It probably comes as no surprise to learn that research suggests 40% of female equestrians experience breast pain whilst riding, especially during sitting trot.
Apparently larger breasted women are more prone to pain – I’m guessing you didn’t need a science degree to work that one out either!
Basically, as the horse moves, the only way to reduce riding discomfort is to harness the motion of the breast, in addition, breast tissue can become irreversibly damaged by the movement that occurs through horse riding. Sports bras have been designed to provide support and reduce breast movement, however more than 75% of women wear incorrectly fitted bras. What is interesting to note is that 80-90% of marathon runners wear a sports bra irrespective of breast size compared to a mere 15-20% of equestrians.
In terms of riding posture, if your breasts are moving then this will affect your balance and stability. Let’s face it, if your breasts are going up whilst your body is going down, then you will have difficulty engaging your upper back muscles and core to adequately go with the forward movement of the horse as your centre of gravity is not under control.
A bra which is incorrectly fitted, or lacking support irrespective of breast size will also increase upper back pain which in turn creates tension in the riders’ body including a deactivated core, slumping and rounded shoulders.
So, what can you do about it?
Firstly, irrespective of your breast size, ensure you are correctly fitted with a quality sports bra for riding and ensure you wear it when you ride.
Secondly, it is important to strengthen your upper back muscles and understand how to correctly engage them for good posture. This will not only help your riding, but also assist with your health and alleviate ongoing back pain or issues in all areas of your life.
What brands of sports bras have you found works best for you?
