Iused to when I first started riding, but since I have ridden in full or 1/2 chaps, it has been years since I have had a rub. I don’t ride multiple horses as you do, but I ride almost every day and frequently do hour plus trail rides.
I rode in jeans for three weeks not too long ago,a couple of jumping lessons a week, using the same saddle on three different horses, and I got tons of rubs on one horse and more rubs the more jumping we did. I’ll agree with the poster who said a good correct leg is your first line of defense, and then I coughed up for a pair of half chaps and that solved my problem. My calves look absolutely flayed of course, as it was a bit too late. If I were a full time rider I’d be trying the tricks mentioned here and give each one about three days to see how it works under all conditions.
Good luck - I’m getting the strangest looks when I wear shorts!
I used to have this problem all the time. I rode before half chaps were common - I needed soccer pads to help. It’s because I turned my toes out too far. If you can get someone to look at you front the front while mounted, your toes should be pointing at them not out past the horse’s elbow. It took a long time to learn to turn my toes in more, but I can now ride in breeches and paddock boots with no rubs. Try it - it might help.
I’ve always had this problem - with me it is my skin getting pinched between the stirrup leathers. I also have very sensitive skin. And I usually ride in jeans and half chaps.
I have prevented it in several different ways:
In college we all wore jeans and full chaps. I used to wrap my calves with an old/thin pair of polo wraps.
I bought the elastic leggings made for riders. You wear them under your pants.
After I lost one of the leggings I started wearing knee high/boot socks under my jeans. They work just fine.
I don’t have a problem when I wear my tall boots, but if I wear half chaps I get the rubs on my inside calves. I use vetwrap over the area if I want to wear half chaps-it can go over or under your breeches. It doesn’t create a lot of bulk like a polo wrap does. (On the other hand it may all be due to sloppy position. A couple of weeks ago I left my boots and half chaps at home. I had to ride in paddock boots and breeches. I assumed my legs would be raw. I focused on keeping my leg absolutely still and voila no rubs.)
[QUOTE=kcmel;5733110]
Helpful:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
LOL …thanks but you’re much more helpful…
I have never had this issue but I have to wonder if your half chaps are too big, allowing the fabric underneath to move around and cause a rub? I used to ride up to 10 a day regularly and never got rubs and I rode in a mixture of full chaps, half chaps, and tall boots. So It kind of sounds like a combination of a loose leg or faulty leg position (think about riding off the back of your thigh and calf, rather than the inside), or ill fitted half or full chaps. If none of these are responsible and it’s just one of those things, it looks like you are stuck in tall boots. Good thing there are zillions of breeches to choose from so you can have some versatility to your look 
I’ve only recently had this problem where some skin on the inside of my knee, almost behind my knee was rubbed off and I’ve never had this problem before. It might be the saddle I’m riding in because the leathers are some terrible plastic material or that my riding tights are too thin. I’ll just have to experiment.
You are a COTH treasure. All 13 of your posts are just amazing. Hope you find the time to contribute more often than 13 times in over 7 years.
I never had that problem, but while riding in endurance, one of my team mates was a retired military officer.
He tried one of those then new nylon breeches and after a few hours out, he was bleeding so bad, you could see blood thru the fabric, it ate him raw.
After that, he tended to get sores easy, so he started wearing thick women’s nylon hose and said that kept him from getting any more sores.
Those with that problem may try that, plain, thicker nylon hoses, see if that works for you also.
I sometimes get inner calf rubs doing conditioning sets in my half chaps. Since it is always in the same spot, I can avoid them if I just put some moleskin on beforehand.
This worth repeating. SOP for those of us who ride a lot of horses everyday. LEGGINGS, under boots or half chaps, jeans and paddock boots etc.
Tried and true for DECADES. I know very few riders if any that don’t have several pairs. We also call them granny socks, but they don’t have the “feet”. Made of Ace bandage like material.
My dad ALWAYS wore longjohns when riding, no matter the weather or he would have raw spots.
I think the William Shattner advise is to wear nylons under the breeches.
Wow. I had no idea. I guess I am lucky to be a “rub less” person. Best of luck to all.
Wow, this is an old thread…
But on the subject, does anyone have suggestions for real leather fullseat breeches now? Even Pikeur has clarino and I get some nasty rubs from the clarino. One tiny spot in particular. Never did in leather. Or deerskin. I now use bodyglide on my skin and on the clarino and it seems to help.
I have a few pairs of Arista breeches with real leather full seats, but I’ve had them for a while, so I can’t say if they still make them.
