Stirrups/leathers rubbing my shins raw?

[HereComesZach]

I’m having a weird issue, not sure if it’s just me; or if I’m doing something wrong?

Background context: back in the day when I was eventing at Novice/Training, I was taught when going cross country to have my feet a little more ‘in’ the stirrup (slightly behind the ball of the foot,) and sort of ‘wrap’ the stirrup leather around my lower leg for some stability.

FF 20 years or so, and I’m just now riding again with a horse that I can actually keep riding towards that level with. Recently, I’ve noticed that after jumping or cross country work, I have raw, open sores on my shins where the stirrup leather is apparently rubbing it. I must not be feeling anything as it happens, too focused on jumping, I guess.

The only things that have changed (I think?) are that tall boots are made from much thinner leather now. I also now ride in MDC ‘S’ stirrups, and wide 1" stirrup leathers.

So what do you think? Is it just bad luck with my stirrup and boot combo? Or does it sound like I’m doing something woefully wrong with my lower leg I need to work on fixing?

[Saskatoonian]

I have scars on both shins from the same thing, but haven’t had rubs for ages. Maybe I just have callouses. I blamed my old thin boots at the time, but my current half chaps are much thinner and I haven’t had the problem for ages… It’s probably worth playing with the placement of the stirrup on your foot and how you’re holding your leg (eg, are your feet on the dash?). Maybe the position of the stirrup bar is contributing? In the meantime, moleskin is your friend. I’d say not the leathers, since I’ve always ridden in 1" normal leathers.

[clivers]

I have the same thing!!

[JenJ]

@clivers

I have the same thing!!

Me too, but only with my very expensive jumping saddle, not with my cheapo 25 year old dressage saddle.

same rubs/sores whether I ride in tall boots or half chaps.

[HereComesZach]

Glad I’m not the only one!

That is true, I did not consider it might be the different saddle. I’ve lessoned with a couple of people, and had few clinics, and everyone commented that my lower leg is (generally) where it should be and fairly steady. I don’t think my feet are frequently on the dashboard, BUT I could be riding in a bit more of a defensive position than when I was younger and bouncier…?

It does not happen in these same stirrups/boots when I’m doing dressage - then my stirrup tends to be right on the ball of my foot.

[CindyCRNA]

I use these around my shins under my socks when I use my jumping saddle : https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/equifit-gel-bands-8100 I use the short ones.

[SolarFlare]

I have the scars too from years of rubbing. My lower leg was stable and not swinging (per coaches, not just me ).

I bought MDC stirrups (I have the original ones that click into either 45-degree or 90-degree position. I ride in my jumping saddle at 45 degrees. This rotated the leathers enough to relieve pressure.

Even with the MDCs, I will still rub on occasion if my breeches or half chaps aren’t tight enough. Just the small amount of fabric rubbing will give me the friction burns. Do you have small calves? I do, and because of that, many breeches are loose in that area. The introduction of the sock bottom has been a calf saver! Even if they aren’t tight in the leg, the sock bottom seems to alleviate the rubbing. The older velcro-style bottoms I can never get tight enough, or end up with overlapping fabric, and that’s when I get rubbed.

The rubs also seem to happen (if they’re going to) in my jumping saddle, especially when my stirrups are up for jumping. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten rubs in my dressage saddle, so it may also be the increased weight in your stirrups (tightening the leathers then rubbing).

[sheltona01]

It also might be the shape of your horse. I have short little legs and use kid’s stirrup leathers and my 16 hand horse wears a 54" jumping girth to give you an idea. I find that with him since the apex of his barrel hits me mid calf, I am more prone to rubs and irritation on my legs ridding him.

[RAyers]

When I did the jumpers, my boots and socks would be coated in blood from the rubs from the leathers. Nobody liked pulling my boots off. I always will have rubs. I’ve tried numerous saddles, leathers, boots, blah, blah. I honestly think it is part of having your leg locked in the stirrup and not swinging.

Give it time, you’ll get some good calluses.

[amb]

It’s worse for me when I’m keeping more weight in my stirrups, but solid boots and slick socks save me. Jeans in particular will grind my shins into a mess unless it’s a very calm hack. I ride in tall boots very nearly 100% of the time because of this; I don’t think it means you’re doing anything particularly wrong. I’ve also seen quite a few pair of boots in for repair from jockeys that are completely worn through from stirrup leathers. (Basically every time I’ve been in Kroop Boots they have some in.)

[North_Dakota]

I’ve got scars from it happening for years. I used to gauze and vet wrap my legs before cross country at events so I wouldn’t bleed on my show breeches. It only happened with my jumping saddles, and have had it happen on different horses as well.

[SeeSpotEvent]

This happened to me too. I would put vet wrap over my boot socks to prevent it. I bought new tall boots and the problem went away. Seems like my old ones were worn out.

[Jackie_Cochran]

My shins were getting so sore from the modern calf-skin lined leathers I was getting worried.

I switched the the wider Millbrook leathers and my shins stopped hurting, as long as my shins are on the wider part of the stirrup leather. I had to get the longest Millbrook stirrup leathers so that the wide part of the leather goes across my shins.

I am now a LOT more comfortable while riding.

[punchy]

I used to get holes in my shins too, and then they would get infected and it was awful. Mine only stopped when I bought a pair of cheap-o half chaps and the leathersmith at the racetrack put in a 1/4 inch foam pad covered by a thick leather panel on the insides of them. Eleven years later they’re still going strong, although the rest of the chaps look like crap and my friends pick on me for them

[subk]

It’s saddle fit. Your saddle either does fit you or more likely is not balanced correctly on your horse’s back.

You can use moleskin—a soft fabric with sticky on the back side usally used for foot blisters and corns, then pull an elasticize sleeve—often worn by jockeys—over your calves. Stick the moleskin directly on the skin on your shins where it gets rubbed if it is not yet raw. Once it’s raw you have to cover the raw area with a little gauze then the moleskin.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr-Scholl…d6&athena=true

http://lfowler1.photobiz.com/cart/pr…tegoryID=22717

[Amado]

I used to have this problem when I rode a lot of two-point in a jumping saddle. It’s not saddle fit - it happens if there is any movement of the fabric between the stirrup leather and your leg. I solved it with Jockey Boots leggings. Mine were thick - almost like a thick ace bandage - and you just pull them on. If I forgot, I would have to wrap my legs with track wraps under my full chaps ( that was in the 80’s do people even wear full chaps anymore?). Once I started wearing Ariat half chaps, the problem disappeared - there is enough padding in those.

https://www.ridertack.com/jockey-leg…wraps-s/24.htm

[Outyougo]

Millbrook 2" wide stirrup leathers solved this for me. The “lined” stirrup leathers really made huge holes in my shins…

[bornfreenowexpensive]

It’s a very common problem. It has nothing to do with rider skill. I’ve had it happen many times over the years. More recently it was with a new pair of britches…nothing else had changed. I stopped using them. If it happens to you all the time, you do need to change equipment. The jockey leggings really do work and are inexpensive.

[Gryhrs]

I have the same issue in my jump saddle but not when I ride with a longer leg in my dressage saddle. The shin rubs take forever to heal! I second the jockey leggings - I wear the thicker ones under my half chaps or my tall boots and it solves the problem. You can find them on Jockeytack.com - cotton leggings . https://www.jockeytack.com/shop/jock…tton-leggings/

[Rainier]

This may sound crazy, but I had this problem horribly… especially in my jumping saddle when I was doing a lot in two point. I recently rode with a trainer that suggested I angle the stirrup iron more under my boot. It has changed everything. I was putting my iron perpendicular to my foot and then angling my foot out. As opposed to angling the foot in the iron, if that makes sense?