Sore on tail bone when cantering

[love2laugh]

I am beginning to learn to canter, but every time after a cantering lesson, I find that I have what seems to be a blister on the skin where my tail bone is. It burns when I take a shower. It's awful! I am learning western and wear jeans, which I think make it worse because they have such a rough texture. Is there a certain type of pants for western riders other than jeans for casual wear? Or... is it the jeans at all? Is my form bad? Thanks for any help! -Natasha

[theresamac]

I would change from the jeans - but I don't ride western, so I don't know what you can wear instead.
When you are cantering, try tipping your pelvis slightly forward to take some of the pressure off your tail bone.

[kedwards]

It's possible that there is a seam that falls in the wrong place that results in increased pressure on that point. Does this happen with a variety of different styles of jeans, or is there one brand in particular you usually wear?

If you want to stick with jeans, you could try a few different brands to see if it makes a difference. Wranglers are supposedly designed for riding, and are commonly worn by Western riders. There are also special riding jeans made by a couple of different manufacturers (for sale at tack shops and catalogs).

You might also try a soft seat cover for the saddle.

Finally, I know breeches and jods aren't fashionable for Western riders, but there's no reason you couldn't school in them if you found them more comfortable.

[FreedomStar]

There is something called the 'jean breeches.' It's a pair of jeans made specially for riding in. It's basically a good, soft pair of jeans with those knee things on 'em, forgot what they're called. You can find them in most tack shops. I think, though, like Kedward said, that you should check all of the tack you ride in, and see if maybe there's something that's rubbing.

[Bev Heron]

Ooooh, I'd be loathe to tip my pelvis forward for anything--it's been driven home to me so often to sit directly on seat bones w/ a neutral but following pelvis.

I have been riding with padded bike undershorts, brand name "Skins" or "Skinz," under running tights. The padding really protects the crotch area, can't remember offhand if it extents to seatbones.

Once an area is bruised, it's hard to get it to heal, even when technique is corrected. You might consider using "mole skin"--the Dr. Scholl's self-stick felt material that's used for foot blisters. The correct way to use it is to cut a square twice the size of the blister; inside the square, cut a circle the size of the blister; put the felt on the skin so the the blister sits in the middle of the hole. The idea is to build up the skin around the blister so the blister doesn't rub or hit the saddle. You might have to use 2 or 3 layers of mole skin.

[theresamac]

BEV - You can tip your pelvis SLIGHTLY forward while still sitting on your seat bones! The weight should not be taken by the tail bone surely?????

[Gracie]

Isn't there special padded undies for girls too? lol I think I saw those in either Dovers Saddlery or Stateline tack! hehe that may help?:p

[Bev Heron]

Originally posted by theresamac
BEV - You can tip your pelvis SLIGHTLY forward while still sitting on your seat bones! The weight should not be taken by the tail bone surely?????

As I think about it, I can't imagine how one's actual tail bone (the coccyx) would ever touch the saddle unless one were almost lying on one's back. The tail bone ends a good 2-3" above the seat bones. Going back to the original question, it seems that the seam that's rubbing isn't being sat on at all, but is rubbing ? up and down (vertically) over the coccyx. Is that right?

[chev]

Depends on your conformation!! I have a "vestigial tail" which basically means my spine is slightly longer than the average persons - I have exactly the same problem especially riding bareback when my tailbone actually ends up skinned. Apparently it's quite common. Being skinny doesn't help either - I have a kind of lack of natural padding which means that if I sit correctly (it does happen occasionally!) my tailbone is always in contact with the saddle.

You can get seamless and padded underwear that you could wear under jeans - Robinson's stock them at www.robinsons-uk.com and they do overseas delivery. There's a few different designs - comfy rumps, under breeches and so on. I can recommend them!

[KarinUS]

I've never heard of that! Doesn't sound like fun though... :(

Anyway, should you live in the US you can get padded underwear from Dressage Extensions-"Cover your Assets" (http://www.dressageextensions.com/ProductDetail.asp?KEY=6027)
I got a pair. I am not wearing it anymore though but I think it worked well. (wasn't a physiological issue and has resolved itself since then- I got a short tailbone and plenty of natural padding, but my position used to be tilted too much forward)

[chev]

Actually although it's called a vestigial tail I don't have a tail as such. A doctor checking me over when I was tiny noticed it while checking for spinal problems. The only time it ever caused concern was when I was due to give birth to my first baby, they were worried that I might damage my coccyx. In fact, there was no problem.

But the skinning thing while riding... that does hurt!:eek:

[kelsey]

Hi love2laugh - are you cantering or loping? When I was taking western lessons, we only loped and it was so sloooow I could have fallen asleep up there! I did find that a lot of western riders used a sort of chair seat where they are slouched right back and their feet are stuck out in front. I think it depends on the western discipline, for example cutting horse riders would ride more like that to free up the horse's front end whereas the western pleasure people used more of a dressage seat. So maybe it depends on which western seat you are being taught?

[Waikato Valuta]

What is the saddle like? it may be a poorly deingend saddle making it uncomfortable to sit in. If not paded undies sound good.;)