Hello, all:
I am a newbie to NATRC & LD AERC (but not to horses). I love the sport, but have recently been experiencing hip pain that leaves me wondering about my future with horses in general.
My question is: ARE THERE ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT I CAN MAKE TO MY SADDLE TO HELP MY HIP PAIN? I am 5’ tall, 105# and ride in a 15" Abetta endurance saddle.
Thanks for any tips.
I have hip pain if I ride in a saddle with a wide twist. This rules out any western style saddles and treeless. The Abetta has a western style seat. There are lots of english style endurance/trail saddles out there, I’ve been riding in a Duett Companion Trail and my hips are fine.
You might be interested in these links explaining how (some) women have trouble riding in saddles. I wish I could find a saddle with a narrow twist and wide seat that would accommodate my 6" pelvis. Riding on the hard seams of a saddle isn’t very comfortable.
http://www.synergistsaddles.com/horse-saddles/saddles-for-women/
http://www.equineinspired.info/saddles-for-women-riders.html
Thanks, Malda.
I am an old H/J & Event rider. I switched to this saddle last year after riding in a friend’s Abetta without problems. I just wanted more security & ease of attaching some saddle bags than my old Wintec provided.
I no longer own an English saddle, but as soon as I’m cleared to ride, I will tack up a lesson horse under an English saddle & see it that makes a difference for me.
Anyone else have any ideas to share? I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Check in on the disabilities thread. Also, see an orthopedic surgeon. You may have something like bursitis that cortisone shots can alleviate. No need to suffer!
You might try doing some hip opening yoga stretches before longer rides. That helped me. Also, stirrup bar placement and length of stirrups tend to have an effect on the hips. Knowing what works for your body is important.
Happy riding,
Jessie
Seconding the suggestion to see an orthopedist – I just got a shot to relieve bursitis in my hip last week and am now doing physical therapy to help relieve my runner’s knee and strengthen my iliotibial band and core muscles. Feeling much better now.
I was also headed for the “needle” but luckily went to the chiropractor first. There was nothing wrong with my hip (even though orthopedist said it’s in my hip joint, ordered an MRI which then showed nothing wrong…) A muscle was the culprit and I was “fixed” after two chiropractic sessions. I go once a month for a “tune-up” now.
But I do have to add that I ride in a saddle that fits me (and my horse) very very well. I did have to lengthen my stirrups after a year of riding in it though so you may want to play with that as well.
Going to a doctor seems a bit extreme at this point, I still suggest changing saddles and seeing if that helps. It took me about three months for the pain to go away. That was four years ago and I haven’t had any problems since.
I AM seeing a doc. And a chiro. And a PT. At this point I am spending too much time in docs offices & no time riding. :disgust:
Nothing else saddle specific, though?
Thanks.
[QUOTE=RAPIDFOXRACHEL;7116468]
Thanks, Malda.
I am an old H/J & Event rider. I switched to this saddle last year after riding in a friend’s Abetta without problems. I just wanted more security & ease of attaching some saddle bags than my old Wintec provided.
I no longer own an English saddle, but as soon as I’m cleared to ride, I will tack up a lesson horse under an English saddle & see it that makes a difference for me.
Anyone else have any ideas to share? I would appreciate it. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
I agree with Malda. I used to ride dressage, bit I can’t ride with such a straight leg anymore because of the pressure it puts on my hips. Try one of the new style CC saddles with all the cushioning in the seat.
heather moffett makes a western seat saver.
it will make the seat slightly narrower, and cushion your hips some.
you might wanna try that…
http://www.justequus.com/ee-seatbone-saver-western/
but i know several women (me included) who just can’t do wide twist saddles anymore…
I hope some saddle makers become aware of this. There’s a lot of older women riders and a saddle that’s easy on the hips would be a good market.
But I’ve always had problems with my hips, even as a kid.
it seem to me that most western saddle makers don’t really understand the issue…just had a convo yesterday w/ one maker - and had one previously - that the secret is in the ground seat.
but i can’t even sit on a hoop tree saddle - never mind either of these!
I also suggest adding a seat saver. The Heather Moffett one is called a Hip Saver I think. You can make your own from a Cashel seat saver. The idea is to add a firm foam layer on top of the saddle seat that will lift you a little higher. The foam needs to be cut so it is slightly more narrow than the too wide seat of the saddle. this creates a better twist.
I ride a Bob Marshall Sport Saddle. On a wide horse the flat seat of the BMSS can put a lot of pressure on your hips. I thought this out and realized that the thick, firmer foam of the Cashel pads was just what I needed to get lift. I actually trimmed the foam pad so it was still wide under my seat bones then tapered to a narrow width under my thighs and pubic bones. The shape is kinda like a wide comfy bicycle seat.
Get one of the western cashel seat savers, not the style that goes up over the cantle (unless you need to make the seat size smaller). You want the style that just covers the flat area of the saddle seat. Open a seam of the fabric cover just enough to pull the foam out. Trim the foam with good scissors, moderately at first. Test the fit and trim away more if you need it. Once you have it right you can hand stitch the seam closed.
Another suggestion; if you can lesson any bulk under your legs then your leg will hang closer to your horse. I found it helped to get rid of the western rigging and cinch. I put western-to-english converters on my saddles so I can use a dressage girth on my endurance saddles. This helped a lot!
http://hillviewfarms.com/girths.htm scroll to bottom of the page to find the converters that I buy. Very good quality leather and quite cheap.
Bonnie
Thanks for all the suggestions. It sounds like a wide twist can be problematic. I will definitely be taking a look at my saddle.
P.S. ANYONE TRY A REAL WOOL FLEECE SEAT SAVER? DID IT HELP? THANKS!
I have severe hip pain too, which is why I am really looking at getting a Lovett & Ricketts/ASC Rubicon. Hoping to try one out soon - they look super comfy!!
Narrow twist with minimal knee roll/blocks
Prior to hip replacement surgery I was having a terrible time with hip pain. A narrow twist English saddle with minimal knee rolls helped. Larger knee rolls seemed to push or rotating hip angle out, which only aggravated the problem. PT helped a lot until I had my surgery. Oh, and for a time, a deep seated saddle was out of the question. Simply getting my leg over the castle was asking for trouble.
“Simply getting my leg over the castle was asking for trouble.”
I bet. Awesome. Those damn castles.
Tooooo funny! Castles indeed!
I found that taking my stirrups up a hole so that my knees/thighs pointed a bit more forward helped reduce outward pressure on my hips. As several people have said already, the less between your thighs and the horse the less OUTWARD pressure you will have on your hips and that is what hurts. Our hips much more easily bend forward and back which is the common motion we make to walk. It’s the outward movement that typically hurts.
Changing out the western rigging for dressage billets will reduce bulk under your legs and reduce outward pressure.
Selecting a saddle pad that is thick only directly under the upper saddle panels and very thin lower down under your thighs will reduce outward pressure.
chicamuxen
Interesting, I’ve done the same thing, shorten my stirrups and it helped a lot. But then I have sore knees on rides longer than an hour. This isn’t due to age, I’ve always had sore hips from riding, I’m just not built for normal saddles.
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