Since I started riding sidesaddle. My back is soooooo sore & stiff the day after. For those of you more experienced SS riders, do you remember being sore when you were learning? My right leg got some pretty good cramps in it for the first couple of rides but that’s improving now as I learn to relax. But my back is still quite sore.
Does it mean I’m doing something wrong? Or is it just something that will get better with practice & increased muscle strength?
let me preface this with I am not an instructor so I can’t say what you may be doing wrong but…
I never had any issues with back soreness. On the other hand the muscle along the back of my right thigh; WOW, I remember the painful mornings till that got into shape. I occasionally will feel a twinge now and again if I haven’t ridden in a few weeks, but only for an hour never for a few days like in the beginning.
Are you sitting straight in the saddle are your hips square?
I think I am but I might not be. I’ve got weight on my right seat bone and focus on keeping my right shoulder back so I think I’m square. Maybe part of the issue is that my mare has a really big canter? It’s hard to sit nicely in an astride saddle.
It’s getting better every time I ride, so I’m thinking it must be partially just something my muscles have to get used to and strengthen a bit.
Where in your back does it hurt? I’d venture to say you are sitting crooked (just because your shoulders are square doesn’t mean your hips are). How is your posture in general? SS requires good posture and if you aren’t used to sitting like that then that could be it. My only major muscle pains starting out were right calf and butt/thigh.
Well for the first couple of rides it was in my lower back. That’s since improved since I’ve gotten the muscles a bit stronger. I do find that my shoulders get sore though after riding SS. Probably from doing my best to keep them square. My leg definitely gets a bit sore/crampy after a little while of trotting/cantering. It’s getting better though!
I think you could be right about sitting a bit crooked, it’s hard to tell. I think I might have to get someone to video me so I can see.
Thanks for the reply!
