Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Message

Hi All,

 

I'd like to add to the information previously posted (many parts make a whole).  Low back pain as mentioned can be caused by one or a combination of the following: tight muscles, compression, inefficient posture, etc. We can let the trained and certified body workers speak to this!

 

Saddles can play a part in "causing" or worsening lower back pain.  The factors involved are related to fit for both the horse and rider.  

 

Here is a simplified picture....

Saddles must support the riders build.  They do this by providing a seat that mimics the individuals pelvic floor.  People are different.  The pelvic floor is made of two seat bones and the pubic bone.  They sit in a triangle (pubic bone in front).  The aspects that can differ from human to human are: 1) distance between seat bones, 2) distance from seat bones to pubic bone and 3) the angle from the seat bones to the pubic bone (some people have a "flat" pelvic floor while others have a pubic bone that is a % above the seat bones).  The width of the seat bones will determine the best width of seat.  The distance between the seat bones and pubic bone will determine the length of the flat area of the seat.  The angle of the seat to pubic bone will determine the length and rise of the pommel.  A related aspect is how the femur (upper leg bone) sets into the hip socket.  Together these personal build issues will also determine the width of the twist and the level of arc (if any) from one side of the seat to the other (L to R).

The rise of the cantle - which often appears to be the culprit of pushing the hip forward onto the pubic bone is only a part of the big picture.  IF one has address all of the above issues and continues to have the cantle pressing forward it may be due to too small of a seat or extremely tight hip flexors (unable to relax the leg at the top-front crease). 

Other pieces (but not a complete list) of the puzzle for a well supported (not locked) comfortable seat include where the stirrup bar is placed for the person's anatomical structure and simply balance of the saddle on the horse (front to back and side to side).

 

If you would like to delve further into this subject Balance in Movement - The Seat of the Rider by Susanne Von Dietze is a wonderfully descriptive book that covers the subject rather well and with minimal technical language.

 

Best of luck on the journey to pain-free riding!

 

Lisa Jordan

The ReactorPanel Saddle Co.