From: Mandy
Dear Jessica, I love to ride and have had horses all my life. I've always owned Quarter Horses, and I love them. But I have a problem right now, because my back has really gotten bad and even a short trail-ride leaves me in so much pain I wonder if I really ought to own horses at all. My husband says I should just sell them and forget about riding, but I don't want to give up horses. But even getting on to a horse's back hurts so much some days that I'm about in tears. Is there anything you can suggest? Gratefully, Mandy
First, see your doctor and find out whether there is anything seriously wrong with your back -- if he just says "do exercises" you'll feel better, knowing that it isn't a surgical problem! And if there IS a major problem, you should find out as soon as possible.
Many people have bad backs for one reason or another -- most of us spend far too many hours each day at a desk, and most of us sit sloppily and with horrible posture. I'm guilty of that, I know! And we spend time sitting in our cars, at the table, in front of the TV. . . . then we wonder why we can't sit correctly on our horses!
Your spine is a wonderful structure, but it shouldn't be asked to do its own job PLUS the job of your back muscles PLUS the job of your abdominal muscles. Anything you can do to develop and strengthen your back muscles and your abs will help your overall comfort, your posture, your riding comfort, and the durability of your spine.
Stretching is also very helpful -- but always warm up first!
Now, on to the horsey part of the suggestions.
USE A MOUNTING BLOCK. It's a wonderful invention, and an old one. It's not for weaklings and geriatric cases and sissies -- it's for people who value their own backs, their horses' backs, and their saddles. Mounting from the ground can damage all three -- do yourself and your saddle and your horse a favour and USE a mounting block. If you have a very sore back or tight hips or arthritis or any number of other painful conditions, you can build a mounting block with steps that takes you all the way to stirrup height, so that you simply stand next to the horse and slide on (and off -- horses can be trained to stand next to the block for DISmounting as well).
GET A COMFORTABLE SADDLE THAT FITS YOU. Many, many riders -- especially those in English saddles -- are sitting in too-small saddles that do NOT fit any more. You can't be comfortable if you are in the wrong saddle. . . or if your good old saddle has developed a warped or twisted tree (from years of mounting from the ground. . . . . ) and makes you sit unevenly.
GET A COMFORTABLE HORSE. I've seen riders give up riding because trotting was just too painful -- sitting or rising. This isn't necessary. Trotting does NOT have to be part of your ride. If you would like to have enjoyable trail-rides until the end of time, think about changing breeds. There are many gaited horses that are absolutely wonderful for riders with bad backs. Before you hang up your saddle and bridle, go look at (and try!) a plain-shod, Plantation Walking Horse. Try a Missouri FoxTrotter. Try a Paso, try an Icelandic Horse -- try ALL the breeds that have smooth, easy-riding gaits. Then pick the one that appeals to you most, and enjoy your riding again.
And there's even a bonus in it for you -- riding will strengthen your back muscles. The best exercises for the back involve hundreds of thousands of repetitions of tiny muscle movements, NOT a few big efforts. The trouble is, DOING those thousands of repetitions is dead boring. . . unless you can simply get on a smooth- moving, comfortable horse, and walk or gait down the trail for half an hour, turn around, and come back. THAT is all it takes -- those muscles will make those tiny movements in response to your horse's movements, without any conscious effort on your part. Your job will just be to sit up straight and enjoy the scenery.
Before you give up riding, please consider the gaited breeds. You'll be glad you did!
Jessica
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