Unfortunately, my horse has developed a spur rub on his left side over the last two days. The hair has been rubbed off of the area creating a pink, raised rub. It isn’t an open wound - just a very angry rub. It looks so unsightly, and I have just been beside myself that it happened.
I ride him in small Herm-Sprenger rubber coated round-tip spurs year-round and never have problems with spur rubs until this time of year. It’s only happened twice (including this time) in the entire time that I’ve owned him - both times have been during this time of year. After looking at my spurs, I’ve realized that it isn’t the use of the actual spur that’s causing the rub - it’s the rubber coated part of the spur that is rubbing him. He’s a sensitive chestnut, and I think him shedding out his summer coat and transitioning to his winter coat makes his skin more sensitive than other times of the year. For reference, I usually have to switch my neoprene lined girth to a sheepskin lined one around this time of year to keep him from getting rubbed from his girth. It could also be that I’m starting to turn my left foot out again, which causes my foot to be up against his skin even though I’m not using the spur.
In addition to taking off my spur, working on strengthening my left ankle again, and treating the rub with skin soothing products, what else should I do to keep the rub from getting worse while continuing to keep him in work? I have a lesson tomorrow and plan to try and apply vaseline to the rub and show sheen to the area. Would that be enough to keep the spot from being irritated further during my ride causing a sore to form? Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a belly-band. After tomorrow, he will be getting a few days off to allow it to heal.
