Moleskin patch for equine saddle sores?

[system]

Hi - I am a hunter jumper rider; my horse cut himself right behind where your leg would be if you were riding him, which is under where the saddle panel would lie. His cut is now over three weeks old and is nearly healed, but we can not put a saddle on him yet. A friend told me that endurance riders will use a moleskin patch to cover saddle sores on their horses, and I am hoping to use something similar to cover my horse’s cut so that we can ride him a little without doing damage to the healing process.

Can anyone tell me where to find a ‘patch,’ exactly how it is used, and if it is useful? I have never seen one before, but it seems like a good idea. Any insight or suggestions would be very much appreciated!!!

[Equibrit]

You would do better using two pads - one on top of the other. Use an old one underneath and cut a piece out where the cut is, so that nothing rubs it.

[katarine]

What EB said. Common way to offer relief where it’s needed. Now to decide which pad to butcher

[Diamond_Jake]

Huh…
Maybe it is just the endurance group I ride with- but the ones I know would not ride until the saddle sore healed and they found a better fitting saddle.

[creseida]

What is it about people not waiting until their horses are healed to ride? Are you really that selfish?

If that is true about endurance riders, then I have even less respect for them now.

[NC_Trail_Girl]

It doesn’t really sound like it’s a saddle fitting issue, just the horse cut himself right?

It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be fixed by cutting the saddle pad (as the pad won’t go there, right?), just the saddle fender?

I’ve never used moleskin on the horses, sounds like a good idea.

I really don’t have any advice for you, sorry.

It just seamed like you were getting jumped on for a saddle issue (which this doesn’t seem like)

Good luck!

[katarine]

The broad brush of condemnation in use already this fine morning? ALL endurance riders everywhere have every horse swathed in moleskin,eh, as they whip them to the finish. Oh dear.

If the horse got a bite or a cut and it’s 90% healed, well scabbed and maybe even sprouting a hair or two, back to work he can go. The OP is looking for a way to protect the animal while continuing work. We humans use Band Aids, no?

So ride with two pads, butcher one so the wound and surrounding area are untouched. The wound was an accident- not a rubbed raw place c/o crappy tack, dirty pads, etc…It’s an owie and s/he’s trying to protect it.

Dump me in the selfish pile if that’s so horribly, horribly wrong

[Equibrit]

Get over yourself CRESEIDA. The cut has probably healed by now - but just doesn’t have any hair covering.

[gabz]

If you want to try moleskin - you buy it in the foot care section of drug stores. Dr Scholl packaging. It’s about 3" wide and 5 - 6" long. It is sticky on one side and flannel on the other. You apply the sticky side to the horse.

Worked VERY nicely on MY Leg when my cast was rubbing terribly.
Probably more sanitary too.

[Diamond_Jake]

[QUOTE=Diamond Jake;3557807]
Huh…
Maybe it is just the endurance group I ride with- but the ones I know would not ride until the saddle sore healed and they found a better fitting saddle.

[/QUOTE]

I should probably then explain myself… I was not trying to imply that she had saddle fit issues… I just wanted to defend pre-conceived notions about the endurance riders I know, that’s all.

No offense intended!

[lolalola]

I’ve also used moleskin on myself to good effect and don’t see why it wouldn’t work on a horse - better than sacrificing a saddle pad.

[eventinghopeful]

Not an endurance person myself, just browsing through the forum, but I have used Dr. Scholls (sp?) moleskin on my pony tons of times. He had a similar wound on his back, right under the saddle, so when it was healed enough, I stuck a piece of moleskin to it when riding. Worked great. I also line the inside shoulders of his winter blankets with it so it doesn’t rub his clipped coat. Very handy stuff and it’s really durable! It’s a little pricey, but now I keep a sheet of it in my tack box all the time.