*I'm a bad rider & dreadful person* (sob: spur marks)

B

BeckyD

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 September 2004
Messages
4,213
Location
Milton Keynes
Visit site
Absolutely gutted. Rode at MK BE today and had to ride very positively as he was being the most dead to leg I can ever remember and was being very nappy at the start of the XC. Ended up with spur mark on left side. Raised, grazed skin. *SOB* Poor Bill!!

I am NEVER wearing spurs again. I clearly don't have a secure enough lower leg. They didn't even work as Bill was paying no attention to my leg. I usually use roller ball but these were my other ones and coincided with me putting my knee blocks back on saddle today, I guess pushing my knee out and my heel in?

I've never had this happen before and was brought up to think very lowly of anyone who did it. Feel so ashamed!
 
Don't feel too awful, I'm sure he still loves you! :p
I'm no good with spurs so can't cay what you did/didn't need to do, but in all honesty - if you were hurting him that much, you'd have gotten some sort of a reaction!
 
If he's changing his coat he may well be more sensitive. Just use the rubber ones and you should be fine and when you clip remember to leave a patch around where the spurs make contact.
 
Don't be so dramatic! ;)
Some horses do get a reaction to spurs, usually the cheaper ones that get a bit pitted. Also orange horses seem to react to just about everything that touches their skin.
I wouldn't worry too much, if they worked keep using them (you won't need them forever!) and if you are concerned smear some vaseline on his sides?
 
Yes he is moulting badly at the moment; my car is absolutely full of white and orange horse hair after today!

Can't believe how dreadful I feel about. I really could cry! I love him so much and was so pleased with him, it was just such a horrible shock to see it!
 
Haha thanks baggybreeches, I know I'm being dramatic but I genuinely am beyond mortified. I couldn't stop staring at it, willing it to disappear!

He is a sensitive ginger soul, not to my legs though... ;). And he did super today once he'd stopped greeting all the fence judges. :D

Hope the marks heal soon. I'm moving yards tomorrow and god only knows what they'll think of me!
 
BeckyD said:
Hope the marks heal soon. I'm moving yards tomorrow and god only knows what they'll think of me!
Click to expand...

^^^ See that is the sole reason why he has reacted ^^^ It's so the new yard think you are completely evil! My ginger bint has had spur rubs from so called 'soft' spurs and yet nothing with rowelled spurs. The lanky hooligan is currently sporting a bare patch due to being rubbed by the (smooth) stitching on the inside of a surcingle!
 
I'm feeling the same. My mare is going through one of her stuffy stages and while I try not to overuse the spur she really wasn't listening tonight and ended up with a rub.
 
its a ginger things ;) been there, done that, been mortified ;)

I stick to the ones with a metal roller ball in them now.. used to have the plastic ones but they developed a couple of edges. no edges on the metal ones :)
 
Has happened to my sister. Same pair of spurs she'd used fine all season and suddenly they rubbed! Coincided with the coat change as well. It is mortifying though!
 
Thanks for pointing out about the coat change. I've not had a problem before and wasn't using the spur more than usual and stopped as soon as I noticed the rub (I'm paranoid about rubs). She is moulting though.
 
You will go straight to hell!!!:D
Ive known people rub horses sides with rubber riding boots....some horses are more SPESHUL than others!!
Dont feel bad, im sure pony hasnt even noticed....extra polos and he will love you even more!
 
Am surprised so many people are saying "don't worry its fine". Its not fine to leave spur marks on your horse! You of course didn't mean to do it so definately go back to the roller ball ones if they don't hurt him. Not having a go at you OP, but please people stop saying to her its fine! Its NOT fine!
 
Please dont worry - I have also just had same thing happen and hid my boy under rugs for last 2 days!!! However have since then thought through and understand this is in time with coat changing as well as never had issue all season.

I have decided to change my spurs to those with a more ball type end - you can also pop some fluffy wool or stuff over the ends - have seen that done and wondered why - now I know!!!

he will be fine xxxx
 
its not fine but it happens and it isn't always an indication that you have been swinging your legs about/booting your horse/are the devil incarnate.

The ginger arab we had on loan would get rubs from anything but a well polished leather boot on a walking hack.. for which he didn't need kicking because he would walk on like a trooper.. but if your leg touched his side in a suede chap at the right time of year = rubbed, for which the areas were larger than any spur rubs I have seen.

Those that have horses not prone to rubs are very lucky.. those that do and we have managed girths, numnahs and spurs in our time tend to worry about it a lot and do their very best to avoid.
 
MagicMelon said:
Am surprised so many people are saying "don't worry its fine". Its not fine to leave spur marks on your horse! You of course didn't mean to do it so definately go back to the roller ball ones if they don't hurt him. Not having a go at you OP, but please people stop saying to her its fine! Its NOT fine!
Click to expand...

But spur marks and rubs where the coat is changing are two different things!!

My friend has a horse with white marks on his sides, where his previous rider continually stuck the spur in.

My horse changes coat and everything rubs and makes her look a mess - her headcollar, her reins, a sodding numnah can leave her looking bald when her coat is changing.
 
CrazyMare said:
But spur marks and rubs where the coat is changing are two different things!!

My friend has a horse with white marks on his sides, where his previous rider continually stuck the spur in.

My horse changes coat and everything rubs and makes her look a mess - her headcollar, her reins, a sodding numnah can leave her looking bald when her coat is changing.
Click to expand...

"Raised, grazed skin" is what OP describes it as. That doesn't sound like just a simple bald patch...
 
MagicMelon said:
"Raised, grazed skin" is what OP describes it as. That doesn't sound like just a simple bald patch...
Click to expand...

OP is beating herself up enough without people jumping on the bandwagon saying she is cruel and bad rider blah blah. it happens i ride a racehorse that the reins rub so much he gets red sore patches on his neck, he has to have sheepskin covers on reins but its not practical when he is jump schooling or racing, so does that mean i am cruel?
 
haha i know how you feel!! I used to always jump in small spurs but they once marked (badly) a TB i used to own and i felt AWFUL!!!!! :( :(

I now always use the rollerball spurs and have never had an issue with any horses I ride...even my thing skinned current horse Socks is fine in them :)
 
daughters horse is super sensitive with skin. we have had to change to rollerball spurs for jumping as the others left a mark. She too was mortified as hadnt really used them but these new ones dont leave a mark.
 
Some horses are extremely sensitive to rubs of any kind. My grey has really well fitting rugs and anti-rub bits...and you guessed it they rub. I only use rubber spurs and leave the coat long and...they can still rub at different times of the year.

Getting caught out once or twice is perfectly fine, the rubs will heal in no time. Totally different from creating bleeding sores everytime the horse is ridden.
 
Thank you those who stood up for me but really there is no need. No one here can make me feel worse than I do already, believe me. And likewise, no matter how many people say its alright, I know it isn't. I'm not happy and will make d*mned sure it never happens again.

I think it was a combination of using sharp-edged spurs for only the second time in recent years (used to wear them a lot but in recent years have only used metal rollerball ones if I've used any at all), plus the fact I stuck his knee blocks back on his saddle for the first time in 6 months or do, added to the fact he was refusing to go forwards and napping for a while and I was using my legs strongly. Plus of course he's moulting and I noticed today that he's now got rug rubs which have only appeared since his bath on Saturday, so perhaps the coat change didn't help matters but certainly doesn't excuse it.

The good news is there's no scab or sign of soreness, just a bald spot, today.

I've learnt my lesson and the shame won't fade quickly!
 
Know how you feel! I did it once (mine is also orange as it happens) and felt horrible for days..didn't use spurs for about a year, but can now use them without rubbing.

Don't get too upset - do your best to heal them quickly and either take them off for a bit, or if you often use them, just switch spurs (or knee blocks!)
 
Horrid when it happens - I've done it once or twice, and felt evil! Always use rollerballs now, and on the odd occasion I've not had them, I wrap my spare pair in elastoplast.

Megatek rebuilder is BRILLIANT at getting hair to grow back super-fast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top