[QUOTE=hj0519;8424206]
Spur rubs are generally caused by you using your leg improperly, not using it properly. If youāre using your leg properly, your horse should not be getting rubs (unless heās very thin skinned and sensitive).[/QUOTE]
My trainerās reasoning is really not to put spur rubs into my horse, itās that my heels are not on my horse and she wants them on. actually she says my leg isnāt on at all and I think it is! I was worried that I would make spur marks now that my leg is on, but she said it was not on to make spur marks and she wanted this for Christmas from me!
Lots of people mentioned proper use of spurs, but figured Iād give a detailed explanation and hopefully this will help to determine what you may or may not be doing correctly/incorrectly and help to avoid the spur rubs all together.
-
When riding with spurs, remember to give your horse the opportunity to respond to more subtle leg cues first. For example, try squeezing with just your calf, and then press with your heel if necessary. Only go to your spur if your horse resists or ignores your leg. If you rely on your spurs for every leg cue, your horse will eventually tune out your requests.
-
To apply pressure with your spurs, turn your toe out slightly. This will angle the end of the spur toward your horseās side. Then bring your lower leg inward. Try to feel when the spur presses into your horseās side; never press more than you need and never āhugā your horseās sides with your spurs. Instead, the moment your horse responds to the spur, relax your leg and bring it back to its original position.
-
You may have to temporarily raise your heel to bring the spur into contact with your horse. But if your leg position is constantly compromised then you may need to switch to a spur with a longer shank (sometimes called the neck of the spur). Long-legged riders on short or narrow-bodied horses often require spurs with longer shanks.
Hope that helps!
I use very similar spurs to what 50shadesofhay posted: smooth rowels. I have caused a rub once with a longer neck version of these on a mare that is SO dull off the leg. She was being especially bad and I over used my leg. When I expect her to go when asked, instead of nagging, we usually do better (sheās terrible, will sulk at a whip and will turn around and bite your leg if you use it too much. What works for her is a sharp poke, poke, poke and a good gallop before you try to do any work. Once she realizes she has to work, she will do so).
[QUOTE=TSWJB;8424930]
My trainerās reasoning is really not to put spur rubs into my horse, itās that my heels are not on my horse and she wants them on. actually she says my leg isnāt on at all and I think it is! I was worried that I would make spur marks now that my leg is on, but she said it was not on to make spur marks and she wanted this for Christmas from me![/QUOTE]
Iāve never heard anyone that says your heels should be on your horse. Leg contact should be to about 1/3 to 1/2 down your calfā¦ Heels are only used when horse does not respond. Cues should be from the calf (and horse should be responsive to that), not the heels. You can spot an uneducated rider by watching their heelsā¦
[QUOTE=RugBug;8425119]
Iāve never heard anyone that says your heels should be on your horse. Leg contact should be to about 1/3 to 1/2 down your calfā¦ Heels are only used when horse does not respond. Cues should be from the calf (and horse should be responsive to that), not the heels. You can spot an uneducated rider by watching their heelsā¦[/QUOTE]
actually Denny Emerson advocates putting your heel on the horse. it gives you much more security than leg contact 1/3 down your calf. this allows the rest of your leg to swing backwards so you can pivot on your knee. its a huge problem of mine. as a matter a fact a friend of mine who is a great rider and rides for the Chapotās said George Morris says ātake your knee off the saddle and put your ankle in the horse with your heel down.ā
it definitely is helping me to stay more secure. I am a expert knee pincher and sling my legs backwards! totally frustrating!
[QUOTE=crthunder;8424331]
My thoroughbred is super sensitive and in winter would get rubs on occasion. What worked for me was cover the spur āendā with cowboy magic detangler. Vaseline was too sticky and harder on his hair. Never got a mark after that! And before more use legs properly chats come up he has also gotten rubs from the edge of a not soft enough saddle pad, a blanket without fleece at withersā¦ Ah red headed thoroughbreds! :-)[/QUOTE]
Yep, my horse gets those edge of saddle pad rubs too (and rubs where the reins touch each side of his neck), and he is a warmblood who I generally would not consider sensitive. His winter coat is just very brittle I guess? It doesnāt matter whether heās clipped or not, either way he ends up with rubs. I like your detangler idea! I might spray some on my half-chaps because my guy gets rubs from my leg more than from the spurs.
I hate it, it looks awful, but the fact is that there is ALWAYS motion between the horseās side and the riderās legāsome of it intentional (aids), some of it not (the horse moving, breathing, bending). Not all rubs are caused by unstable rider position or poor application of the aidsā¦again, there is always relative movement between horse and rider, and if the horse is sensitive there may be chafing.
I ordered one of these to try and found that the oversize was still about 8-12" too short for my warmblood and heās not even that big, just around 17hh tall and not obese or anything. I was really disappointed because I heard good things too! Sadly I lack sewing skills, as my recently-repaired-and-already-ruined-again feed bag would tell you.
