Argh! Is my heel causing a rub on his barrel!

I have just started to wear baby spurs with my horse. They're really small about 1/4 inch. Today I noticed a thinning or something of his winter coat (he's not clipped). It looks to me like where my heel sits - and one of my bad habits is my right heel is too far behind the girth. This is a rather telltale sign. Yikes, is my heel slipping back and forth - is that causing the rub? I thought I was doing a better job of keeping my leg still. When you think about it, putting the leg farther back would be like putting the lower leg on where the horse is narrower, right? If I moved my right lower leg more forward I would have more horse under me??

I would ask someone to watch you ride in order to answer that best. :) But honestly, if it's getting close to shedding season, the mild rolling of it on his side when you do use your spur could easily cause the hair to shed out faster than the rest, especially if you aren't currying yet.

Again, have someone watch you to let you know. Either way, kudos for being mindful. :)

Get someone to video you ride, or an instructor to watch you.
If your toes are pointing out, even slightly, you're going to engage the spur, and if it is engaged constantly you will create spur marks.

Shedding season has begun in earnest for most of us. Any place where more friction takes place, even the slightest bit, is going to show. Once the summer coat has settled in, you'll likely see no rubs.
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I will say that some horses are very prone to show rub marks; I felt awful this fall when my heel literally rubbed Ronan's side raw - he has very sensitive skin but is dead-sided as can be... During shedding season especially and all through winter, he shows rub marks no matter what I do. Short of riding with a towel, I really don't know what to do. Some horses do have very sensitive skin and show the slightest rub.

I'm not sure where you all are that shedding season has started, but I am very jealous!! Still -15 here today and just got fresh snow.
Anyway, I would definitely get some eyes on the ground watching, chances are it could be because your horse is shedding and its not big deal but better to be sure just in case you are accidentally engaging your spur without knowing it.

Lynn, similar weather here. It has to do with light change more than anything...
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I have to laugh at myself - my coach is always telling me my right lower leg is too far back. This does show it - as it's only on the one side. Does that mean my left leg isn't 'on'?!

Thanks for all your replies!

It could mean several things - horse is out of alignment, you are out of alignment, you saddle is twisted - or you are a normal person and your body is not 100% even!

We are all stronger on one side than the other. We don't realize how unbalanced we are unless it shows up somewhere!

Get your coach to yell at you every time you do it - worked for me when I developed a habit of slightly dropping one shoulder inwards!!!
If your horse is very responsive that difference between one side and the other could be enough to confuse him about what you are asking - like if I just slightly move one leg behind the girth and apply a little pressure its a cue to the horse to do something other than go in a straight line