Hip Pain when riding

[Georgia-wyllie]

I am 26 with hyper-mobility and a tilted pelvis. I’ve had the same horse for 10 years (15.2 Welsh cob/ish sports horse). In the past year I have been experiencing bad hip pain when riding. I have got to the point where I don’t want to compete (dressage) as I have to get straight off due to the pain in my hips. My horse is currently in a XW Jessica saddle for dressage but I’m sitting forward to prevent the hip pain, which is impacting my riding and the impact I am having on my horse.

My question is about how to help as I desperately want to get out between the dressage boards again! I have a seat saver but do I try a different saddle? I’ve looked into getting a saddle with a narrow twist but will this help? My horse is now 19 but showing no signs of slowing down so happy to get a new saddle if this will help me and equally him as he loves having a job to do! Any advice is very welcome!

 

[Equi]

Yes a different saddle could help massively.

 

[ycbm]

You could try shortening your stirrups so your thighs go forwards not down. That's the only way I can ride a wide horse, due to hip pain.
.

 

[JGC]

I have EDS, a tilted pelvis and hip dysplasia and get this in wide saddle. A narrower twist will help, but I also can't ride with thigh/knee blocks on a dressage saddle as I have my thigh at a relatively acute angle. Anything that forces my thigh into a fairly straight position is excruciating.

 

[Horseysheepy]

A saddle with a narrow twist helped me and agree with ycbm, ride a little shorter if you can.

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

You could try shortening your stirrups so your thighs go forwards not down. That's the only way I can ride a wide horse, due to hip pain.
.

I tend to hack out with shorter stirrups and it does help. I did start to do dressage in my GP saddle with shorter stirrups but didn’t feel so balanced? I also removed the knee blocks from my GP saddle as it was forcing me into a position my body physically can’t do!

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

A saddle with a narrow twist helped me and agree with ycbm, ride a little shorter if you can.

Out of interest what saddle do you use? I know we’re all different but finding it hard to locate a saddle that promotes itself as having a narrow twist.

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

I have EDS, a tilted pelvis and hip dysplasia and get this in wide saddle. A narrower twist will help, but I also can't ride with thigh/knee blocks on a dressage saddle as I have my thigh at a relatively acute angle. Anything that forces my thigh into a fairly straight position is excruciating.

What saddle do you use? I know everyone is different but I’m finding it hard to find a saddle that promotes a narrow twist. Agree with the knee blocks! Had to remove them from my GP saddle! So much pain and my body said absolutely not!!

 

[SpeedyPony]

Another vote for trying another saddle- I had a K&M saddle that caused me hip problems, swapping to one with a narrower twist helped, although it's worth seeing if you can trial a few as the position of the stirrup bars/knee rolls etc will also make quite a difference.
The one I swapped to was made for the horse, but I'm sure there will be off the peg saddles that would work as well.

 

[Red-1]

I would go to your GP firstly to have investigations. Mine assumed I had arthritis, as I was in my 40s, but an X ray was clear.

I had some success with Vitamin D, as I was extremely low, and I also do B12.

But, most success has come with pilates. It can be your psoas and other ligaments that would out of sequence, get tight, one overtakes the other, one muscle doesn't switch off and becomes cramped on etc.

I don't think simply switching a saddle or pad will cure it if it is severe enough to stop you doing dressage.

 

[Alibear]

There are now some good saddle fitters who can fit humans just as well as they do horses. I'd be trying to find one of those to take a look for you.

 

[JGC]

What saddle do you use? I know everyone is different but I’m finding it hard to find a saddle that promotes a narrow twist. Agree with the knee blocks! Had to remove them from my GP saddle! So much pain and my body said absolutely not!!

I have a Stubben Genesis Spezial and a Devoucoux Biarritz in 18", but as others have said, it's very person-dependent and depends on the horse. And I am 5'7, so perhaps narrow for my height, but not necessarily narrow like some shorter might be, if you see what I mean?

 

[Skib]

I was once sent out in a Jessica saddle when the saddle of my old share was being reflocked. It was a disaster. I have a large, fleshy seat and it was too tight on me.

My favourite saddle was and is a Podhajsky training saddle - which were made by Ideal. This is a very open saddle and I am not allowed to get one for my current share because I was told that her GP with a fitted seat well was safer for other riders. The open saddle apparently makes it easier to fall off. I can only say that, in all my years of lessons and hacking, I never once fell off when riding in the Podhajsky.

When I was about to buy my RS horse our excellent saddler told me that he would fit her with a Podhajsky. This didnt happen as she failed vetting and was then retired.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Out of interest what saddle do you use? I know we’re all different but finding it hard to locate a saddle that promotes itself as having a narrow twist.

Normally Jefferies events or GFS. I wouldn't suggest Kent and masters as they can be uncomfortable!.

 

[sbloom]

Out of interest what saddle do you use? I know we’re all different but finding it hard to locate a saddle that promotes itself as having a narrow twist.

Please don't rush to get a narrow twist.

Every rider is indeed different and you need your own, unique, pelvic shape supported in neutral which means the right shaped seat for you, a wide enough twist for the horse (the rails in a treed saddle form the twist and MUST give the horse space to push up at the base of the wither), and the right construction and flaps to support your hips but not push you into external rotation, or the knee forward.

The Jessica isn't an expecially wide twist but it is bulky in the waist, a bit lower down, which is affecttng your hip, but bear in mind a solution is sometimes impossible if the horse's ribcage is too wide for your hips.

If this latter is the case, if borderline then looking at different saddle constructions can really help - the traditional english gusseted panel with a slightly close contact way of fitting sits you down immediately onto the spring of the ribcage, a design that lifts you higher allows the leg to drop more easily and should be considered. And considered even if you don't have these requirements, we're all so used to more English style saddles that we're not always aware there are vastly different options available.

And @skibI can totally understand that a fitter will have told you that, it's kind of bunkum, the best support is via the pelvis directly, not the buttocks and knees, but when you have many riders it's impossible to offer that. I welcome the day when one of the shimmable seat saver projects comes to fruition, then you can set yourself up in a particular saddle without affecting the other riders, though there will be some occasions where the only thing that works is "less" saddle, not more.

An open seat is always preferable overall, but it absolutely can't make up for what we can achieve with modern "gold standard" rider fit, the pelvis supported in neutral.

 

[Skib]

And @skibI can totally understand that a fitter will have told you that, it's kind of bunkum

It is the YM who told me a Podhajsky wasnt suitable for other sharers, not the fitter.
I dont know what he told me that was wrong.

I have ridden all my riding life on shared RS horses. Most of them have had GP saddles, some old style GP, but on my current share quite new. But the truth is that we RS riders ride in whatever we are given. I just posted what I had experienced.

 

[Trouper]

As @Red-1 says - I would work on me first as I am the one with the pain!! If you can find a physio with riding experience, a few sessions might be cheaper than a new saddle and beneficial to overall health - not just when riding.

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

As @Red-1 says - I would work on me first as I am the one with the pain!! If you can find a physio with riding experience, a few sessions might be cheaper than a new saddle and beneficial to overall health - not just when riding.

Frustratingly I have been attending monthly physio sessions with an equine/human physiotherapist who also rides herself. It works until the first intense ride (I.e. lesson or excitable hack) then I’m tight again. Due to the hypermobility my muscles are quick to tighten and easy to give during physio. I’m doing the exercises recommended by physio but still getting the discomfort in my hips when riding

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

I have a Stubben Genesis Spezial and a Devoucoux Biarritz in 18", but as others have said, it's very person-dependent and depends on the horse. And I am 5'7, so perhaps narrow for my height, but not necessarily narrow like some shorter might be, if you see what I mean?

I know what you mean with it being different for everyone. I’m also 5’6 but narrow hips and very long in the thighs so where I shorten my stirrups in the dressage saddle to help my hips my knees are over the front of the saddle.

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

I would go to your GP firstly to have investigations. Mine assumed I had arthritis, as I was in my 40s, but an X ray was clear.

I had some success with Vitamin D, as I was extremely low, and I also do B12.

But, most success has come with pilates. It can be your psoas and other ligaments that would out of sequence, get tight, one overtakes the other, one muscle doesn't switch off and becomes cramped on etc.

I don't think simply switching a saddle or pad will cure it if it is severe enough to stop you doing dressage.

I’ve had bloods and now on B12 injections, I’ve had low vit D in the past but they haven’t picked up on this recently.

I am starting Pilates classes as I know I need some strengthening and I wonder if something in my hip is just in overdrive. Physio helps but riding sets me back again.

I think in my mind the saddle is just another thing on my list that I’m ticking off as all I want to do is get back out there again. My horse is 19 and I want to make the most of our time together but without doing myself any long term damage.

 

[Georgia-wyllie]

Please don't rush to get a narrow twist.

Every rider is indeed different and you need your own, unique, pelvic shape supported in neutral which means the right shaped seat for you, a wide enough twist for the horse (the rails in a treed saddle form the twist and MUST give the horse space to push up at the base of the wither), and the right construction and flaps to support your hips but not push you into external rotation, or the knee forward.

The Jessica isn't an expecially wide twist but it is bulky in the waist, a bit lower down, which is affecttng your hip, but bear in mind a solution is sometimes impossible if the horse's ribcage is too wide for your hips.

If this latter is the case, if borderline then looking at different saddle constructions can really help - the traditional english gusseted panel with a slightly close contact way of fitting sits you down immediately onto the spring of the ribcage, a design that lifts you higher allows the leg to drop more easily and should be considered. And considered even if you don't have these requirements, we're all so used to more English style saddles that we're not always aware there are vastly different options available.

And @skibI can totally understand that a fitter will have told you that, it's kind of bunkum, the best support is via the pelvis directly, not the buttocks and knees, but when you have many riders it's impossible to offer that. I welcome the day when one of the shimmable seat saver projects comes to fruition, then you can set yourself up in a particular saddle without affecting the other riders, though there will be some occasions where the only thing that works is "less" saddle, not more.

An open seat is always preferable overall, but it absolutely can't make up for what we can achieve with modern "gold standard" rider fit, the pelvis supported in neutral.

Thank you for this, I’m finding your comments on these forums really helpful. Whatever I do, the last thing I want is to make my horse uncomfortable or restrict him in anyway. If I can be at least 40% more comfortable it’s a win for me. My horse is now 19 and I am desperate to make the most out of these upcoming years as he loves going out to competitions and having a stimulating job to do but need to sort myself out and a saddle alongside strengthening work for myself seems to be the best options right now.

 

[cornbrodolly]

I’ve had bloods and now on B12 injections, I’ve had low vit D in the past but they haven’t picked up on this recently.

I am starting Pilates classes as I know I need some strengthening and I wonder if something in my hip is just in overdrive. Physio helps but riding sets me back again.

I think in my mind the saddle is just another thing on my list that I’m ticking off as all I want to do is get back out there again. My horse is 19 and I want to make the most of our time together but without doing myself any long term damage.

All I wanted to do was return to riding , after my hips grew bone spurs. Happily, I can and do ride side saddle without pain, and there are plenty of us in the same boat!
I would recommend you at least give it a try - depending on where you are in the country there are taster sessions where you provide the horse and the saddles will be fitted and then you have a lesson [ easily find these with an internet search eg try Penny Clarke ] , sessions on a mechanical horse at various locations , and a few riding schools that provide lessons. There is nothing you do on a usual saddle that you can t do aside! The Side Saddle Assoc is a good place to start , although it seems more geared towards showing than anything else. But B D are very supportive , and I recently met someone who d completed the Kiplingcotes Derby on her side saddle.

 

[splashgirl45]

Agree with others , ride a bit shorter . I had an Albion legend dressage saddle on my wide horse and just by shortening the stirrups it was bearable..after I’d had hip replacements I could ride at my normal length

 

[Skib]

I cannot advise anyone else to ignore medical advice. However, when I started to ride aged 61 after 9/11 it was against medical advice on account of my lower back. I simply thought I would give it a try.
My being able to ride all these years has depended on moderation. I dont ride (and especially dont canter) on two consecutive days.
And I ride with my stirrups long as that reduces the pressure on my spine.

 

[m1stify]

I would rule out anything physical and get your bloods done and an X-ray and/or MRI and also see a physio.
But you are very young to get hip pain so I would really try changing your saddle. Try to go to a fitter that has many different types for you to try. I had an ideal saddle that caused me a lot of pain but I am a good bit older. You may be causing yourself irreversible damage.
I also recommended taking magnesium and vitamin D. Cod liver oil also helps me. But definitely look into magnesium you can get a transdermal spray which has higher absorption apparently

 

[maya2008]

Private physio AND possibly another saddle (or some kind of seat saver for yours that increases the twist). I would suspect though that the physio will make the most difference. If something has popped half out where it shouldn't be, they can help you put it back and give you exercises to both strengthen the surrounding muscle and pop anything untoward back on your own another time. I had a terrible time after having children with my hips - they seemed to be not so well attached to anything anymore. My physio was a literal lifesaver and I did her exercises both before and after riding. Even now, a decade later, I can pop a hip slightly out by climbing through/over a fence or some other similarly everyday experience. Knowing how to pop it back in is the best thing ever!

 

[Birker2020]

I'd also ride with springer stirrups to help those hips.

Sprenger Bow Balance stirrups *H&H Approved* review | Horse & Hound

Find out what Horse & Hound’s independent tester Becky Murray thought when she put the Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrups to the test

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[sbloom]

It is the YM who told me a Podhajsky wasnt suitable for other sharers, not the fitter.
I dont know what he told me that was wrong.

I have ridden all my riding life on shared RS horses. Most of them have had GP saddles, some old style GP, but on my current share quite new. But the truth is that we RS riders ride in whatever we are given. I just posted what I had experienced.

The open saddle apparently makes it easier to fall off.

This is what is wrong. A deep seat of the wrong shape (or even of the "right" shape) may lead to a higher risk of falls OR more serious injury due to being caught between cantle and pommel and/or knee blocks. Falling clear may be safer.

Frustratingly I have been attending monthly physio sessions with an equine/human physiotherapist who also rides herself. It works until the first intense ride (I.e. lesson or excitable hack) then I’m tight again. Due to the hypermobility my muscles are quick to tighten and easy to give during physio. I’m doing the exercises recommended by physio but still getting the discomfort in my hips when riding

Riding isn't easy on the body. It CAN in some instances be therapeutic, for instance gentle walking unravelling sciatic pain for some people, but in the wrong saddle, and potentially on the wrong shaped ribcage for your hips (some hips are just too narrow for some horses) can unravel progress VERY quickly.

Equally I have put someone with an existing back issue, aggravated by her own traditional saddle, into one that fitted her pelvis, and she sat in it on the stand for 10 minutes before and after her saddle fitting to help reduce her pain.

What a saddle can do is seriously underestimated by most people, fitters included.

I'd also ride with springer stirrups to help those hips.

Sprenger Bow Balance stirrups *H&H Approved* review | Horse & Hound

Find out what Horse & Hound’s independent tester Becky Murray thought when she put the Sprenger Bow Balance Stirrups to the test

www.horseandhound.co.uk

There are lots of great stirrups out there, mostly expensive, and very individual in terms of who they'll suit. The one type I tend not to recommmend are those with hinged treads. Now if it's the ONLY thing that alleviates pain, and you can't change other factors, then sure, keep them, absolutely. However, the ankles should be mobile, the knees stable, but if your base of support isn't stable guess what the ankles do....lock up, and then the knees can take the strain, or it shows up even higher up.

I would advise to beg borrow steal to see what works for you.