Am I doing it wrong??

[SarahF]

Ok so I haven't had lessons since I was a teen - but I've refreshed my memory with a bit of reading on position when riding (no such thing as a riding instructor here!)

Thing is - im Sure it was never this painful, rubbing the skin off my inner calf & legs covered in bruises after a half hour mini hack with a bit of a canter.

Happened with two diff horses and two diff saddles - so I'm pretty sure my legs are the problem lol!

Any suggestions or tips?
I'm more than aware I'm probably a rubbish rider - but I can't work out what I should do different... (other than invest in some chaps but that won't solve my riding issue!)

Thanks!

 

[Fun Times]

At the risk of sounding a bit too personal, what are you wearing? (when riding I mean)!!

 

[SarahF]

Haha - jeans! Is that the crux of the problem right there?!
Is the whole HHO population just gonna shout "get some jodhpurs you numpty!!" at me now? lol.

Naively I thought they would be robust enough - but perhaps not hey?! *rolls eyes at own dimness*

 

[Buddy'sMum]

Suggest you get some seamless jods (endurance tights good). Long boots or half chaps will also help reduce chafing.

 

[ZondaR]

Reading your description, my immediate thought was also what are you wearing. Jods are seamless on the inside and snug fitting so they don't chafe. I blister easily and always have to wear protection up to my knees even in the warmest weather while other people can wear jodhpur boots. I also always have to wear gloves or my fingers blister. Maybe you are someone who blisters easily too.

I know people who ride in jeans, but they are snug fitting so don't chafe.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Its not the 'robustness' if that's a word, it's the seams. You need something which is designed for riding in.

 

[undergroundoli]

Haha - jeans! Is that the crux of the problem right there?!
Is the whole HHO population just gonna shout "get some jodhpurs you numpty!!" at me now? lol.

Well, you might as well eliminate the obvious cause first. Is it going to be easy to fix in the Gambia?

 

[Kallibear]

Jodphurs and chaps are your answer. I cannot ride without long boots or chaps without getting nasty bruises on my calfs. If you can't get jodphurs then jogging bottoms with chaps will do.

 

[Voxhorse]

Hi OP. I doubt very much you are a rubbish rider, so stop that you probably have sensitive skin, go for Jodhs with no seam

good luck!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

A mate of mine, who has ridden constantly since being very little, gets blisters on her hands if she ever rides without gloves. She's an amazing rider, rides lots, but has very sensitive skin. I doubt, OP, that you are a crap rider, you just need to harden up the skin again and protect your skin til it's more used to the rubbing!

 

[SarahF]

Thanks for the support peeps - and pointing out the obv for me lol.
No one has jodhs or chaps here - but then the Gambian horse boys have much tougher skin than me!
Yes my skin is Definately too soft - I hadn't even thought of the jeans seams!

You can't buy equestrian stuff here - so I did get someone to send me some ankle boots (not jodh boots but those "outdoor/riding/hiking" ones) and some chaps for over my jeans.
Trouble is the chaps are too small around the boot area so I haven't been able I wear them.
Will have to find a better combination of attire to wear until I visit uk in the summer!

Thanks for going easy on me lol - bit of a "chitchat n tack" OP from me lol!

 

[Batgirl]

Jodphurs and chaps are your answer. I cannot ride without long boots or chaps without getting nasty bruises on my calfs. If you can't get jodphurs then jogging bottoms with chaps will do.

this, I have to have long boots or chaps regardless of what is underneath. Even my full chaps are too thin and I end up looing like and abused peach!

 

[SarahF]

Lol - my legs actually look just like the inside of a badly bruised apple (I'm very pale - my bruises are not lol!)

 

[TrasaM]

All very reminiscent of my first two riding lessons before I bought some half chaps. Was bruised from ankle to just under my knees. Suppose you could use some thick long socks or just bandages lol.

 

[undergroundoli]

I bought my first pair of half chaps quite recently, after years of not having any. Revelatory. I don't even have the excuse of living in The Gambia OP, so don't feel like a muppet.

 

[SarahF]

I bought my first pair of half chaps quite recently, after years of not having any. Revelatory. I don't even have the excuse of living in The Gambia OP, so don't feel like a muppet.

Haha thanks undergroundoli!

 

[aradiagreen]

Can you order online? The seams on jeans are the problem - on the inside of your thighs they form that hard line that digs in where the seams join. Can you find any trousers that are smooth there and the material not too thin? And any boots with a smooth sole and a heel will do. Then you can wear the chaps. Don't you find hiking boots a bit big and clumpy? I thought I'd ride in shorts last summer - ouch!

 

[SarahF]

Can you order online? The seams on jeans are the problem - on the inside of your thighs they form that hard line that digs in where the seams join. Can you find any trousers that are smooth there and the material not too thin? And any boots with a smooth sole and a heel will do. Then you can wear the chaps. Don't you find hiking boots a bit big and clumpy? I thought I'd ride in shorts last summer - ouch!

Yeh they're a bit clumpy in looking I get some normal jod boots next time I'm over. Can't order online here either unfortunately (or maybe fortunately since I've become a bit addicted to eBay!)
Gonna have a root through my wardrobe and see what I can get away with under chaps. I have some shoes with not much heel but very grippy soles that I was using before.

Hm I'm imagining some missmatched bag lady on a horse look now. :/
Maybe I'll try the chaps under the jeans haha!

 

[Circe]

If you can't get hold of some jods or riding tights, try wearing a pair of women's tights under your jeans.... I've been reliably informed that works ( by some of my male rider friends )
Kx

 

[aradiagreen]

Some leggings would do! They're pretty smooth though maybe not so thick! And your chaps would fit over the top. Your foot wear is supposed to be smooth-soled with a heel to stop it sliding through your stirrup or getting stuck in the stirrup - I've ridden in trainers though. Keep an eye out for some simple boots? Maybe look at the pics of leather ankle boots on the horsey websites and see if you can find any similar boots locally? They don't have to be designed for riding...though it helps! And if they're slim and close fitting you could still wear your chaps. Do you have friends in the UK or elsewhere you could send your money too and get them to order you some stuff and then post it to you?

And don't get me started on EBay! I spend a fortune on there! Oooo its such a bargain...before I know it I've got loads of stuff I never needed!

 

[undergroundoli]

Reason chaps are amazing #28 - They make it pretty much impossible to get the tongue of your trainers stuck the wrong side of your stirrups.

I couldn't get any safe riding footwear when I lived in Syria OP, so I rode with shoes my feet slipped out of easily. I didn't ever fall, so I haven't tested this method but I read a 19th century manual for ladies riders that also advised wearing boots that would come off if you got hung up in the stirrup in a fall.

Guess your going to have to experiment, but I'm sure the horse won't mind you looking like a bag lady.

 

[SarahF]

Thanks for the tips Circe and Aradiagreen.
It's very expensive to send individual packages here so I have to wait until someone is sending a shipping container to have anything brought over. My hubs will be doing one buy not for a few months.
I buy stuff from eBay and my mum keeps it for me until uk I can arrange shipping. Not very convenient when you need something quickly - but better than nothing!
I will look for some jod boot type boots in the meantime.
Will try the tights idea too - and look for Some leggings (& a knee length skirt)
Added complication is I don't wear tight clothing as I'm a Muslim - so anything tighter than my jeans will need a skirt or very long shirt over for
me to feel comfortable.

Thanks again for the tips and support all - some good ideas for me to experiment with

 

[SarahF]

Reason chaps are amazing #28 - They make it pretty much impossible to get the tongue of your trainers stuck the wrong side of your stirrups.

I couldn't get any safe riding footwear when I lived in Syria OP, so I rode with shoes my feet slipped out of easily. I didn't ever fall, so I haven't tested this method but I read a 19th century manual for ladies riders that also advised wearing boots that would come off if you got hung up in the stirrup in a fall.

Guess your going to have to experiment, but I'm sure the horse won't mind you looking like a bag lady.

That makes sense. I might just try my trainers with the chaps (possibly under my jeans haha) for the meantime. I only ride twice a week until I get my own horse so will experiment a little. Thanks

 

[Casey76]

When I holidayed in the US (on a ranch) I rode in jeans all the time and didn't have a problem (Western saddle). But I did have to buy "Wranglers" brand, apparently the seams lie differently to other names brands and are more confortable for riding in.

 

[undergroundoli]

I'm not Muslim, but obviously I didn't want to offend or upset anyone in Syria. At the same time I didn't want a whole load of drapery flapping around, getting caught on things or spooking horses. I didn't come up with a definitive solution, the best I managed was a tunic over tight riding jeans which makes rising trot pretty awkward IME.

When I came home I found that 'what the Victorian lady, forced to ride astride while colonising other countries, should wear' forms a surprisingly extensive subset of etiquette books. Might be worth having a google. I certainly found it good for a giggle

Let us know what you come up with.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Definitely wear half chaps!
Some jeans are go but others not!
It could be the saddle doesn't fit your shape.

Also unless you are going showing or dressage, what does it matter what you look like?
Just enjoy yourself!

 

[wench]

Can you get wellies over there? That might help?