I think my horse has chub rub...

[Horse_Rider]

Hear me out! I swear I’m serious.

I’ve got a big ol’ hunk of a TB. He’s finally muscled back up and his thigh gap is gone (for the record, the thigh gap was never intentional, the previous boarding barn just couldn’t figure out how to feed anything that couldn’t live off air.) What that means is those meaty thighs (well, buttocks really in a horse) are rubbing together and he works up a good lather. Several times now I’ve noticed that when he’s working hard and making more of a lather, he becomes, um, sort of lame?

Our last jumping lesson we paused after warm up to chat with my trainer and when we got back going he was wonky behind. My trainer was worried, but I could hear the wet slap of his thighs and feel him sort of squirming around trying to get rid of the icky feeling. It didn’t feel like lameness, it felt like he needed to pick his underwear. Once he got things moving and not sticking he worked out of it quickly and the lovely wet slapping sound went away. Yesterday, working on dressage on our own, he worked up a good layer of sweat just from the humidity. Same thing. I could hear when he lathered between his lovely, muscular butt cheeks and his grumpy lateral work became “ma, I can’t work in these conditions!” I had to throw my hands up and take him for a cool down trail instead before his head imploded. (In his defense, I get it. It sucks.)

It’s not unusual for him to get some sweat and lather. He’s a TB after all. He gets a nice layer of sweat just from walking trails and thinking about the things pinging through the bushes. He’s getting well muscled this year, the humidity is not going to go away, so my question dear COTHers: can I use anti-monkey butt on my horse? I know they make multiple chub rub products for humans, but I wonder if they’re meant to stand up to a TB level of moisture and heat? Plus they all come with a pink tax. My horse is expensive enough without the pink tax added on. Clearly I can’t get him the cute frilly undergarments. (Or can I?)

Anyone dealt with anything similar? What have you used? The internet is giving me some fun ideas…

[BoyleHeightsKid]

LMAO!! I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try it but not sure if you could put enough anti monkey butt powder up there to really help.

This is a new one… I’m curious to see what other have to say

[Horse_Rider]

That’s sort of my concern. What can I apply in an adequate amount to give him some comfort? He’s 17+ hands so there’s a lot to cover and it’s an inconvenient area. It will of course get rinsed off after the ride but it’s got to last a while.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Poor guy! :lol:

Just an off-the-top-of-my-head thought, but what about a coat conditioner like Show Sheen that makes everything super-slippery (something silicon-based, maybe)? I know (ask me how!) you can’t keep a saddle in place with that dang stuff on the coat, so maybe it would reduce the friction enough for the ride. And you know it’s safe for horses. Good luck!

[WNT]

Could it help to have a bucket of cool water and liniment and a sponge in the ring, and just give him a cool swish during a walk break?

[ChestnutArabianMare]

Maybe zinc oxide? It would be a bear to wash off, but it’s certainly a good skin protectant.

[yaya]

What’s a pink tax?

What about just plain old baby oil or vaseline? Those are used on horses all the time.

[MCF1991]

I like the Vaseline idea.

[MissAriel]

check out some of the runners’ anti-chafing products. A lot come in a stick that would be hard to get on your horse, but some come in a cream or gel. A+D diaper ointment is another thought. Or KY jelly.

I definitely would stay away from liniment - that could be pretty painful if he is actually rubbing his skin raw :eek:,

hopefully as he gets used to his new muscles there, his discomfort will decrease. Lots of horses in serious work get lathered there without causing harm or discomfort.

[candyappy]

Are you sure his discomfort isn’t a physical issue? Or due to his conformation or weight? If he is sweating, especially into a lather , he shouldn’t be chafing but I would think it would keep things slippery.

Just wondering out loud.

[theresak]

When you hose him off after work, make sure you pull a sponge between the thigh gap/cheeks. I always do that to make sure I get any sweat that wasn’t completely rinsed off. I use diluted vinegar and that seems to do a really good job of stripping the sweat/salt from the coat.

Also, consider adding or increasing the loose salt you feed or trying electrolytes. Maybe changing the of the sweat will help some.

[Simkie]

I’d try liquid baby powder first. It’s cheap! And should be easy to apply. Go from there depending on how he responds?

[IPEsq]

What about this? It’s aloe-based, so it has that jelly aloe consistency. I put it on my horse between his cheeks and under the tail to keep the itchies away, but because it’s so dry here and you can hardly make this horse breathe hard enough to work up a sweat (vs his TB neighbor), I don’t know if it’d work for your problem.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/eqyss-micro-tek-gel/p/w1-c22044a/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=NB_PLA_Retail_West_GOOG&adpos=1o4&creative=182747331826&device=c&matchtype=&network=g

[Horse_Rider]

Thanks for the thoughts guys! I’m going to start cheap and easy and go from there! Easiest would probably be sponging him off, but when you’re riding alone and your horse is only 95% trained to ground tie, sponging the rear end of a long 17+hh horse isn’t the most ideal situation. Will probably try baby powder and see how badly it cakes with his sweat. I have vaseline in my kit so that one’s easy too. I worry about the lack of breathability for some things, but I’ll make a point of scrubbing him up well when I’m done.

Also, to those concerned. I’ve owned this horse 5 years, known him 6+ years, and I’m a vet. If I thought there was a physical ailment I wouldn’t be trying to lube up his thighs. Promise! But thanks for worrying. Not the first time he’s been squirrely about something bugging his sensitive skin.

(Pink tax = any product that is labeled for women or used for mostly women-centric issues, such as chafing from wearing a skirt in the heat, must cost 3-15% more than if it was a labeled for men. See: shampoos, shaving items, deodorant, heck - pens! It’s a real term and worth googling only if you’re in the mood to be annoyed by casual sexism.)

[Simkie]

Liquid baby powder is different than the powder powder! I don’t think the powder powder would work nearly as well. Lemme get a link

This sort of stuff: [URL=“https://www.amazon.com/Burts-Bees-Daily-Powder-Ounces/dp/B00GYW4OQE”]https://www.amazon.com/Burts-Bees-Da.../dp/B00GYW4OQE

https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Precious-Liquid-Baby-Powder/dp/B00692N3XO

[Minxitbabe]

They make a dog grooming product called The Stuff. It’s a leave in conditioner that is slick as ice!! When I groomed we had multiple people almost hit the floor when some over spray was on the linoleum floor. May be an option and could be better than trying to smear anything since it comes in a spray bottle.

[mmeqcenter]

@yaya

What’s a pink tax?

What about just plain old baby oil or vaseline? Those are used on horses all the time.

Things that are specifically made for women that are viewed as “luxury items”, so they have an additional “luxury item” tax on them, or are just generally priced higher - because women.
Think lady-specific razors, shaving cream, tampons and pads, etc.

Because having your period is SO luxurious.

https://www.listenmoneymatters.com/the-pink-tax/

[Lord_Helpus]

My boy, Petey, has the same problem. I just say that “fat boys sweat a lot”. I do make sure to remove all the sweat with a sponge, both between the chubbies under the tail and also the sweat that is in his cheeks crack on the front side, – behind his sheath.

[Ceylon_Star]

@candyappy

Are you sure his discomfort isn’t a physical issue? Or due to his conformation or weight? If he is sweating, especially into a lather , he shouldn’t be chafing but I would think it would keep things slippery.

Just wondering out loud.

I find that sweat makes me chafe more than straight water does, because of the salt content of sweat. Sweat is almost sticky, water isn’t as much.

Vaseline, liquid baby powder, or a zinc ointment (rather than a cream) would likely work. Liquid baby powder mixed with a bit of peppermint oil is my go-to chub rub preventative once temps rise above 25C. Leaves things a bit slippery, and the peppermint is lovely and cooling.

[candyappy]

@Ceylon Star

I find that sweat makes me chafe more than straight water does, because of the salt content of sweat. Sweat is almost sticky, water isn’t as much.

I guess people are different and maybe horses are too. It has been so hot and humid here that I am drenched head to foot while working outside. Seems everything on me and that I touch is slippery. Interesting.