One of my friends took a junked saddle to work, put it on a sturdy saddle stand, and sits in it to use the computer.
I made a balance chair using a universal joint and a saddle seat. It’s a bit industrial looking but it keeps my hip and lower back much happier than sitting in a regular static chair. The seat pivots roughly 15-20 degrees in all directions similar to the old Balimo chairs.
Wow Mondo! So it really worked for you. I may get them xrayed to be sure that it isn’t something like that that I’m up against. I’ve had a few relatives need hips and knees replaced so it might be a possibility. I’m going to hope for a simpler fix (my uncle got MRSA in his hip replacement, yikes!) but if it really helped that much I am glad to know that it won’t mean to have to stop riding!
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Not at all! I was back in the saddle 30 days after! I blew the PT folks away because I was much fitter than their average 58 year old patients! Riding is good for ya! 
Again, I may be wrong, but it might be a good thing to rule it out.
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When my hips (mostly pelvic floor, which has caused compensatory issues in my entire pelvis) are happy, I ride well.
When they are not, I ride like sh*t and feel like a human clothespin. It’s probably the most important body part when it comes to riding and unfortunately is incredibly complex and often it’s not just one issue, it’s a string of several, i.e. needing positive strengthening of the hip flexors/adductors while also needing to lengthen/stretch them. It tends to be why single-faceted approaches don’t work all that well for riders.
If you have the funds, I’d seriously consider asking friends and family who they like for PT and going and doing a consult with a really good one. What I’ve found is that it sometimes isn’t just an issue of “strengthen this, stretch that” - for example, VMO mis-firing (or non-firing) is a REALLY common issue for athletes in sports like soccer, football, lacrosse, etc as well as runners, and it’s arguably one of the biggest causes of non-traumatic knee injuries. You would never know it’s an issue for you without seeing someone who knows what they are looking at. There are several similar issues that can be problematic for riders that are worth looking into.
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In the saddle, try pulling your inner thigh muscles towards the back - use your hand. Reach under your thigh from the back and grab your adductor and shift it to behind your leg. Helps me immensely.
If you really want to address this, visit a pelvic floor physical therapist. Only they can tell exactly what is tight in your pelvic floor. It’s like getting a GYN exam (most of these therapists are women). Still FIXING it is really hard!
In addition to the yoga, are you doing any foam rolling/myofascial work? A raquet ball working around the hip joint helped me a lot.
I second Mondo’s response in getting some x-rays done just to see where you are at. My whole hip journey thing started over three years ago when I took three weeks off at Christmas time and couldn’t swing my right leg over the saddle! I had had some odd twinges in my left hip when riding, and huge muscles knots in my left quad from time to time. It all started with stiffness. Know the human clothes pin feeling well. Yoga, rollers, PT, massage, those wonderful small balls to roll on etc. helped for a while. Wish I had had better preventative medicine and x-rays sooner. Am having bilateral anterior hip surgery in September and although I’m nervous and know the first few weeks will be brutal having both done, I can’t wait to have my life back! Haven’t been able to ride for over a year, even on strong pain meds…but funny thing, can get the barn chores done…not as painful as trying to sit in a saddle…typical ha ha! Cartilage in both hip joints is worn right off and I’m bone on bone. I’m 57 and am quite fit other than my wretched hips. I am narrow hipped and have been riding big warmbloods. Get x-rays to see what you are dealing with so you can perhaps arrest the progression of whatever is going on.
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Thanks 2920 for the advice. That is definitely a good warning. I’ll schedule something, because I’d hate to not be able to ride.
Mondo, What approach did you have on your hip surgery? Any suggestions you can give me for pre and post surgery? Any and all advice is appreciated!
Here’s an entire page on jockey Mike Smith and his bid to win the Triple Crown this weekend aboard Justify! https://equicizer.com/pages/2018-belmont-stakes
Do you use it for standing desk, or sitting desk?
Thanks for the link. I’m a big fan of Zimmerman…he’s in incredible shape, as are all jockeys.
Both. I have a power adjustable desk so I either lean on it or sit on it.
also, I confirmed you can put a saddle on this and sit in it. I did it to try a new dressage saddle yesterday.
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