Tips to keep you in the saddle

I’ve been working with riders in the San Diego area for 15 years and have seen it all when it comes to treating the Dressage and Hunter/Jumpers. Time after time, I see this group come in with low back pain or an injury after a fall. These are my 3 tips to help keep you in the saddle:

1. Balance is key.

The horse can tell when your body is off balance and will react to that. Making sure you have a stable core and your joints are moving in their full range can help keep you stable while riding.

2. Don’t overdo it.

Treat a day of riding like a marathon. Make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day. Take time to rest between rides and stretch. Lastly, make sure you have a healthy snack with you to keep you going. You wouldn’t make your horse skip a meal and you wouldn’t give them junk food. Make sure you have a healthy snack to get you through the day.

Pro tip: Lying on your back with your feet on a block (static back position) and child's pose are great stretches to work into your daily routine.

3. Rehab your injuries.

If you do get injured, make sure you come in to get it checked out as soon as possible. Catching injuries early prevents them from becoming exacerbated and gets you back to riding sooner.

Image citation: Hailey Wist. (2018). photograph, New York City. Retrieved from https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/injury/back/yoga-for-back-pain/