UK saddle survey Part 3: A pain in the neck? Riders’ perceptions of pain associated with horse riding
Authors: J.M. Williams, G. Tabor, E. Davies, V. Lewis, D. Marlin
Journal: Comparative Exercise Physiology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Rider Pain and Performance in UK Equestrian Sport Over 3,600 UK equestrian riders participated in an online survey examining self-reported pain experienced during the last two competition seasons, with researchers using frequency analysis and non-parametric statistical testing to identify patterns across disciplines and experience levels. Lower back pain emerged as the most prevalent complaint, affecting nearly two-thirds of respondents, whilst upper back, shoulder, ankle and foot pain were also widespread—with dressage riders reporting notably higher pelvic pain and showjumpers and eventers experiencing increased foot and ankle discomfort. Concerningly, the vast majority of riders managed pain without consulting medical professionals, despite 13–16% having received explicit medical advice to cease riding within the study period. The practical implications are significant: chronic rider pain compromises biomechanical stability and proprioceptive feedback, directly undermining the subtle rein and leg aids essential for clear communication with horses, whilst poor postural control may also increase fall risk and secondary injury. Given that equine professionals regularly assess ridden performance, this research underscores the importance of recognising pain as a performance limiting factor and potentially advocating for riders to seek appropriate medical assessment—particularly since targeted intervention (physiotherapy, postural retraining, or core conditioning) could address underlying causes rather than allowing riders to perpetuate harmful compensatory patterns that affect both their own wellbeing and their horse's movement and behaviour.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Prevalence of rider pain is high (especially lower back at 65%) yet many riders manage this alone—encouraging medical consultation may improve outcomes for both rider comfort and horse welfare
- •Pain patterns differ by discipline; consider discipline-specific biomechanical risk factors when addressing rider complaints (e.g. pelvic pain in dressage, foot/ankle in jumping disciplines)
- •Riding in pain compromises rider effectiveness and horse communication—addressing rider musculoskeletal health is as important as equine soundness for optimal performance
Key Findings
- •65% of riders self-reported lower back pain; upper back pain, shoulder, foot, and ankle pain were also common across disciplines
- •Dressage riders reported increased pelvic pain while showjumpers and eventers reported increased foot/ankle pain
- •13-16% of riders had been medically advised to stop riding in the last two seasons, yet most did not consult medical professionals about pain
- •Rider pain can negatively affect performance through poor communication to the horse and impaired daily functionality