Making Myself A Lighter Rider .. Help Please

tonitot

tonitot

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I ride a horse at work who is cold backed and has to be walked around the yard twice before the rider gets on him. I always feel concious about sitting too heavily on his sore back when riding him, so would like to know how to make myself sit lighter on him. I wouldn't say I'm that heavy at 8st12, and he is a 15hh (at most) TB racehorse but is kind of normal build, isn't spindly but isn't chunky (for a TB) either. I only really need to know how to make myself lighter in walk, as the walk down to the gallops is about 15-20mins long and going up they're obviously we are off the horses backs.

Thank you if you can help :D
 
I know no one has said anything yet, but can I just say before an uproar starts with all the "you shouldn't be riding him with a sore back" comments, he doesn't have a sore back at present, I know I didn't make that clear at all, especially wiriting "sitting on his sore back" :o What I mean is that he is very prone to getting a sore back (had a few weeks in the field recovering from a sore back a while ago) so wears 3 poly pads and a gel pad and only the lighter people ride him. But the reason I ask this question is because it's fine putting light people on him, but if they sit heavily then it'll still give him a sore back so I want to know how can make myself sit lightly on him and prevent this from happening when I'm riding him.

Also realised my answer to why he has a sore back didn't help either :o
 
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Sorry tonitot, wasn't being facetious in my question. Cold backed horses are exactly that for a reason. I haven't got a one stop solution for your problem and I'm not sure many will have here. All I can say is, find out what the problem is. Is it really his back? Is it pelvic problems, shoulder tightness perhaps?

If you've got a bad back, it doesn't matter what you do it will still hurt until you get it sorted. Not even a beanbag will sort that one for you!

You are right, a lightweight rider is different to a 'light' rider. That's all about how subtle your aids are e.g. a shovey bum to move the horse vs a still one yet still communicating to the horse.

Science has moved on since the time when 'cold-backed' was first coined. You can't just say that's just how it is. This horse is uncomfortable and it's up to the riders to sort out the root cause.
 
That'a okay tallyho, I just thought I'd sort myself out with what I meant before I get jumped on :p

He has been checked by the vet several times and as far as I know its a back problem. He was given some time off for his back as it got quite bad and since he's come back it doesn't seem to have been a problem at all, he looks and feels fine in trot and seems to be moving okay. He pulls out of his stable looking dodgy but it's normally just stiffness and the walking around the yard before mounting loosens him up. I'm just really concious of sitting too heavily on him and his back becoming sore again.
 
I ride a TB who is 15.2 and i am 8.5 stone he gets a sore back from an old racing injury, i always try to ride quietly an sit up as tall as possible as this helps to keep y weight central and does not pull on his back, also instead of relaxing completely i am sort of tense well not tense but not putting all my weight on his back - can't really explain, but that is what it feels like i am doing :)
 
Most racehorses have something 'out' in their backs, sacrum, joints etc, get a MCTimmony Corley back specialist out to have a look, much more specialised than a vet, bet there is something moved out of sync! Usually cost £40 -£50 for a treatment.
Meantime, i assume you are riding in race saddles? Are they half tree or full tree? Use a full tree if you dont already and dont put your weight in your bum - put your weight through the stirrups ie dont 'sit deep' in the saddle.
 
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