Conference noted::equitation

    Melinda,
    
    I have had back problems this past winter and missed 3-4 weeks of
    riding. My problems however were not as bad as yours. I did have
    to have someone else pick my horse's feet as I couldn't bend over.
    I went to a chiropractor in Acton - deVita. His associate, Greeno
    specializes in sports related problems and currently works on Chris
    Bobo (She's a dressage rider who has a horses watch listed for the
    Olympics).  You might try them, although if you've already been
    to three different ones, it might be a lost cause. Good Luck!
    
    Nancy
    

    I, too, have suffered with back problems.  When I was 16 I had an
    accident that broke two vertebrae. (Yes, a horse did it to me).
    It was 6 months before I could even begin semi-normal activities,
    and about a year before I was able to ride for more than a few minutes
    at a time.
    
    I found comfort through a Chiropractor.  Although I still have to
    watch my p's and q's, I can usually avoid getting into real trouble
    again.
    
    Good luck!  Don't lose heart!
    
    Ann

    You might pick up a copy of Sally Swift's book.  I know that
    she has had back problems since she was young, and there are
    exercises in the beginning chapters that have helped her strengthen
    her back enough to be able to ride.  You may even want to attend
    her clinics and talk to her about your particular problem and
    see what her suggestions are.

    Re: .3
    
    I know Sally Swift and she has scoliosis (lateral spine curvature)
    and had to wear a full brace up till a few years ago.  She goes
    to Peter Payne in Brattleboro, VT. for Alexander technique sessions.
    Alexander technique works on the muscles to get rid of unnecessary
    tension (it was her muscles that were causing her spine to bend).
    This is different from going to a chiropractor since they usually
    work with the bones only.  I don't know if the Alexander stuff will
    help with slipped discs, but at best it will get rid of some tension
    in the back muscles.  Sally carried over a lot of things from the
    Alexander technique into her book.  I have been going to Peter Payne
    for about 3 years now just to help my riding position.  It has helped
    a lot and having Sally's book to refresh my memory on applying the
    techniques to riding is really great.
    
    						Jan
     
    

    
    *argh* I know what it's like!
    
    I strained my back last April and then in a fall off my horse in
    July, fractured a vertebrae.  The lesson here was riding with a
    weakened back only led to falling off and contributed to the fracture.
    I learned be be very careful when back pain warning signs appear
    and also to wait sufficient time for one problem to heal, before
    returning to normal activity. -Seems rather obvious doesn't it?
    :-)
    
    I have not ridden since my fall in July. I too have been through
    physical therapy but only found I received 4-5 hours of relief.
    My problem is osteo arthritis and yes there was damage to the discs
    surrounding the vertebra that fractured.  For me, the most important
    thing has been to avoid lifting and to return to my normal exercise
    program that I was doing before all this mess started.  I've found
    that keeping in shape makes a BIG difference! It strengthens and
    at the same time helps keep the muscles that like to tighten up,
    loose.  Warm up has also been extremely important! Once I'm warmed
    up, the pain greatly subsides and movement becomes easier.  
    
    If your caring for your own horses, avoiding lifting will be tough.
    Mine is boarded - thank goodness.
    
    I still have to reach for the old asprins more frequently than I'd
    like but my hopes are still very high to begin riding the first
    week of April.  I may have to avoid sitting trots and jumping for
    this season but atleast I'll be out there again!
    
    Good Luck!  I'd like to know what you've found helps you!
    
    Danielle       
     

    BOY, this sound familiar to a lot of people. My problem is not in
    the back, but a broken second vertebre of my neck. Had to wear a
    neck collar for 6 months, therapy, etc., that was 5 years ago. 
    It's one of the weakest parts of the back system, the pain, etc.
    is still there, probably be with me the rest of my life but will
    have to live with it. Ride only on occasions & have to be fairly
    easy, that jarring(sp) can get out of hand sometimes. 
    Just got to watch out. I do have fun when i ride anyway.
    
                                                 Steve
    
    
    
    
    
    

    Back problems must be the most common injury after knees for any
    type of sports injury.  I also have a `bad' back which acts up every
    now and then.  I've never broken it but there have been weeks in
    bed when wiggling one's toes is an effort.  I have found the main
    ingredients for riding to be exercise, a good chiropractor, and
    the right saddle.  I show in a flat saddle which I really believe
    is the worst thing you can do for you back, but when I can get away
    with it I use a dressage saddle with a fairly deep seat.  Ours is
    a Stuebbin (sp?), is very comfortable, and was well worth twice
    the price we paid if only for the difference in my back.  For my
    money the saddle is extremely important.
    
    Bob
    

    About 5 years ago, a horse threw me (as opposed to falling off)
     into a barn wall and I broke three vertebrae.  I'm coming tothe
    conclusion that the pain in my back is never going to go away
    permantently, so I'm just going to have to work around it. The funny
    thing is that sometimes sitting on a horse is the only comfortable
    place for me.
    
    Exercise is important, especially exercises that strengthen lower
    stomach muscles.  I avoid conditioning exercises like running as
    much as possible.  Before I ride, and on the horse too, I do suppling
    exercises.  It looks a little funny I guess, but the break in training
    seems appreciated by the horses - they get to stretch too.
    
    I train event horses - and there are two parts of this my back
    absolutely hates; landing after a large jump and sitting trot
    (especially with any sort of lengthening).  I find that a good fitting
    saddle (the dressage saddle is best for real bad days) and slightly
    shorter stirrups help.  I tend to carry my hands higher than most
    people and I make sure my horse is very light in my hands.  When
    we trail ride, we don't do a lot of trotting, but substitute slow
    canters instead.
    
    I also have a roommate who's a masseuse :>)
    
    maureen
    

    
    I don't know where you are located, but I can recommend a good
    chiropractor in Stoneham, MA.  His name is Ronald Amato, on Williams
    St. 438-5755.
    
    He may not be able to do anything for a disc problem such as yours,
    but I believe he would tell you if he couldn't help.  His bedside
    manner is a little shy but he's really good as what he does.
    
    I had a lower back problem that got much worse after I started lifting
    weights.  He took me off the weights, corrected the structural problem,
    and gave a set of start up exercises to do.  I'm back to the weights
    and don't have anywhere near the problems I used to have.
    
    When I asked about riding, he said the riding posture was good for
    the back, as long as it was correct.  Being a beginning rider I'm
    not often in correct position (!), but my back is much stronger
    now.
    
    Good luck, and give Dr. Amato a call.
    
    Fern
    
   

    I TOO HAVE LOWER BACK PROBLEMS AND A PROBLEM IN MY HIP AREA. I WENT
    TO SEE THE OLD DOCTOR AND OF COURSE AS A GOOD DOCTOR HE SAID NO
    RIDING. BUT AS USUAL I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF AND AM NOW BACK IN THE
    SADDLE. 
    
    I HAVE STARTED RIDING SIDE SADDLE AND IT'S SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO
    RIDE AND NOT HAVE MY BACK AND HIP BOTHER ME. I USE TO GET OFF MY
    HORSE AND I WOULD BE LAME AND MY BACK WOULD BE IN SUCH PAIN. OF
    COURSE RIDING SIDE SADDLE TOOK SOME GETTING USE TO BECAUSE YOUR
    USEING ALL DIFFERENT MUSCLES. YOU CAN GET AN ENGLISH OR WESTERN
    SIDE SADDLE DEPENDING ON YOUR PREFRENCE. I HAVE TALKED TO A LOT
    OF FOLKS SINCE I STARTED SIDE SADDLE AND QUITE A FEW HAD BACK INJURIES
    AND THAT IS WHY THEY TOO STARTED RIDING THIS WAY. AND THERE ARE
    MEN RIDING SIDE SADDLE TOO BECAUSE OF BACK PROBLEMS.
    
    GOOD LUCK,  TERRY

   First I'd like to thank everyone for their suggestions on dealing
with my lower back problem.  I'm riding again now, for the first time in
almost 2 years!  I thought maybe other noters would be interested in my
"path" to back pain relief.

I attribute my "recovery" to a few things:  First, a new-found chiropractor,
who properly aligned my spine and hips.  And second, to the author of the book
"Callenetics."  I HIGHLY recommend anyone suffering from lower back pain to
buy this book and VCR tape.  I've made remarkable recovery since I started 
the gentle spine-stretching workouts.  The author is Joan? Callen. 

On your recommendations, I purchased both "Centered Riding" and "An Anatomy
of Riding."  So far I'm finding Sally Swift's "Centered Riding" extremely
helpful as I start riding again.  I haven't started "An Anatomy of Riding"
yet.  

Thank you for all your recommendations!  

Melinda

    Well Melinda, welcome back to riding and I hope that you are able
    to continue to ride "pain-free"!
    
    Happy rides,
    
    Linda