Neck, shoulder, spine and hip injuries can all be aggravated by horseback riding, and any discomfort experienced when riding horses can accumulate over the years. Eventually, riding horses will be an unbearable activity, which is a terrible prospect for those who love to ride.
Reducing back pain on horseback will take time and effort, but riding horses doesn't have to be a painful experience. Even if a rider has suffered neck, shoulder spine or hip injuries, it is possible to eliminate back pain entirely.
Building Muscle Mass
One of the easiest ways to reduce back pain on horseback is to build up the muscles surrounding the injured area. For example, if a rider has cracked vertebrae in the past, strengthening the muscles that line the spine will aid in reducing back pain.
Some exercises can be conducted on horseback, but riders can also exercise at home when they don't have access to horses. Weight training and stretching are two of the best ways to accomplish this, but try working with a certified trainer to learn the best and safest exercises.
Buying Equipment
Another factor in reducing back pain on horseback is the equipment used for riding. A hard or uncomfortable saddle will cause tension throughout the body and increase discomfort when riding horses. Comfortable saddles are more expensive, but they pay out in the long run.
Look for saddles with deep seats and soft, supple leather. High pommels and cantles will help the body sink into the horse, relieving much of the back pain and increasing fluidity in the saddle. Other factors to look for include:
- Larger knee rolls on English saddles
- Higher horns on western saddles
- Shorter stirrups for better balance and coordination
- Cut-back saddles that shift the center of gravity backward
It is also a good idea to use a thick, padded saddle pad, which will help in reducing back pain on horseback and also create more comfort for the horse.
Adjusting Position
A rider's position in the saddle has a direct role in back pain experienced when riding horses. Poor position will contort the body in uncomfortable ways and increase the impact sustained by the body.
Consider shortening the stirrups to help create balance and control in the saddle, and make sure the heels sit directly under the hips and shoulders. Keep elbows at the sides, thumbs up, toes pointed toward the horse's ears and eyes leveled straight ahead.
Riders should imagine sitting back on their pockets to help absorb some of the percussion created by the horse's movements. Reducing back pain on horseback means creating as little impact on the body as possible, so try to move with the horse as much as possible.
It isn't always possible to entirely eliminate back pain on horseback, but relieving discomfort isn't as difficult as one might think. The trick is to practice and to learn to listen to one's body. Serious pain indicates an underlying problem and means the rider is doing something wrong.
Laura Thompson - Laura Thompson is a horseback riding instructor and freelance writer living in Houston, Texas. She is proud to be the feature writer for ...
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