LuminousFish
New User
Hello. I have been riding now for about 6 weeks after a 12 year break. I've always had problems with keeping my back straight and I've tried riding without stirups, exercising with gym ball, even trying to sit with my back straight at work at my desk but I'm still struggling and get told off by my instructor.
I was improving on one of my lessons 2 weeks ago but on the horse I rode yesterday I felt like the saddle was slippy (is that a thing) and the horse was smaller and more forward going whereas I'm used to lazier horses. I wasn't doing bad in walk had my legs in the right place and felt like I was leaning backwards but was being told I'm leaning forwards. Then trotting I was sitting deep in the saddle but I was trying to put my back straight but again was told I need to be feeling like I'm leaning backwards. Which I felt off balance with and thought I was going to fall backwards and it was really hurting my back just below the lower shoulder blades. I know it's very different position/feeling than lessons where I'd had a much better position.
Bit about me :
I have problems with my joints due to Ehlers danlos syndrome and my back curves outwards more at the top and inwards more at the bottom and on days where my back hurts more I do slouch and put my weight on my stomach/hips.
I was desperate to get back in the saddle as I know it's great for core muscles and I used to love it. I was only diagnosed 6 years ago and my mobility has been slowly decreasing.
So my question really is , is there anything else I could do to improve my position? Is it possible with my back being the way it is its making it stupidly hard to keep it straight? I'm also not sure how one instructor says I'm ok but need to work a bit more on my position then another is saying it's bad. Could it be because I'm on a different horse?
Sorry if I'm asking silly stuff I'm still a novice when it comes down to it.
Thank you for any help and suggestions. Greatly appreciated
I was improving on one of my lessons 2 weeks ago but on the horse I rode yesterday I felt like the saddle was slippy (is that a thing) and the horse was smaller and more forward going whereas I'm used to lazier horses. I wasn't doing bad in walk had my legs in the right place and felt like I was leaning backwards but was being told I'm leaning forwards. Then trotting I was sitting deep in the saddle but I was trying to put my back straight but again was told I need to be feeling like I'm leaning backwards. Which I felt off balance with and thought I was going to fall backwards and it was really hurting my back just below the lower shoulder blades. I know it's very different position/feeling than lessons where I'd had a much better position.
Bit about me :
I have problems with my joints due to Ehlers danlos syndrome and my back curves outwards more at the top and inwards more at the bottom and on days where my back hurts more I do slouch and put my weight on my stomach/hips.
I was desperate to get back in the saddle as I know it's great for core muscles and I used to love it. I was only diagnosed 6 years ago and my mobility has been slowly decreasing.
So my question really is , is there anything else I could do to improve my position? Is it possible with my back being the way it is its making it stupidly hard to keep it straight? I'm also not sure how one instructor says I'm ok but need to work a bit more on my position then another is saying it's bad. Could it be because I'm on a different horse?
Sorry if I'm asking silly stuff I'm still a novice when it comes down to it.
Thank you for any help and suggestions. Greatly appreciated