Wide cob making me ache

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IKW

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My little mare is a real chunk. I'm only 5ft 1in and when I have ridden of an afternoon, I have real trouble laying down to sleep, my right lower back and hip really hurt and a her pain in the balls of my feet. She is so so lovely to ride and I'm trying really hard to sit straight as I used to ride quite wonky. I was also 4.8st heavier than I am now. Are there stretches etc or any thing I can try. Thankyou
 
misst said:
Also saddle fit for you . Sbloom on here is expert at explaining how saddle fit and shape affects the rider. Worth a PM but she'll probably see it anyway tomorrow and reply.
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Saddle won't be be changed under any circumstances. Due to many reasons. But thankyou
 
I started riding aged 60 and already had lower back problems. The normal reaction is to put older new riders on a steady cob or a pony, neither of which is a good idea.
Older people are often unable to sit astride a wide horse without sitting crooked in the saddle. i.e with one knee further forward than the other.
A wise RI who had worked for years with the RDA told me that I should ride a horse of at least 15 hands and narrow. I took her advice and have had three long term rides/shares which fitted her prescription.
When my favourite Connie was on summer holiday one year I rode a succession of RS ponies. A pony is narrow but has a shorter bumpier stride and is harder to control and balance in a light or forward seat. And the RS ponies were accustomed to taking their own decisions.
 
Skib said:
I started riding aged 60 and already had lower back problems. The normal reaction is to put older new riders on a steady cob or a pony, neither of which is a good idea.
Older people are often unable to sit astride a wide horse without sitting crooked in the saddle. i.e with one knee further forward than the other.
A wise RI who had worked for years with the RDA told me that I should ride a horse of at least 15 hands and narrow. I took her advice and have had three long term rides/shares which fitted her prescription.
When my favourite Connie was on summer holiday one year I rode a succession of RS ponies. A pony is narrow but has a shorter bumpier stride and is harder to control and balance in a light or forward seat. And the RS ponies were accustomed to taking their own decisions.
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Tank has quite a long stride for her size and I've had her 15 years. She's actually 18yo today. I don't know why since I've lost the weight I have the pain. My YO things it's because I'm doing more all round ie not just riding because I'm finding it easier so more pressure on my body all round
 
Pilates always seemed like hard work to me (I've never been a gym bunny).

It might be nice and more relaxing/fun to try ballet to loosen up the hips. Ballet also helps with posture and that can in turn help with the back.

I did ballet (and other dance) until after my A levels - never on pointe though. I kept up the ballet/bar exercises (using kitchen worksurface and top of stable doors as hand holds) into adulthood and even now in old age I still have 'loose' hips.

Basic ballet foot positions 1 to 4 are fairly easy. It takes a bit more hip suppleness to do position 5 but just keep trying and don't force it.
 
IKW said:
I don't know why since I've lost the weight I have the pain.
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I have a very fleshy bottom. Always have had and my father worried about it. A French rider on our yard told me that in French they have a name for it: a saddle seat.
But on the rare periods when I lost weight, I lost that cushioning and my seat bones were exposed.
 
There's no standard "easy" way to narrow an existing saddle for a rider but if you can find a thin seat saver (such as Toklat or Thinline) there may be a way to add a narrower strip of yoga mat, 5-6mm usually, and shaped similarly to the saddle seat shape, underneath and attach it to make use easier. I'm afraid I never need to do these things so it's theoretical, as I assess rider fit off horse in detail and select saddles that both fit and stabilise the pelvis :)
 
Altering the length of your stirrups during your ride can help . Start off at your normal length then after 20 minutes ( or sooner if you start to feel uncomfortable ) shorten them a hole or two , then drop them again , shorten again and so on.. Also getting up out of the saddle and into a two point ( jumping ) position can be done at any pace and not only.gives relief but is excellent for balance and lower leg strength .
 
IKW said:
Tank has quite a long stride for her size and I've had her 15 years. She's actually 18yo today. I don't know why since I've lost the weight I have the pain. My YO things it's because I'm doing more all round ie not just riding because I'm finding it easier so more pressure on my body all round
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Can I ask are you in your 40s or 50s as joint pain is due to lack of oestrogen
 
IKW said:
My little mare is a real chunk. I'm only 5ft 1in and when I have ridden of an afternoon, I have real trouble laying down to sleep, my right lower back and hip really hurt and a her pain in the balls of my feet. She is so so lovely to ride and I'm trying really hard to sit straight as I used to ride quite wonky. I was also 4.8st heavier than I am now. Are there stretches etc or any thing I can try. Thankyou
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I do this hip release Pilates video before every ride, it makes a huge difference. The rider Pilates club courses are brilliant as well, highly recommend.

 
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IKW said:
I'm 42.
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That’s about the time my hip pain started also had a wider horse but I didn’t put it down to peri until 6 odd years later as I didn’t know joint pain was part of peri I thought it was the usual hot flushes etc
 
m1stify said:
That’s about the time my hip pain started also had a wider horse but I didn’t put it down to peri until 6 odd years later as I didn’t know joint pain was part of peri I thought it was the usual hot flushes etc
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I’m not old enough to be in menopause yet but I have been in chemically induced menopause. I was told it is imperative that women in peri and menopause must lift weights and/or do some form of bodyweight exercises as our risk of osteoporosis shoots up dramatically when hormones are lowering. HRT can help with this but I went for a bone scan that revealed the lack of hormones in my body had damaged by bone density to the point I was borderline osteoporosis. Once it’s damaged you open yourself up to injury and significant weakness
 
When I had a similar problem removing the knee blocks actually helped. Also can’t ride without my cavallo seat saver.
 
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