Someone else must have this problem

[Lix]

There, just to make all of yous happy, I edited my post. I thought it was funny but I don't want anyone to take offence. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley17.gif" border="0"> <br /> <br />Going over to search COTH. I feel enlightened to know what COTH is now... I've seen others mention it as well. {:)]

[Ruth]

Oh, Lix, I thought it was quite funny.

[cadence]

Someone might have mentioned this already and if so, then I apologize... your undies need to be like those bicycle shorts.&nbsp; No seams, no elastics.&nbsp; That will help the pinching in the groin thing.
As for the bottom blisters, well... have you tried jods with the full seat?&nbsp;The deer skin full seat jods reduce friction because it helps to you to hold to the saddle.&nbsp;
If that doesn't work, then do check your saddle - even though you are convinced&nbsp;it is a good fit.&nbsp; A saddle must fit and if you have a saddle that truly fits both you and the horse, then it doesn't matter how&nbsp;bumpy things are, you&nbsp;or your horse won't be in pain and you won't develop any saddle galls.&nbsp;If there is pain, then there is a problem somewhere.
If you know for an absolute fact your saddle fits you, then I suggest you put yourself on a longe line and practice rising trot, then sitting for a few strides, then rising again and do it until you can switch between the two without "anticipation tension" (if you know sitting trot&nbsp;hurts, then you anticipate that pain and your auto reflex is to "prepare" for it and you unwittingly create super-tension in your back, pelvis, hips and knees - which in turn exacerbate and aggravate the problem!)&nbsp;... make sure your pelvis is "open", ie your thighs are just resting on the saddle, not clamped on and your knees have a wee bit of daylight between them and the saddle.&nbsp; Thighs that are clamped on cause wiggly feet in the stirrups and bouncing bottoms!&nbsp;&nbsp;An open pelvis&nbsp;keeps your pelvis and hips&nbsp;flexible, your back starts to relax and&nbsp;shock absorb properly and you&nbsp;are able to keep up with the horse, instead of being restricted and hence resistent to the horse movement, which by the way, causes your horse to become resistent in the back and tense which increases the bumpiness!&nbsp; Round and&nbsp;round we go.&nbsp; Resistence =&nbsp;pain!&nbsp; Resistence causes stiffness which reduces suppleness and creates those painful and, if you persist, bloody blisters.
So, in short, check your undies, your jods, your saddle and your position.&nbsp;
Oh, um, one more thought... talc powder, baby powder, whatever.&nbsp; As much as we women don't like to admit it, we do actually sweat in all&nbsp;of "those"&nbsp;places, so apply liberal amounts of talc powder in all the nooks and crannies and it helps reduce this problem too.&nbsp; <IMG src="smileys/smiley2.gif" border="0">&nbsp; (Moisture on the skin in sensitive areas&nbsp;causes skin breakdown).
As for healing them up, apply witch hazel liberally and top with zinc ointment until forming a scab.&nbsp; Then, once you have good progress with the healing, cut out the zinc ointment and just use the witch hazel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ointment keeps the skin "too soft" and you want strong skin&nbsp;... which, as much as your hubby might like your baby soft skin, you can't afford the pain in the saddle, darlin'.&nbsp; <IMG src="smileys/smiley10.gif" border="0">&nbsp; I suggest you stay outta the saddle until you heal up and then you can start with a clean slate. <edited><editID>cadence</editID><editDate>38398.6432523148</editDate></edited>

[royall]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I bet your saddle sits lower in the front than in the back. Try riding with a 3 fold big towel under the front half for a ride and see if this changes anything. I bet it does. In addition your horse might be happier not having most of your weight on the front alone and the saddle pushing into the wither area. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#It might also be that because of this the muscle atrophied left and right of your horse's withers because of the front imbalance and sits now even lower than before. This is an unfortunate viscious circle that makes itself worse as time goes on. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#The opposite can also be the case as this would raise the pommel area like a wall in front of you know what and - again - your weight would only be at the back half or third making the pressure on your horses back a lot more per square inch. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#&nbsp;#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Look at your saddle from the ground and see if the actual seat area in the middle is fairly parallel to the ground and not tipping more back or forward and therefore creating your problem.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#