boots/spurs rubbing his sides

MandyMoo

MandyMoo

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surprise surprise, it is on my CHESTNUT horse (stupid thin skinned and sensitive chestnuts..) - I didn't have a problem last summer or over the winter with Socks, however recently I have been changing my position and the way I ride (to make it more correct and stable) and in doing so I now stretch down with my heels more, and use my legs more to turn him rather than relying on my hands to avoid him falling in/out...and it is really improving his flatwork and jumping - he is starting to carry himself better and I am getting straighter lines to fences - BUT my boots/spurs have started rubbing away at his fur and is verging on starting to get sore (isn't sore yet...but I'm worried it might get that way!)

my spurs are the rolling ball ones, so they're kind enough - and I don't overuse my leg, only really for transitions and bending - I'm not one of those who constantly nag at their horse with their leg continuously - so I guess the sudden rubbing must either be because his coat is changing from winter to summer, or from my change in riding position meaning I am using my leg a bit more/supporting him with my legs...

I know of the 50:50 methylated spirit and calamine lotion mix to help toughen up the skin - but does anyone have any ideas?

I know it can't be helped...I've got to use my leg! but it does make me feel rotten/mean when I dismount and his furs gone :eek: :( I don't have issues with Monty or Bugsy, nor with any other hoses we have owned (except once on a chestnut (surprise surprise) TB we owned a few years ago, but that was with normal spurs, and so from that day on I have always used roller ball spurs instead as I feel they are kinder)

Any ideas? or should I simply stick to the meth/calamine mixture?
 
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I would have this problem if I wore spurs - I don't, because my horse is very wide and my heels are just at the widest point, so unlike with previous horses I would struggle to keep the spurs away from the skin unless I was deliberatly using them. Can you not dispense with spurs? I don't wear them any more, for the reasons I have just said, and use a whip to back up my leg instead - just as effective if a little less subtle.
 
JillA said:
I would have this problem if I wore spurs - I don't, because my horse is very wide and my heels are just at the widest point, so unlike with previous horses I would struggle to keep the spurs away from the skin unless I was deliberatly using them. Can you not dispense with spurs? I don't wear them any more, for the reasons I have just said, and use a whip to back up my leg instead - just as effective if a little less subtle.
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hmm...I used to not ride him in spurs when I first got him - but he was SO lazy off my leg (I could barely get him to canter....even with a whip to back up my leg! he just didn't respond....) and I had to CONSTANTLY nag at him with massive kicks/taps with whip to stop him breaking into a walk.............he is a strange horse..! whereas with spurs I barely need to touch him and he responds/is much more uphill and working from behind, and then I need to use my leg less... so if there is a way to keep the spurs I'd rather do that...
 
are your spurs this version of the ball? I find them better than the 'impulse' style

otherwise sympathies from another ginger owner and it should resolve once he's finished coat changing (well mine usually does!)

Mark_Todd_Stainless_Steel_Solid_Roller_Ball_Spurs.jpg
 
ester said:
are your spurs this version of the ball? I find them better than the 'impulse' style

otherwise sympathies from another ginger owner and it should resolve once he's finished coat changing (well mine usually does!)

Mark_Todd_Stainless_Steel_Solid_Roller_Ball_Spurs.jpg
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yes mine are those ones :) and hmm, hopefully it will sort itself out - I definitely don't enjoy seeing his rubbed sides :( so weird that its suddenly happened... :confused:
 
I've got this problem, had it a bit last year but not the year before. Mine seems to be less from my leg or spurs (which i only use jumping) but more from where my saddle girths up, i used a lunge roller and for a couple of weekes you could see where it had rubbed after, never happened before and i use it all year round and have done for 3 years.
I think its worse this year as his coat is rather rubbish. It seems to have taken ages to come through properly as has been more like a short half hearted summer/winter mix. Now its coming through properly its much better and the rubs are going.
Unfortunately no answers im afraid but i would wait and see how it goes, if mine looks a bit sore on the rubs i use Aloe vera which seems to look well.
 
vam said:
I've got this problem, had it a bit last year but not the year before. Mine seems to be less from my leg or spurs (which i only use jumping) but more from where my saddle girths up, i used a lunge roller and for a couple of weekes you could see where it had rubbed after, never happened before and i use it all year round and have done for 3 years.
I think its worse this year as his coat is rather rubbish. It seems to have taken ages to come through properly as has been more like a short half hearted summer/winter mix. Now its coming through properly its much better and the rubs are going.
Unfortunately no answers im afraid but i would wait and see how it goes, if mine looks a bit sore on the rubs i use Aloe vera which seems to look well.
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ah, I thought it could be to do with the coat changes and weird weather we have had....as I noticed the rubbing of his coat did start when we had all that hot weather after the cold weather...so he grew coat for the cold weather, and then was moulting like crazy during the heat wave...

thanks for the tip, I'll try that - hopefully it clears up soon!
 
I've got the same spurs as you (metal rollerballs) and mine also rub my chestnut. In my lesson with Andrew Gould he said I'd do better to use sharper ones and use them once, than have to use a rollerball repeatedly (I don't nag badly, but do have to apply them in lateral work). I feel terrible about the rubs - specially as the hair is growing back slightly darker!!
 
I've found that using a large bath towel or strip of fleece material under the saddle so it hangs down & covers the sides is the best way to prevent rubs.

I've got a TB so sensitive that a tiny leather stud on the inside of my boots rubbed him :(
 
little_flea said:
I feel your pain, having two extremely lazy horses - one chestnut and a grey... spur marks look so horrible and when moulting even my boots rub the grey mare :(. I saw this and it seems like a pretty good idea.

http://www.hippson.se/blogs/cissirules/sporr-skydd.htm
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wouldn't that defeat the object of wearing spurs though - as surely that would dull down the leg aid? :confused: - would possibly be an idea though..!!!

Vanha12 said:
And if you do get a rub Megatek re-builder is brilliant for getting the hair to grow back quickly.
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oh, thank you :) I'll google that
 
Cornecreine is good for re-growth.

Im using the 50/50 mix. Been a nightmare with coat changes this year as mine stopped eating hard feed as well! Seems to be back on track now tho thank goodness!
 
Definitely think it is down to the time of year. My beast has the hide of a rhinoceros but gets rubbed really badly at this time of year, it can be so frustrating! He even gets rub marks just from my boots, poor boy.

Isabelle
 
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