From: A sore rider
Hi Jessica, I am a new subscriber and am thoroughly enjoying your newsletter and have passed on the web page to several of my horse friends. I have a question for you that is a little on the personal side but I decided to write and ask anyway, because I figured if I was having this problem other riders probably are too.
I am having a problem with saddle sores. It started when riding in my western saddle and I believe the problem originated from the elastic in my panties rubbing in the crotch area. They originally were open and bleeding and have never really healed. I have laid off riding for several weeks sometimes and they go down quite a bit but never really go away. My doctor told me to just put neosporin on them and cover them with band aids, but they still haven't gone away. I have purchased a tush cush for my western saddle and this helps on trail rides. But I recently started English lessons and we are working on my balance and sitting the trot properly which I am obviously not doing very well yet because my lesson today really flared up my sores again. I know this sounds funny, but trust me, it's really difficult to relax and sit the trot when you're in pain.
I've tried riding with out underwear but the sores are there now and any rubbing makes them flair up. I've also tried the padded underwear sold in the tack catalogs but it was no help either.
Please tell me I am not the only one who experiences this problem and if you have any suggestions on what I should do. Thank you so much. When you're finished laughing, please answer as soon as possible as I have another trotting lesson next friday!
For obvious reasons, I would appreciate this question being listed as anonymous. :)
First, you may have to avoid riding long enough to allow those sores to heal properly. As long as the sores are there, they may become more painful and harder to heal if you ride, so take some time OFF. Three weeks may not be enough. It may take six weeks...
Your doctor's neosporin suggestion was probably wise, but I'm not so certain about the band-aids. Many people react badly to band-aid adhesive, especially in sensitive areas, and you may be happier without the band-aids. Baby powder, cornstarch, or similar products may help more than bandages. But if I were you, I would go to a second doctor, preferably one who specializes in sportsmedicine. That way, you'll get a second opinion, which is often an excellent idea, and you'll also get the benefit of advice from someone who may have more experience with the sort of injuries that afflict riders and cyclists.
In the meantime, riding without underwear probably isn't the answer either. Once the sores have healed, try underwear with covered elastics. You may also find that part of the problem relates to your riding clothes. Some jeans are suitable for riding -- some are NOT, and the seams will make you uncomfortable and eventually cause sores to develop. Some riding breeches can rub too; be sure that whatever you wear fits snugly, so that there are no wrinkles and loose areas, and pay particular attention to the length of the rise (the distance from crotch to waist). A too-short rise will make you uncomfortable immediately; a too-LONG rise will create a loose, wrinkly area at the crotch, and this will lead to more sores.
Wearing panty-hose under breeches can virtually eliminate chafing -- if you can stand panty-hose, you might give this a try.
Now, since I know perfectly well that you're going to ride ANYWAY...
If you've just begun English lessons, you probably shouldn't be trying to sit the trot quite yet. It's moot, though, because you shouldn't even THINK about sitting the trot as long as you have any sores. You won't do yourself any good by trying; the discomfort will only cause you to sit badly and learn an incorrect position. Instead, this presents a perfect opportunity (with built-in incentive) for you to develop a long, strong leg by doing a lot of work in your two-point position. ;-)
There are gel pads available for English saddles -- for US$70 or so, you can buy a thin pad that goes between you and the saddle, and will definitely make you a LOT more comfortable. If you're determined to ride with sores, then get one of these pads -- otherwise, you'll spend just as much on medication and band-aids. ;-)
Jessica
Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE is a free, subscriber-supported electronic Q&A email newsletter which deals with all aspects of horses, their management, riding, and training. For more information, please visit www.horse-sense.org
Please visit Jessica Jahiel: Holistic Horsemanship® [www.jessicajahiel.com] for more information on Jessica Jahiel's clinics, video lessons, phone consultations, books, articles, columns, and expert witness and litigation consultant services.