Hi friends, I have struggled over the years with a variety of back issues thanks to this sport we love (and a wicked fall as a teenager). I do regular PT exercises at home to keep my piriformis from boycotting my activities and my lower back functional. I’m having an issue this year with the cold weather though in a way I haven’t before. I can usually layer up and wear a heavy vest and keep myself warm enough but I cannot seem to keep my lower back warm right now (it doesn’t help that it’s been in the 20’s for a week) and it’s causing me pain in the saddle as it tightens due to the cold. I’m having trouble sitting the gaits, posting the trot or half seat at the canter seems ok, but the impact + my cold tight back is no bueno. I’ve done some googling for back warmers and seen a variety of things to try, ordered a couple things off Amazon for $20 each. I also know back on track sells a back brace for people.
Has anyone had any experience with any of those helping keep their back warm in the winter? Or other recommendations? I know there are those stick on heating patches (look foot warmers but for your back) but that’s an expensive daily solution. I usually walk a couple laps in hand before getting on to warm my back (and my horse’s back) up before mounting and do several stretches before hand also. That helps some but this cold snap is killing me this year.
