubs the girth groove or the skin behind the elbow — the tack is a clue, not a diagnosis
Can become infected — infection is a vet exam, not a photo verdict
Not cellulitis (sudden hot limb swell), not proud flesh (exuberant granulation), not rain-rot, and not summer sores
A still cannot tell a girth gall from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound — those need a vet

Prevention

Watch the girth groove and the skin behind the elbow for a new sore, rub, or open wound, and book a vet rather than waiting on a photo
Do not ride through a raw girth wound hoping it will settle — that is a vet visit, not a photo
Note girth fit, cleanliness, and whether the skin was already wet or wrinkled so you can tell the vet
Do not treat a photo, a girth sore, or a scan result as a diagnosis
Skin photos can help you and the vet look at the girth skin — they do not confirm or rule out a girth gall, and they cannot tell it from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound

What to do

1
Book a vet visit if you find a sore, rub, or open wound in the girth groove or behind the elbow. Diagnosis is a vet exam — not a photograph.
2
Do not ride through a raw or weeping girth wound, and do not apply a caustic or home protocol from a photo. A still cannot tell a girth gall from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound.
3
Photograph the girth skin in good light, close and from the side, and keep the photos on the horse's record so you and the vet can see change over time — a first look to share, not a diagnosis.
4
Use a skin scan only as a first look at the girth skin to share, not as a girth-gall test. There is no girth-gall scanner.
5
If a girth gall is confirmed, follow the plan your vet prescribes. Do not start a treatment protocol from a photo.
6
Keep the vet on the same page. Share what you see; do not treat a photo as a verdict.

When to call the vet

Pick up the phone if…

Schedule a vet visit if you find a sore, rub, or open wound in the girth groove or behind the elbow. Call sooner if the skin is hot, swelling, weeping, or the horse is dull or off feed — an infected girth wound is a vet call, not a photo diagnosis. A photograph cannot diagnose a girth gall. A still cannot tell a girth gall from a girth rub, cellulitis, proud flesh, or an infected wound. Diagnosis is a vet exam. The skin scan is a first look at the girth skin, not a girth-gall test, and there is no girth-gall scanner.

Get a first look at the girth skin

Scan the skin in HorseCare. 5 free scans this month, then Pro.

Scan the skin

5 free scans this month, then Pro. Scans run in the HorseCare app.

Educational content only. Not a substitute for veterinary advice.