Riding with Neck Pain***Sitting trot

[blonderider]

I am a Hunter rider(I also posted this in H/J) but I am have trouble sitting deeply, so I figured I post in here to get other perspectives.

I have had neck problems on and off the past couple of years and consistently the past 2. The pain seems to get worse each fall, how wonderful! I fell off a few weeks ago and my neck has been rather annoying since. While riding I do not notice much pain (or if I do I ignore it) but sometimes afterwards I can really feel it!

I now I have pain when I ride horses with suspension, at the sitting trot, and certain canters. If the canter is a flat-backed rocking horse type canter I’m ok, its when the suspension interferes.

The past couple of weeks, I have mostly been riding in half-seat.

Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Have any suggestions?

I was thinking maybe a special half pad would help(to absorb shock?) I currently have an Oglivy gummy half pad (the really thin one).

Also my neck is under multiple doctors care.

[CrittersMom]

You can try the Thin Line pad. It worked pretty well on my back.

[netg]

I was tempted to respond to your post over there to work with a good dressage trainer, but didn’t want to risk being insulting, so I’m glad you posted over here, too!

I had self created shoulder and neck pain (no physical issues) when I was doing hunters/eq. I wasn’t aware just how stiffly I was holding my shoulders, but it created problems. I also had legs of steel, so they didn’t move and I stayed in the saddle… but learning to sit still by moving in the correct joints has completely changed my riding world. Dressage trainers who can REALLY explain are the ones who are going to be able to help you spot the tension and where you need to use more muscle vs less to absorb the motion in your hips. I would guess you’re tight in the shoulders due to discipline, but both too much tightness vs not enough abdominal support can also cause a “bobblehead” kind of sitting trot which really hurts, and many of the same symptoms. For those, you need someone working with you in person.

Good luck - any kind of pain from riding is miserable!

[alibi_18]

First, have you consulted?

Second, self induced pain in the neck is really common. It is tension where there shouldn’t be. You’ll need to be more aware of what you are doing and how. It happens to me a lot but over the time, I’ve develop strategies to relax and dissolve the tension. ( I had a cervical sprain when I was 7yrs - always been sensitive to torticollis (sp?) since.)

Rolling your shoulders backward one at the time, anytime you feel tense.

Taking more frequent breaks to relax.

Wearing a neck warmer as soon as the temp drops below 55. Doesn’t matter if you feel overheating, you need to keep your neck warm at all time. Change your clothes after riding. Don’t wait too long and put on another neck warmer!

[Emy]

I would suggest you visit your Doctor first. I had increasing neck pain after riding. I will often sit on students horses when they are being too ‘naughty’ for their owners; working out the kinks of getting them properly up in front of the leg or through spooks or moments of disobedience. I assumed the pain was from the moments where I might need to ‘stick’ onto those testing horses and got jostled around so I backed off riding them as much. I am very conscious of position and bio-mechanics so when I started getting regular pain from riding my normal, well behaved horses in training I went to my Doctor. An xray showed I had some narrowing between my c4 and c5 vertebrate (back in my working student days I had severe whiplash from a horse). I was prescribed muscle relaxants, an anti-inflammatory with a stomach protector and began chiro, physio and massage regularly. I am now totally off the medications and feel way better physically than before.

[CHT]

I have chronic neck pain due to my connective tissue disorder. It has meant I have had to stop riding some horses that have a jolting trot/canter. I rarely jump, but that is more for other reasons.

What does help if I do have to ride a horse with gaits that hurt my neck is to wear the Back On Track neck wrap. After riding, I treat with either 10% Diclofenac OR with my Ultrasound Therapy machine.

I am also considering getting some sort of seat saver and seeing if that helps: I know I cant show in one, but for schooling it may provide some cushioning, without affecting the fit of the saddle.

[Doctracy]

I’ve had a fusion,then C-7 fracture. Live with chronic pain from that and a bone disease.
I can’t sit a trot but to help my neck and joints I use a thinline pad and spring stirrups.
My neck really hurts if I jump ( don’t do anymore) or any sort of higher impact. Even driving can aggravate it.
Ice and Tylenol are my friends,that and staying reasonably fit.

[blonderider]

[QUOTE=netg;8443842]
I was tempted to respond to your post over there to work with a good dressage trainer, but didn’t want to risk being insulting, so I’m glad you posted over here, too!

I had self created shoulder and neck pain (no physical issues) when I was doing hunters/eq. I wasn’t aware just how stiffly I was holding my shoulders, but it created problems. I also had legs of steel, so they didn’t move and I stayed in the saddle… but learning to sit still by moving in the correct joints has completely changed my riding world. Dressage trainers who can REALLY explain are the ones who are going to be able to help you spot the tension and where you need to use more muscle vs less to absorb the motion in your hips. I would guess you’re tight in the shoulders due to discipline, but both too much tightness vs not enough abdominal support can also cause a “bobblehead” kind of sitting trot which really hurts, and many of the same symptoms. For those, you need someone working with you in person.

Good luck - any kind of pain from riding is miserable![/QUOTE]

I would not have found that insulting at all! I actually work with a dressage trainer one a week or at least every two weeks, in addition to my hunt seat lessons. And I try to incorporate Dressage principles into my riding. I think that is why this is bothering me so much. I cannot sit as much as I would like.

I really like what you have said. I will pass it on to my trainers!

[blonderider]

CHT and alibi 18 thank you for the neck warmer ideas!

I typically wear scarves when it gets into the lower temps but I’ll try it during the warmer winter temps too.

And I am definitely getting the Back on Track neck wrap. I did not know such a thing existed!!

[blonderider]

[QUOTE=Doctracy;8443946]
I’ve had a fusion,then C-7 fracture. Live with chronic pain from that and a bone disease.
I can’t sit a trot but to help my neck and joints I use a thinline pad and spring stirrups.
My neck really hurts if I jump ( don’t do anymore) or any sort of higher impact. Even driving can aggravate it.
Ice and Tylenol are my friends,that and staying reasonably fit.[/QUOTE]

I did not even think of changing my stirrups! I am currently using regular fillis stirrups. What type of spring stirrups do you have?

I actually have a thinline pad somewhere in my truck that I completely forgot about.
Thank you sammicat for that suggestion too!