I’m currently riding a horse in a saddle that does not fit him, but was custom to me. (His custom saddle is on order.) For this current mal-fitting saddle to be balanced properly the pommel needs to sit an inch or two higher. If I canter in 2-point in this saddle (but only this saddle on this horse) I will rub the crap out of my shins. After an onsite discussion and evaluation about this problem my custom saddle maker showed me that if I took something as simple as a no-bow wrap (because that’s what was sitting there) fold it over a couple times and put it under the pommel to lift it the rubbing and pain magically disappear. This is not the first time I have experienced this phenomena. While yes, some clothing and equipment issue could be at fault, I assure you saddle fit and balance can certainly be the problem and it is one of my reliable “tells” that I have a fit problem. It is well worth the effort to evaluate your saddle’s balance and try some different padding option to change how it sits to see if the rubbing can be addressed. Unfortunately (and costly) for me in this situation lifting the pommel with padding doesn’t necessarily make the saddle fit the horse any better.
If you don’t have a particularly “swingy” leg, I agree with subk and would look at saddle fit and balance.
But also, it might help to try different stirrups? As SolarFlare mentioned, I also used to ride in the original MDC stirrups (with the clicky-outy part) and always rode with them clicked out to 90 degrees. In that configuration the stirrup leather sits differently and in theory shouldn’t be able to rub. But you can take my opinion for what it’s worth…I haven’t had a rubbing issue, so not a lot! I bought the stirrups because I like to ride with the stirrups “backwards” (meaning angled back instead of angled forward), and it was much easier to hold that position in the MDCs.
Thank you all for your suggestions!
His saddles have been fit to him, and I feel relatively competent at feeling like the fit and balance is good. After reading through the advice, I feel like I’ve narrowed it down to my feet being more ‘home’ in the stirrups when I’m jumping, and less angled/on the balls of my feet than during flat work; coupled with the 45 degree angle my stirrups put my leathers in.
I ended up with the MDC stirrups because I have bad knees, so I’m hesitant to give them up… :uhoh:
I went to a little jumper show over the weekend and tried a bandaid and vet wrap over them, but unfortunately the scabs still got rubbed off. Bleh!
The jockey leggings look promising though, definitely going to order a pair and try those. Fingers crossed!
This is one problem I don’t have, but I was wondering if compression socks or a calf sleeve would work. I love to ride in mine, they are thin and super tight. My legs feel great when I’m riding. Would that be enough to protect from loose fabric rubs?
With the compression socks and half chaps everything fits well and doesn’t bunch or slide around.
My skinny, bony calves have scars. My most surefire “fix” was this: (if open sores) big band aid, breeches on, then maxi pad, soft side in, over rub area, then ace wrap. I would have the top of maxi pad stick out enough on top to protect my bony knees too. Then half chaps or boots. Bit embarrassing when people noticed & commented, but folks understood, laughed, & some said they’d try it themselves. Ironically, now I’m in menopause, I need to buy pads occasionally just for this purpose lol.
These will allow you to heal the wounds and ride within a couple hours pain free.
I cannot understate how these work VERY well.
Do not leave home without and get the smaller ones for obnoxious shoe rubs as well.
Em
Change the iron position on your foot, see if that helps. And third the jockey leggings. With me, rubs were always caused by what I was wearing under the boot,
Fabric can bunch even very slightly under boot or half chap, add sweat and it sticks into the skin instead of sliding. Could be your breech bunching, could be a seam in the breech, check them carefully for small rough spots and jeans are awful for bunching under half chaps. One $$$$$ brand of breeches in vogue at the time had a velcro closure on the bottom that hit me right at the bottom of the widest part of my calf, couldnt wear them, not made for anything but long pencil thin legs. Fortunately there are more choices today,
You could try knee high hose or silk sock liners…used those one winter under thin, slick boot socks just to stay warm and the rubs stopped. Wish I would have figured that one out before I permanently scarred my calves.
Ditto on those big band aids to get them healed.
