Products for rider back pain can anyone recommend anything?

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mannypony

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Hi all,

My mom is struggling with her back at the moment. She only hacks out , has a wintec 2000 saddle with Cair.

Can anyone recommend anything ie seat saver or any hints or tips?.

Mom is 69 yrs young so nothing too stressful lol. She just hacks out walk and trot only but she adores riding and I'm worried she is going to have to give up :(

She learnt to ride age 61 :) just in case anyone needs inspiring

Xx
 
I too suffered with my back when riding.
I bought myself some physio sessions, and they have helped me greatly, so would suggest trying some physio.
 
i found lots of little things helped my back,
i ride in a dressage saddle-its a much better position for me and as my core is not as strong as it used to be ,i dont collapse like i do with a gp.
i tried the heather moffet seat saver but it wasnt quite right for me so i use a griffen nuumed sheepskin seat saver with a heather moffet type filling
i have wedged stirrup treads to help my wonky ankles and knees (caused by sciatic pain)
using a shoulder back support is good too,
so it sort of depends on why her back is hurting but its worth trying a few things to see what helps best:)
 
The Heather Moffat seat saver helped me, but also some gentle exercises to strengthen back and core - stretching after riding also helps me. Hope your mum finds something on here to help.
 
A Solution treeless did it for me - I think I would have given up, otherwise. And some flexing stirrups help with shock absorbing too.
Tell her to persevere - there are so many great ideas to help 'broken' riders!
 
Just looking at the thread title and I opened it to say has she tried treeless (great minds obviously!) and flexi tread stirrups are another good thing to try. My back has been SO much better since I went treeless a few years ago. A few weeks ago I rode a client's horse in a treed saddle and lasted about 10 minutes before the lower back pain set in :(
 
When I hurt my back I used a prolite back support which helped. They aren't supposed to be used long term though, just until things settle down.
 
The HM seatsaver is fab, and I use a leather weight-lifting belt to support my back, having tried a lot of the elastic type ones - really impressed with it so far.
 
As another "not as young as I used to be" rider I would second the suggestion of seeing a chiropractor. It made a world of difference to me and my chiro also recommended some gentle pilates excercises to improve my core strength. Heather Moffat seat savers make things more comfortable if the saddle has a narrrow twist.

I've been riding all my life, but I do admire your mum for learning at 61, it takes self belief and confidence (and a nice, kind neddy) to do this.
 
I find a western saddle much more comfortable for my back, stirrups are set more underneath you and riding with a longer leg helps too, plus the western paces are easier on the back.
 
Batgirl said:
2nd the physio, try and get a horse physio who can look at her and the horse together and advise about posture etc.
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Totally second this (or is it third???!!!:) ) - it may well be that she has muscle imbalance somewhere - often if there is a predisposition to back problems there is a weakness in the stomach/pelvic area, and some pelvic floor strenghtening and tummy toning exercises might help. Pilates is a discipline which might help her; OR get a physio/chiropractor/osteopath to recommend some exercises would probably be best.
 
I take Devil's Claw (you can get it in Holland and Barrett, it's not expensive) and it's really good for relieving lower back pain. It takes a while to kick in, but taking a regular dose has really helped me.
 
Wrong question really. I am another like your Mum who learned to ride in my 60s and still riding in my 70s. We are rare as hens' teeth, so I salute you and your mother and will share some thoughts.

If your Mum has increased pain it is best to see a GP to diagnose the problem. But most older people suffer degeneration in the spine - it is not reversible and the conventional riders' exercises, manipulation, etc., even by medical professionals, can make our backs worse not better. Tho another forum frequented by older riders, recommended the gentler routines on Wii fit plus for improving suppleness and balance in older riders with bad backs.
As you no doubt know already, o.a.p. needs are quite different from those of younger athletic riders.
The first essential is a suitably shaped horse. It is known (but not widely enough) that older people find it difficult to sit astride a horse that is too wide in the barrel or too flat in the back. Either may cause back pain - particularly after riding. For me, that rules out the cobs which most older beginners are given to ride. What horse is your mother riding? Elderly owners of beloved cobs may find back pain creeps up on them, and that if they are to go on riding, they need a different horse.
2. Tack - I avoid seat savers or anything that will increase the width of the horse. One needs freedom to move in the saddle. Western works well. - But it is not my day to day mode in the UK - because a Western saddle is really heavy for an old person to lift onto a horse and in Western riding the weight is on one's seat/spine. Whereas rising trot is real therapy. I have not ridden treeless but my feeling is that old people tend to ride crooked and that a tree gives more stability and keeps the weight on the correct part of the horse.
3. Moderation in the riding. I must avoid riding long sitting canters on two consecutive days. One needs to take care of one's spine. Remind myself to canter in forward seat.
4. How does your mother ride? People in their late sixties do not have perfect straight and flexible bodies and back pain can be made worse by trying to ride in the correct position many RIs demand. Forcing your heels down lifts you from the saddle. It is balance, feel, and communication with the horse that matter if one is to go on riding in old age. Tom Dorrance rode into his 90s.
5. Is it the riding itself or horse care which is hurting your Mum's back? Lifting heavy loads of hay or bedding, poo picking or carrying water won't help her back either. Moreover, one gets tired more easily at 69 than at 61. If I work on the yard, groom the horse and tack up before riding, I don't ride my best.
When you get to our age it is good management that gets one by - there are no magic remedies.
I am like your Mum and I don't want to stop riding either. How lovely that you made it possible for her. What a nice daughter you are.
 
As a long term sufferer of back and hip pain, and having spent too much money visiting chiro's osteo's, etc etc, then using the doctors to get referrals on the NHS, I tried Pilates. Wow, what a difference. Really makes you think about your whole body, how you stand, walk and use yourself. After only 3 weeks of once a week session, I was sleeping at night all night without painkillers and I've not looked back. Really worth a try.
 
I can only recommend strengthening exercise. Look up yoga poses such as plank, side plank, cobra and then a dead lift with a weight. All can be modified to make them easier. When my back is being worked it feels a billion times better when riding, when it isn't I suffer really badly. I am three days back in to my strength moves and I can feel a difference already! Works much better than any gadget or quick fix!
 
trakehnersrock! said:
I take Devil's Claw (you can get it in Holland and Barrett, it's not expensive) and it's really good for relieving lower back pain. It takes a while to kick in, but taking a regular dose has really helped me.
Click to expand...

I agree with this ^^^

I took high strength painkillers and anti-inflammatories for ages, and a few weeks ago went into Holland and Barrett and bought something called Flexijoint, which is Devil's Claw. It didn't actually take a long time for it to work - a few days later I had significant improvement, and I've had back problems for 8 years now. I haven't taken any painkillers or anti inflams since I started on the devil's claw. I'm not totally pain free, but they've been better than any of the prescription medication. :)
 
Clara , thank you for such an informative post.

Firstly She rides our angel beau conn x Arab he is fine but barrel like an Arab but def not wide like a cob. She prev had a very lazy fell pony but gets on far bett with beau. She only walks and trots mainly walks really but who cares ( I tell her) so long as u enjoy it. He is very smooth light and comfortable.

I agree I think it is stable chores that are the problem. I am living in oz at the mo so I'm no help. I'm going to have a chat to her tonight about paying someone to muck out I think

Not that she will agree. Far too stubborn!

Ant experience using a dressage saddle? Wonder if longer leg deeper seat may help?

Thanks again and keep riding, keeps u young!
 
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