Saddle Sore?
By Stan Dill

It happens to the best of riders in the best of saddles. Painful saddle sores. I didn’t realize this myself until I personally tried over 40 saddles, panty hose, bike hose, no hose (ouch), Vaseline and Bodyglide to keep me from chaffing during my rides. After little or no success with any of these, I was forced to invent Saddle Bums just for my own protection. Once National Cutting Champion Bobby Nelson said to me, “Saddle Bums Saved My A—“! I knew that what I created was really working.

With many of today’s protective riding wear, the various padding materials used include felt boot liner, sheepskin, and chamois. These materials aren’t really effective in keeping your seat dry and cushy. Here’s how to tell--next time you get your feet wet on a hike and get blisters you’ll know first hand (or foot) why these things don’t work. Unlike those fabrics, the Saddle Bums padding cushions where it feels good, but more importantly it absorbs moisture (sweat) and wicks it to the outside of the garment where it can evaporate and stop irritating your more delicate parts shall we say. Cushy is nice, but dry is what really works!

No two fannies are alike.
Feet and fannies alike need to be dry with no pressure points. Unlike boots, stitching and padding in tights can’t be the same for guys and gals. Every male that ever rode a horse knows the need for an athletic supporter. Most rough stock rodeo cowboys ride in our “Original Cowboy Underwear” for just this reason. After all, the beating they get in 5 or 6 seconds isn’t pretty. After 8 seconds they hear buzzers and seem to be euphoric. Go figure.

If you must wear jeans, try stretch Wranglers (they have the smallest inseam) with Saddle Bums Riding Shorts or Western Workout Tights (the ankle version that also pads the inner knee) under them. These “are a must” claims Leon, of Leon Harrel’s Old West Adventure in Kerrville, TX where cutting horse wisdom, among other things, is imparted to his guests. Leon knows that if you are comfortable, you can keep a good seat and everything works a bunch better that way.

Do it right and while you’re at it don’t neglect the poor ol’ knees. The knee padding in Saddle Bums can make quite a difference, unless of course you’re into raspberries. Choose the best comfort wear for your ride be it Western, English, Endurance Racing, Trail Riding, a dude ranch vacation, or the elk hunt of a lifetime. You’ll ride better, look better, have more fun, ride safer, and truly enjoy your ride and your horse.