Anyone else get a sore back from 2 point position?

MissSBird

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Hey guys

Having made the decision that Barnaby should hunt this year, I've been trying to get him fitter. He was already being worked 6 days a week and RC club fit, but wasn't going to last a full on day! Having chatted to the girl on the yard who events I've been doing this by gradually increasing the distance of our hacks, and introducing longer periods of canter in the nice large field we have access too.

I'm noticing, however, that whenever I do this long canter the next day I'm getting a really sore back. Did some yesterday and now I've woken up in quite a bit of pain. I can move around ok, but I don't think I'll be able to do anything too strenuous.

As the only thing changing about my ride is the fact it's 2 point position rather than more upright, I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience? Or can think of why this should happen to me? It makes no sense!
 

stencilface

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I think this has something to do with fitness, and how used to riding like this you are, but it also hurts more when your stirrups are too long. Can you put them up a couple of holes and see if its better?

The fitter I am the less it hurts! :)
 

star

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mine is the same but i know i have a seriously dodgy back. i can manage a XC round without it hurting although i do ache the following day but out hunting if we're galloping for a long time it does start to ache.
 

MissSBird

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He's not very fit, i'm maybe talking 6 minutes here? So that's a bit concerning...

It is entirely new to me. I've been pretty restricted to arenas and gentle quiet hacks for the last 7 years, so 2 point position is never something I've held for a longer period.
 

Fourlegsgood

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I suspect it's down to bringing new muscles into play. I would have hoped that if you keep at it you will get fitter and be able to cope with longer periods. Eventually even 1/2 hour out of the saddle should be achievable.
 

MissSBird

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jemima-too - not good tbh. Infact pretty appalling. Too much time in the library and not enough time in the gym.

Fourlegsgood - Thanks for that! It's nice to know others have felt this, even if I don't have even half your excuse!

JenB - It is the L&R, so that's relieved my mind a little. At the same time, he is a fat pie at the moment and was far less fit than I would have liked in general. I can already feel the improvements from doing just a few weeks, so it's been needing done :)
 

philamena

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The thing is that it IS hard work, even though it looks easy. It uses muscles you don't use for anything else.

I get a lot of lower back pain, including from this, and I've been advised by a rather genius back pain specialist that it's exacerbated by the fact that I naturally over-arch my back, so all of the tension's taken in the mid- and lower-back rather than being shared with muscles in the core (and stomach) area. After being advised of this, I have to concentrate on holding my back straight (which feels convex to me rather than straight, because of how accustomed I am to over-arching, if you know what i mean) and then to using the core muscles in a way that feels like 'shortening' the distance from bottom rib to bottom of the stomach, to hold the position. It's all very well even when you DO have some muscle there, you still have to remember to use them!

This is really worth a try - thinking to yourself 'which muscles are holding me in place' and seeing if it's mainly those little muscles in your mid-and lower-back.

A good exercise for your core (not to be confused with sit ups for abs and hip flexors) is to lie flat, pushing the arch of your back flat to the floor, with your knees up bent at 90 degrees and your lower leg parallel to the floor (ie as if you were sitting but had been pushed over onto your back). Then very slowly drop each foot to the floor in turn and return to starting position - WITHOUT letting your back arch come up off the floor. Do it really slowly and perfectly and do it every day - however many you can before your perfect technique begins to go wobbly.
 

MissSBird

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Thanks for that philamena. I'll pay a bit more attention to that next time and see if I can get a idea. But, coincidently, I know I've always been pulled up in ballet for over-arching, so I wonder if that problem has carried through to riding. Definately something to think about!
 

TarrSteps

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A good exercise for your core (not to be confused with sit ups for abs and hip flexors) is to lie flat, pushing the arch of your back flat to the floor, with your knees up bent at 90 degrees and your lower leg parallel to the floor (ie as if you were sitting but had been pushed over onto your back). Then very slowly drop each foot to the floor in turn and return to starting position - WITHOUT letting your back arch come up off the floor. Do it really slowly and perfectly and do it every day - however many you can before your perfect technique begins to go wobbly.

Another one is to kneel, put your arms straight out in front of you, "engage"/flatten your lower back and "post", as above, slowly and carefully, keeping your technique correct. The first one or two "posts" will feel fine and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about but after you do a few . . . :(

Even done correctly, two point is hard work BUT it's essential to make sure you're mainly doing it through balance and core engagement and not through gripping. Often a rider will compensate for something else being off, say stirrups too long or a gripping knee by over arching and trying to hold against the movement of the horse. If you're flexible and centred it's easier to absorb the motion and not get jarred.
 

JenniferB

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JenB - It is the L&R, so that's relieved my mind a little. At the same time, he is a fat pie at the moment and was far less fit than I would have liked in general. I can already feel the improvements from doing just a few weeks, so it's been needing done :)

Honestly, I've qualified pointers with the L&R (&E if we're getting really specific lol!) for the past few seasons and there's more standing around than anything else - depends on the meet and what the weather's been doing of course but certainly for autumn/early season which is when we go out there tends to be a fair bit of roadwork. The meets in and around Houston (kennel meet and opening meet that I can think of off the top of my head) are alright and there is more opportunity to pick up some pace and jump some fences, but there are plenty of breaks as well. Look forward to seeing you out and about, I'll be the one getting towed most likely...
 

MissSBird

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Honestly, I've qualified pointers with the L&R (&E if we're getting really specific lol!) for the past few seasons and there's more standing around than anything else - depends on the meet and what the weather's been doing of course but certainly for autumn/early season which is when we go out there tends to be a fair bit of roadwork. The meets in and around Houston (kennel meet and opening meet that I can think of off the top of my head) are alright and there is more opportunity to pick up some pace and jump some fences, but there are plenty of breaks as well. Look forward to seeing you out and about, I'll be the one getting towed most likely...

That's encouraging, both in that it won't exhaust fatty and that I might know someone. I've never hunted before (and niether has Barnaby) so was feeling a bit apprehensive. I'll b the one on the overgrown dapple grey pony that will either be bucking every stride or falling further and further behind...

Thanks for the further exercise! Little sister today put my stirrups up SIX further holes and made me walk around in a two point. Was slightly excessive, but the point was made as it was a totally different feeling, and much easier.

Thank you for all the tips guys!
 

walker1234

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it really is down to building up the muscles in your back but in the meantime you could always bridge your reins and take some of the weight on your hands instead? Sometimes it just helps to do it for 30 seconds just to take the pain off a bit.
 

MissSBird

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it really is down to building up the muscles in your back but in the meantime you could always bridge your reins and take some of the weight on your hands instead? Sometimes it just helps to do it for 30 seconds just to take the pain off a bit.

Weird thing is that I don't feel it in the saddle at all, other than feeling general tiredness which I always put to lack of fitness. It's the next day I feel it in my back.
 
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