Had my left knee replaced almost three years ago and switched from riding to driving miniatures and don’t seem to remember having as many lower back/SI issues as I do now that I don’t ride anymore. Do you think riding helps with these types of issues? I know that the bending over these little guys who are all of 34" at the withers seems to take its toll on my lower back much to my chagrin 
Driving an ASB was hard on my back, but I figured that was because I was learning fine-harness-type driving in a sulky and a training cart and that type of driving is very different from some other styles, I believe. I was sitting braced and tense in the cart, and holding the reins up high, as I was taught to do.
I found the low-level dressage I did back then much easier on my back; the only problem I had sometimes was difficulty in dismounting! Always used a mounting block for getting on, never for getting off. But when riding I sat a lot softer and more relaxed than when driving.
And bending over to pick feet, brush legs, etc., on any size pony or horse hurts my back!
I find that my lower back problems bother me much less when I ride often because my gut and butt muscles are in better shape. 
I second what laskiblue said. The other thing that has saved my back is doing the plank exercise every single day.
A good walk definitely helps my lower back. I have arthritis in my spine and the muscles there get all tensed up - my guess is moving with the horse with a nice ground covering walk helps loosen everything up gently. Between that and the encouragement to keep good posture and use core muscles properly, my back does seem much happier with regular riding. (If I start out in pain I might do less ambitious stuff riding - focus on just a good walk and really letting my hips follow the movement, that kind of thing - but so far I end up in less back pain after riding. My ankles and knees get grumpy with western stirrup fenders though.)
It makes enough of a difference I was joking this past summer about trying to get my health insurance to cover the cost of a medicinal horse. 
In the middle of my hip odyssey I was having a flare up where I had intense pain in both SI areas. One of my PTs is a dressage rider and she told me to go ride my horse. I didn’t want to because I could hardly walk but I did. She said to let the walk free up my pelvis by varying the stride length. After a few minutes it worked so well I took it up a notch and went out in the fields and walked up and down hills too. If I had tried to trot and canter like a normal ride it probably would have caused more inflammation but sticking to the walk got me through that flare up.
I love the idea of a “medicinal” horse, that’s exactly what I need! I would love to find an older steady eddy that has a really nice swingy ground covering walk as I think the movement would help with my stiffness which seems to compound the lower back issues.
I also agree with strengthening my core…need to find some good safe exercises/stretches to incorporate into my daily life I think. During physical therapy after my TKR surgery my therapist noted that my pelvis tends to be off kilter probably in large part to compensating for my knee issues for many years. And when you walk crooked your entire body is off balance which also probably contributes to my balance issues as well.
All this at age 46…too young for this nonsense 
get yourself a good solid Morgan and you will be amazed how much better your back will be.
I have a very screwed up lower back - enough so that my neurologist suggested that surgery might be in my future - but when I ride, especially at the canter and the walk, it really helps with the pain and stiffness. Neurologist says it’s because the movement in the saddle at those gaits is very similar to the impact of traction, which helps some but not others.
My back bothers me much more when I can’t make time to ride.
Quick answer: Try a gaited riding horse.
I started riding at age 8, had to sell my horses when I was 15 to buy a car :(, started to ride again at 19. Now am 33, and still riding (though not more than 1, maybe 2, a day! Used to be more…)
2 years ago I was diagnosed with a herniated disk between L-4/L-5, the swelling is pinching the SI nerve root. Now they’re telling me that I additionally have disc degeneration there. When thinking about it, the pain increased when I started to ride less and became less fit overall- until I was having back spasms and couldn’t move at all.
I think everyone really hit the mark with fitness = back health (especially core strength!) Once I got to the point of spasms, I couldn’t do much at all, and it created a bit of a negative cycle. I’ve seen a surgeon, a neurologist, pain management specialist, chiropractor, had physical therapy, and still have low back pain and numbness in my feet while riding. I’m now getting steroid injections in my lumbar spine (Yes! Just like those pesky hock injections!) My fitness is improving, and I’ve been able to do a bit more lately. I’m more likely to have back pain and spasms while riding my current sport pony (welsh/quarter-pony cross) than I did when I was riding my beloved (and deceased) paint gelding. His gaits were very smooth, whereas the pony has A LOT of movement.
Riding at the walk (unless the horse has a huge, bouncy walk) is very therapeutic. I’ve also heard from many people with back issues that riding a gaited horse allowed them to ride again. Their movement is especially smooth and doesn’t seem to aggravate back pain unless the gait is choppy.
No matter whether riding or driving, you MUST practice good body mechanics when working with and around horses- squat down instead of leaning over, lift with your knees, keep arms close to body when lifting, turn your feet AND your body rather than rotating only your torso, etc.
NO MATTER WHAT: IF YOUR BACK STARTS TO HURT, STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND GO DOWN AN INTENSITY LEVEL. Pain is the body’s signal that something is wrong. It’s a fairly straight shot from low back to brain, so the pain sensors are strong and fast. And usually right.
Don’t stop doing what you love, but find a way to do it safely. Have fun and good luck!
Quick answer: Try a gaited riding horse.
I started riding at age 8, had to sell my horses when I was 15 to buy a car :(, started to ride again at 19. Now am 33, and still riding (though not more than 1, maybe 2, a day! Used to be more…)
2 years ago I was diagnosed with a herniated disk between L-4/L-5, the swelling is pinching the SI nerve root. Now they’re telling me that I additionally have disc degeneration there. When thinking about it, the pain increased when I started to ride less and became less fit overall- until I was having back spasms and couldn’t move at all.
I think everyone really hit the mark with fitness = back health (especially core strength!) Once I got to the point of spasms, I couldn’t do much at all, and it created a bit of a negative cycle. I’ve seen a surgeon, a neurologist, pain management specialist, chiropractor, had physical therapy, and still have low back pain and numbness in my feet while riding. I’m now getting steroid injections in my lumbar spine (Yes! Just like those pesky hock injections!) My fitness is improving, and I’ve been able to do a bit more lately. I’m more likely to have back pain and spasms while riding my current sport pony (welsh/quarter-pony cross) than I did when I was riding my beloved (and deceased) paint gelding. His gaits were very smooth, whereas the pony has A LOT of movement.
Riding at the walk (unless the horse has a huge, bouncy walk) is very therapeutic. I’ve also heard from many people with back issues that riding a gaited horse allowed them to ride again. Their movement is especially smooth and doesn’t seem to aggravate back pain unless the gait is choppy.
No matter whether riding or driving, you MUST practice good body mechanics when working with and around horses- squat down instead of leaning over, lift with your knees, keep arms close to body when lifting, turn your feet AND your body rather than rotating only your torso, etc.
NO MATTER WHAT: IF YOUR BACK STARTS TO HURT, STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND GO DOWN AN INTENSITY LEVEL. Pain is the body’s signal that something is wrong. It’s a fairly straight shot from low back to brain, so the pain sensors are strong and fast. And usually right.
Don’t stop doing what you love, but find a way to do it safely. Have fun and good luck!
Riding is great core exercise which should help strengthen that area.just go very slowly or you may get much more sore.
The very best thing that I’ve found for the back is swimming. I always feel better after swimming.
I have issues with my lower back - bulging disk at L4/L5. When it acts up, I do the exercises my PT taught me. Walking (on my own feet) at least 20 minutes (40 mins is better) helps too. I went gaited a few years ago, but have learned that when my back is tight, it makes my horse tight and go out of gait too. So I still see the chiropractor about once a month and work on my core as I can.
Riding is the only time my back won’t hurt. I have a standing desk at work, ride my bike, correct posture. Still get flare ups.
Riding? No problemo.
Geez, I have an SI injury right now from getting bucked off - it hurts SO much to ride!
