ouch! saddle-sore!

[nirikina]

Well today I had my first ever gallop. The riding school where I have lessons once a week do a 1 hour hack on a Sunday morning, and at my last lesson my instructor said I should be good enough to join in the hack. I'm in walk, trot, learning canter lessons (only been learning 6 months). I didn't mean to gallop but the horses only get to go out once a week so they're very keen. It was a great experience and I think I sat very well to the canter and the gallop, didn't even lose my stirrups once. My trot still needs lots of work though.

Anyway, the reason for this post is to ask for help on avoiding saddle-sore. When I ride I start off sitting deep in the saddle with my seat-bones, but after a bit of sitting trot or canter I get very very sore, so that the slightest movement causes me pain. I end up sitting in the chair position with my back rounded and half my weight in the stirrups - obviously not good. So am I doing something wrong? Or should I try stuffing a pair of socks in my knickers for extra cushioning?

Please help!

Nirikina

[ros]

It's probably a combination of seatbones that aren't used to it, and a non-rider-friendly saddle (they're all too common).

Sounds like one of Heather's seatbone savers would be just the job for you; if you can't get hold of one for any reason, I used to find that 3 pairs of knickers would help a bit!

[Wally]

Er, sorry , don't mean to pry, but which bits excactly to you find get sore?

Depending on which bits get sore will tell which is most likely to be your problem.

Is it seatbones, tops of legs or other?

[nirikina]

My legs and thighs have got much stronger over the last few months and are fine. Especially as I always do stretching exercises for my thighs and calves before I mount up. My seatbones are always sore after riding though. I'm a skinny girl with not much padding on my bum! I try to flex with the horses movement so that I don't bounce up and down, but I still forward against the pommel of the saddle which is as you probably know yourself, very uncomfortable. My instructor is always saying I've got a good position, especially without stirrups. Is it a case of "no gain without pain"?

Thanks for all your suggestions,

Niri

[Wally]

Sounds like you are in excellent company.

I think I am right in saying Heather got bursal enlargements on her seatbones through hours in badly designed, hard, slippy saddles.

Either get a seatbone saver or persuade the place at which you ride to invest in a couple of Heather's design saddles. They are a good investment.

A great deal of saddles have a "deep" seat which actually can be painful as the pommel rises too sharply up in front, making the front bone in your pelvis sore, add to that a sharply rising cantle which catapults you into the pommel.

If you get the seatbone saver you can use it on any saddle and horse.

I don't think it is you at fault, it's saddle design....or lack of it!

[Crazy_Jumper]

I had that problem but I bought a sheepskin cover that fits over my saddle because I only have 2 saddles, don't really have the money to buy another saddle, but they are made very "rider unfriendly". It helped a lot! I am in the US so I can't get the Seatbone Saver (I don't think).

[lamprellsarah]

yeha although it means sorting it out and changing over as you must ride other horses!! but i shouldn't think you would have a prob!!
although you should get used to it over while and your bum will gt moret used to it!!