Spur rubs :(

Dusty85

Dusty85

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 February 2013
Messages
1,931
Location
Wiltshire
Visit site
Hi all,

I'm just after a bit of advice really, my horse can be a little lazy when it comes to schooling, so I wear spurs. I'm a pretty confident rider and I've never had problems with spurs before. I usually use little prince of Wales type ones.

Recently, I got off after a schooling session and noticed he had what looked like a spur run just behind the girth on one side. I felt awful :( now I'm rather worried about riding him in spurs, although he really does need them (else I spend a lot of time getting him forward huffing and puffing!)

In the mean time I've substituted by using a schooling whip in each hand, I've got BE next weekend so I want to let them heal.

He does have quite sensitive skin (gets bridle/rug rubs quite easily, especially in the summer)

Has anyone else caused these?! What did you do? I don't tend to move my lower leg about too much but now I'm very conscious of it!

Any advice appreciated; I hate that I may be causing him discomfort!
 
Spurs against schooling whips / no contest ,wear spurs every time.PS . if he had a spur run ,he probably earned it!
 
This is going to cause a lot of tutting.

My horse had a tendency to be lazy and sit on the leg. The blunt spurs caused rubs on him and we had a very tense moment at the regional's when a steward looked at him.

Obviously something had to be done to get him sharper and listening to the leg. We changed the blunt spurs to rowels and spent time back at basics using transitions to get him listening. It worked and interestingly, he became much much more responsive and did not need spurs any more. We also reviewed his feed and fitness levels.

It is so easy to drift into nagging a horse with the leg or even worse the constant tapping with the schooling whip so often seen.
 
Thanks for your replies.

In terms of his fitness, he's pretty good, he's a TB and can do x4 5 min XC canters with 1 min intervals without a problem. I've often thought about adding something more to his feed, but its a fine line with him; he can be lazy schooling when it's warm weather and he's at home, but can be quite sharp in dressage warm up at an event.

I have heard of people using a towel or similar under the saddle to prevent rubs ( I've seen lucinda Fredericks doing this) but not sure I want to do that if I don't have to.

I do use lots of transitions every 4 or 5 strides to get him listening and forwards, but isn't always sharp of the leg hence why I use them.
I also don't like the idea of other liveries judging me!!

I think I will use sticks in both hand prior to BE this weekend to allow it to heal.
 
Are your spurs clean? I use to find if mine got that build up of white stuff they could rub particularly the roller ball kind! Or is his coat changing? My old mare always got rubs of all sorts when her coat was changing....as soon as you clipped her problem solved
 
my dads horse has thin skin and it turned out to be the spur straps that were rubbing him.

Dad found strapless spurs and he hasn't had any rubs since
 
Surgical spirit to toughen the skin against the rubs. My gelding gets them even with rollerballs on and he doesnt sit on the leg but can get lazy with lateral work. My mare doesnt get them but I have to use them more on her, so go figure.

I use the spirit to toughen skin in girth areas for sensitive horses and on the sides against spur rubs, has worked for me :)
 
I use plastic roller ball spurs on mine sometimes. Never usually get any rubs but have them at the mo because his coat is changing. He currently has little white patches of hair where the spurs have been used this week. Not sore (because I've poked it!), just white patches where it's rubbed along the dead hair. So could this be the case with yours?
 
Some horses do rub very easily, hence the towels.

I'm a convert to Spursaders for general use now. Not BE legal (unsure of BD) but great for schooling.
 
Black Beastie said:
Surgical spirit to toughen the skin against the rubs.
Click to expand...

I have used this method before - and it has worked nicely :) one of mine has very sensitive skin and I had rollerball spurs that still rubbed...I eventually just decided not to use them (and to my surprise..he actually goes fine without them after me using them for several months - when he arrived he was ultra lazy, so maybe just using spurs for a few months and doing lots of transition work has made him naturally sharper..I don't use spurs anymore)
 
It happens. Make sure your spurs are clean, rowels may be better as the move rather than just "jabbing" at one place.
A bit of Vaseline on his sides, and if they are still visible next week, find some shoe polish which is the same shade.
You'll find if their coats are changing that he may mark more.
Just as another point, perhaps ask someone to cast an eye over you to make sure you aren't over using them,
 
My instructor was surprised he had them, she said she didn't notice my toe poking out! We were doing a fair amount of lateral work.

I have the metal roller ball ones, although I bought these after the rub appeared. Before I was using short blunt prince of wakes ones.

I think his coat is changing as he is loosing a fair bit of hair whilst grooming.

I feel a little reassured that a lot of you have had then too!! Thanks for the tip about polish, I was a bit worried that BE may pick me up on them!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top