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. Plus, ringworm is zoonotic and easily spread from horse to rider and vice versa.
The girth area is a common site for ringworm to appear.”
Source: EQUUS, August 16, 2023. Link.