How to sit up straight ...

[henmother]

Hello , I'm hoping I can get some tips as I am tipping forward in my saddle . Especially in trot . Unfortunately my spine is fused from L1-L5 so more or less from the top of my bot to where my bra strap is across my back . I have zero flexibility in my back . Can anyone give me any advice , apart from my riding looking like a pigs ear I fear I'm going to end up going over his shoulder unless I get my position corrected . Thankyou .

 

[Wheels]

Any photos? There are several reasons why this might be happening from sitting incorrectly through to saddle fit issues for either you or the horse, easier to tell from pics or videos.

Does it happen in all paces ?

 

[henmother]

I'm sorry I've not got any photos , my yo pointed it out to me yesterday , that she noticed I did it . I recently bought a new saddle and it was fitted to my boy before it was ridden in, as was his previous saddle . I've also had infrared lady out to do some work on him , particularly his shoulder and neck . I do wear a bp & air jacket - have to or I'm not allowed to ride , and I feel a little top heavy but not enough to drag me forwards . I'm doing exercises to attempt to strengthen my core to see if that will help. I'm an incomplete paraplegic and when I do walk I struggle to do so without being in a tipped forward position .

 

[be positive]

It could be many things but I would question the saddle, did the fitter not see you ride in it, in the circumstances that seems very unprofessional and so important, it is no good how well it fits the horse if it does not suit the rider, for you this is even more important and needs to be looked into by a knowledgeable professional who will take time to ensure the saddle is suitable for purpose.

I thing finding a good sympathetic instructor would really help, trying to work on with this alone is difficult, a few sessions from someone that can see what is going on could make all the difference to your balance and confidence, your YO may be able to help as she has noticed the problem you are having, often you just require someone there to tell you to look up or keep your weight back and after a few sessions it starts to become automatic as your body becomes more controlled by your core.

 

[henmother]

No , fitter didn't see me ride in saddle , he never see's any of us ride in our saddles . Do all saddle fitters see you riding in the saddle to check for fit ? My yo has used him for years and he's held in high regard in the area. Should I look for another fitter , but ask if they will watch me riding in saddle as well as fitting to horse ?
I had my first lesson a week back , which I loved . We have no facilities at our yard and I have to ride to instructors yard - need an escort for now . She is a great instructor , has had numerous injuries herself , and has taught disabled riders in the past . I hope , now summer is almost upon us , to be able to go for more regular lessons, it's just a bit awkward having to rely on someone to ride with me and collect me .
It'd be good to have something to try and practice before my next lesson . Now I'm aware that I lean , didn't realise I did , I hope to put it right .

 

[Illusion100]

Thought this article might make interesting reading for you.

http://www.happy-horse-training.com/riders-position.html

Sorry to hear about your back but I'm sure you will get there with time and training.

 

[henmother]

Oo thankyou , looks very interesting

 

[thatsmygirl]

I've also got back issues and lean very slightly forward but do with walking normally so its just my way. What has helped me is having my stirrups longer as I'm use to riding short plus I ride a lot with no stirrups which seems to really help. If the horse on his forehand cause that don't help but tends to go hand in hand with u tilting forward so may be worth working on that as well which def helped me

 

[Illusion100]

Oo thankyou , looks very interesting

If it helps, I also have spinal damage but it doesn't prevent me from sitting correctly. It can make me be a bit lazy though and achey but I just need to build muscle up and I'm sure this will massively decrease the aches.....my laziness as a rider is a whole different issue!

 

[Illusion100]

Duplicate.

 

[Rudders74]

I have this problem too and came off over the shoulder last year as a result. My saddle wasn't helping ( some good advice from members on here) and I've now changed it to a deeper seated one which has helped a lot. I've also lengthened stirrups a hole and I have to keep telling myself "shoulders back" whilst riding. Are you able to push your shoulders back as this automatically straightens the back a bit?

 

[Sukistokes2]

I would have some lessons with a sympathetic instructor with whom you can discuss your problems and help you find where you are having a problem. A Ride with yourMind instructor would be good, Mary Wandless has some really good books out, I recently bought some on Amazon, very cheap too.


Ps.....also I would get the saddle checked by a proper saddler who will want to see you walk, trot and canter and if jump that too.

 

[Tnavas]

Best exercise if you are able to do it is to take your feet out of your stirrups and bring your knees up in front of you close to the withers, like a jockey - then feel how you are sitting on your seat bones. Then check and correct every few strides until you are sitting up as a habit.

 

[oldie48]

I also think this is a very good thing to do, lots of people tip forward because they are sitting on the fork of their seat rather than the seat bones and this helps to correct it. I also think that exercises that help to open the hips more also help.

Best exercise if you are able to do it is to take your feet out of your stirrups and bring your knees up in front of you close to the withers, like a jockey - then feel how you are sitting on your seat bones. Then check and correct every few strides until you are sitting up as a habit.

 

[Luci07]

Echo that the fitter should have seen you ride...my saddler always sees me ride and she has been doing my saddles for years.

I hesitate to offer advice as to your position as I am not familiar with your spinal condition and don't want to make suggestions which are either impossible or dangerous.

I do know as a rider, that work on myself off my horse has a massive impact. I would talk to your docter or physio and really have a map of your body and understand your weaknesses. So as a rider, I have an overly strong back and weak core. The lack of muscular symmetric was a problem so I now have power plate lessons with a good Instructor and that has made the world of difference. My instructor has helped buld up supporting muscles around weaker areas (due to previous injuries) and it really helps.

 

[NikNak1]

I would really recommend pilates and found it improved my position immensely. I went to a physio run pilates class where they would adapt the exercises for where your problem areas are which would prob help your back too!

 

[Hippona]

I recommend pilates too...fabulous for core muscles.

Also check your stirrup length, it's easy to have them too long which means you get unbalanced and tip forward, especially in trot.

 

[henmother]

I've read the article from the link , thanks illusion100 , and it describes issues with leaning to do with the Lower L region , the T12 , which is interesting as I am a T12 paraplegic . So that makes things easier for me to understand , Thankyou.
I had my first session with a new Physiotherapist who has is Pilates trained , she's given me exercises to do but I'm back next week so I'm going to ask her about the ilio psoas muscle and building it up . She did say I had a lot of muscle wastage which can't help with my position . I'll ask her to concentrate on my position , it hurts to have my back ram rod ( literally) straight and that could be why I overcompensate , or it could be a bad habit ive gotten into , when in my wheelchair I'm usually slightly forward too . So much impact is absorbed by the lower back I don't know if my tipping forward is trying to absorb some of the impact away from my lower back - burst fracture was L3 , and now has a cage around the crumbs of bone that have been removed from my hip/rib in an effort to encourage fusion .
Im going to speak to my yo today about the saddler . We don't have anywhere to ride so I'm wondering if that's why he doesn't watch us ride ? I was previously on a wintec - latest model , but have upgraded to a bates Caprili which I find far more comfortable and much less perched . I'll ask her to have a look at my stirrup length from the ground , it's hard to know if they could be out by a hole because I can't really feel it , would know if my knees where up to my ears or I was out of reach .
As soon as horses move to summer fields we can ride in the winter field , hurrah , going to try and find an instructor to come to me , and I'll ask my yo to put me on the lunge stirrup less , stretch my knackered legs out and really think about my seat .
Thankyou all for your fantastic advice . I'm lucky enough to be on a small yard but it can be difficult when seeking advice , especially when you are in the position I'm in , no pun intended. Once again Thankyou .

 

[Tobiano]

hi Henmother - so glad you are able to ride again, is this your lovely kind horse?

Also a bit hesitant to suggest anything not having a clue about the medical issues, but I have heard of a shoulder brace type thing that is available (I think it might be Heather Moffett?) which is designed to help you keep your shoulders back. Have googled and can't find anything by Heather Moffett, although Mary Wanless has a couple of back brace type product. Also saw a few old threads on here referring to backs etc so might be worth a google - I did something like shoulder brace for riding and lots came up - sorry hopeless at posting links etc!

Hope you find something that helps but bravo for being on board!

 

[henmother]

Hi Tobiano it is indeed my steady young cob , who my ri referred to as a stroppy 18 yo boy , oops ! Now that you mention the shoulders back , I think that rings a bell . It's a dressage riders tool im sure . I shall look into that . Thankyou , I'm very much looking forward to our first summer - with me in the saddle , and I'm aiming for a local xc course ! Exciting ! Thankyou

 

[Pinkvboots]

No , fitter didn't see me ride in saddle , he never see's any of us ride in our saddles . Do all saddle fitters see you riding in the saddle to check for fit ? My yo has used him for years and he's held in high regard in the area. Should I look for another fitter , but ask if they will watch me riding in saddle as well as fitting to horse ?
I had my first lesson a week back , which I loved . We have no facilities at our yard and I have to ride to instructors yard - need an escort for now . She is a great instructor , has had numerous injuries herself , and has taught disabled riders in the past . I hope , now summer is almost upon us , to be able to go for more regular lessons, it's just a bit awkward having to rely on someone to ride with me and collect me .
It'd be good to have something to try and practice before my next lesson . Now I'm aware that I lean , didn't realise I did , I hope to put it right .

The saddle fitter should see you sitting in the saddle as it must fit you as well as the horse, for example if the seat is too short for you it will alter the way you sit and change your riding position.

 

[B&J]

One thing my instructor told me to do was to imagine pushing my bellybutton out forwards as I ride, it felt very strange to sit straight as I felt like I was actually leaning back but he took photos and I was straight. Also yes the saddle fitter should see you ride, they need to see that the saddle still fits with a rider on top and also the saddle to fit you as well as the horse.

 

[gunnergundog]

Hi....I don't know you so am going to reply to this thread as if I were replying to someone without any previous trauma to the spine....it is therefore going to be up to you to interpret what is feasible for you and what you may need to adapt, OK? Happy to take any questions!

My basic premise is, that unless you have rock solid foundations then all that happens above is going to be weak and wobbly!

Soooo, you need to ensure that your pelvic position is correct. If it is then you will naturally be in the right position to engage the illiopsoas. Different imagery works for different people, and for me (with a degree of spondylosis), what works is to imagine drawing the pubic bone up into the air, engaging all the obliques plus rectus/transverse abdominus whilst at the same time pushing forwards with the tummy button! Yes, this does sound like a contradiction in terms, but it is what works for me! You need to experiment....

Once I have this part of my body stabilised, then what is above (shoulders, head etc) is much easier to bring into alignment and keep there.

Hope that all makes some sort of sense.

 

[Hetsmum]

I was just wondering the other day how you were getting on with your lovely cob. So glad it is working out well. Sorry I can't really offer any advise as I have no experience of your condition. It would strike me though as it must be how you feel balanced so are your legs correctly placed? Most able bodied riders who tip forwards are riding with their stirrups too long so I might be inclined to shorten them but as I say I have no experience. I am just very happy for you to be back in the saddle