Bald patches on horse's sides - my fault!!

[horsemad]

I am absolutely horrified and ashamed :o to admit that I have caused my horse to develop bald patches on her sides from me using my legs too much. She can be quite lazy, and I have got into a terrible habit of 'nagging' her with my legs. Added to this is the problem that my right leg is a bit unstable and I tend to draw this leg back too far.....she has a bigger bald patch on this side.

So I am trying to retrain myself to keep my legs forward and not to use my legs so much.....trying really really hard, I so want to ride my wonderful wee horse properly!

But, what I want to know is - could I have caused her pain by making these bald patches, and is there anything I can do to encourage the hair to grow back (apart from making darn sure I keep my legs off her sides as much as possible!!!!)

[Busterbum22]

coconut oil is great, get it from a health shop or chemist, also from any horse shop you should be able to buy a soothing cream that has alovera and someat else in that helps hair re grow i have just used this on my mare who has bald patches on her shoulders and her hair grew back within days. will also cool and relive any pain your horse may be feeling.

[ros]

I once rode my friend's TB gelding in long woolly socks instead of top boots, and to my horror when I got back he had rub marks on his sides :eek: He was just extremely fine-skinned.

It's very easy to get into the habit of nagging with your legs - try to remember to use them one at a time in walk (if you don't already) with the swing of your horse's belly. If you use them both together it tends to freeze your seat, which itself is a stopping aid and so of course doesn't help :)

[Lgd]

My TB mare rubs her hair out very easily, even the reins against her neck will rub hair away, particularly when she is changing her coat. She doesn't get sore, just down to her having a very fine coat. For the same reason I have to ride in full length boots or use leather chaps (no suede) as anything else rubs the hair away. Don't have any bother with the other horse. One full brother has no problems, her half brother and her half sister are exactly like her so it is presumably just genetic.