OH now taking lessons however experiencing some, ahem, "discomfort"....

[Hanamoon]

Hmmm, hope this won't deteriorate into something that will get me banned.. .

My hubby has finally taken the plunge and started some lessons. This has resulted in much giggling and shouting while he rounds the ring but nevertheless he's doing great and will probably turn out to be one of these gifted freaks who after three lessons is riding the biggest horse in the barn and jumping 3+feet.

Anyway, apparently he is experiencing some "discomfort" while posting... pause while you all read between the lines.... and naturally has complained incessantly. It's not the rising part of the trot but the sitting, if you get my drift.... He is telling me that he wants to wear padding bicycle shorts under his jeans at the next lesson and while this would be another opportunity to stand at the rail giggling I don't think it's such a good idea, besides looking silly it would will hinder his balance. Would a tight fitting undergarment help protect "the boys" while riding?
Gentleman NRs, any suggestions?

[CMR]

If he would try and sit lighter(I know this can be extremely hard for beginners!), he would find he wouldn't experience pain. Tell him to try and squeeze and post with his thighs, not with his feet. I guess he could ask his instructor as well, if it wouldn't cause too much embarassment :p

[RustyMary]

I don't see why padded cycling shorts would impede his balance or look silly as they fit pretty tightly, but they might not be any help!

[Wings]

Tell him to wear some tight underpants to keep everything in position. That should help. It solved the problem for my OH, anyway.

Also, make sure he doesn't lean forward. He needs to sit on his bum. Beginners often lean forward, which could make things quite painful!

[l7oopys]

Cycling shorts should be fine!

Men can buy special Under crackers for riding! Padded in all the right areas and pretty tight!
They sell them in Robinsons

[carthorse]

Would a pair of breeches help? Just thinking that jeans might have a thick seam that's badly placed!

[galadriel]

Something that can interfere in riding comfort for men or women--but can be particularly unpleasant for men--is when the saddle is too small. Often men have greater height/longer legs than the women who might typically ride at any given stable, and so the saddles are often too small for them. Something to check out next time he has a lesson--if the saddle is too small, he won't be comfortable no matter how much better he rides.

I dont think padded bike shorts would be a problem. You can find padded underwear for both men and women in riding catalogs. The main benefit of the padded bike shorts, though, would be that they're somewhat tight and more likely to "hold things in place" (as someone else mentioned). This could be accomplished anyway with tightly fitting (comfortable) regular underwear, or by wearing regular bike shorts.

[Trewsers]

OH wears tight underpants for riding - its the only way really it is:D

[Hanamoon]

Also, make sure he doesn't lean forward. He needs to sit on his bum. Beginners often lean forward, which could make things quite painful!

He does have a "sturdy" build and is somewhat top heavy and I noticed during his lesson that he was leaning forward quite a bit.

Along with the advice on tight fitting undergarments I'm going to tell OH it's imperative that he buy some breeches, especially since he swore he would never be caught in them!
;)

[Afellpony]

Buy him a 'Jock Strap'! They're made for that sort of thing.

[Morganna]

This is exactly why my OH refuses to get on a horse. Doesn't want to harm the ahem* family jewels as they say. Personally I just think he is too scared :P

[vince42]

I do sympathise, having pranged myself a few times in sensitive areas :eek: Tight pants are a definite, also worth investing in a good set of breeches - mine have a bit of padding in the seat which makes life much more comfortable...

Personally I just think he is too scared :P

Sensible chap...:D

Vince

[sophie33]

I am a woman but in the recent past I also experienced some 'discomfort' and remember thinking - god it must be terrible for men!! I do wear underwear with a little padding but its never really helped. For obvious reasons I can see that tight underwear is more useful for a man!! However, I have now completely cured my problem by consciously changing the way I sit. I have managed to sit on my seat bones instead of further forward. I always started like that but would tend to tilt forward in a lesson. I've solved it by consciously sitting back and kind of thinking like a cowboy!! (sort of sitting on where my jeans pockets would be) and looking straight ahead - there is a gap in the wall of our school just above head height - and I make myself look outside at the view as I go round. Anyway don't know if it would help your OH but thought I'd add my tuppence worth

[Hanamoon]

Buy him a 'Jock Strap'! They're made for that sort of thing.

I have already suffered all of indignities associated with the birthing of his offspring - twice over. There is no way that I am going anywhere to buy him a jockstrap! ! ! That's where I draw the line....

[Morganna]

I am a woman but in the recent past I also experienced some 'discomfort' and remember thinking - god it must be terrible for men!! I do wear underwear with a little padding but its never really helped. For obvious reasons I can see that tight underwear is more useful for a man!! However, I have now completely cured my problem by consciously changing the way I sit. I have managed to sit on my seat bones instead of further forward. I always started like that but would tend to tilt forward in a lesson. I've solved it by consciously sitting back and kind of thinking like a cowboy!! (sort of sitting on where my jeans pockets would be) and looking straight ahead - there is a gap in the wall of our school just above head height - and I make myself look outside at the view as I go round. Anyway don't know if it would help your OH but thought I'd add my tuppence worth

I have to wear my Bridget Jones undies when riding :o

[sophie33]

Oh yes Morganna - don't get me wrong - I'm still not about to start wearing g-strings to ride - belly warmers everytime!

[larryt]

As a 'gentleman rider' (I use both terms loosely) I have found two things important to future generations - 1) don't wear Levis (I think I heard Wranglers may be OK) - that seam pinches where I wouldn't want even my wife to pinch, and 2) sit back it the saddle - not only does it give a better trot (especially seated) and canter but it avoids getting the cruts nushed against the saddle tree. And especially sit back when asking for a halt from anything faster than walk.

Larry