While horse riding can be an effective way of correcting back and posture problems in everyday life, it can also be the source of those.

Back pain is a common problem among horse riders and can arise from poor posture, improper riding technique, a saddle that doesn’t fit the rider, as well as an asymmetrically muscled horse.

Because our back muscles are hard at work during riding, achieving correct posture is fundamental to becoming a good rider.

One of the most common problems horse riders struggle with is rounded shoulders. When your shoulders are rounded in the saddle, your pelvis tilts backward instead of the vertical position it should be in. This causes uneven weight distribution on the horse’s back, with more pressure falling on the forehand resulting in an unbalanced horse. Your leg aids will also be less efficient in this position.

Luckily, upper back posture can be easily corrected with the Equestorian Back Brace. This innovative product is designed to develop muscle memory and help improve your posture over time. I have tried and reviewed the brace to help you decide whether it is for you!

Horse riding back braces have been around for some time, yet few riders appear to be using them. However, all these riders are missing out because back braces can be great tools when it comes to your riding.

Back braces designed for horse riders not only alleviate back pain, but also solve common posture problems. Some products provide support to the lower back and core muscles, while others pull the shoulders back to create that desired vertical line.

When deciding which back brace to choose, it is paramount that you first identify the problem. Is it a hollow or stiff lower back or rounded shoulders you suffer from? The former will require a lower back brace, while the latter calls for a brace that supports the upper back like Equestorian.

When buying the product, make sure you follow their sizing chart correctly. Purchasing the wrong size will defeat the purpose of the back brace and might end up causing you more pain.

It’s also important that the brace is adjustable and will fit you even if you’re in between sizes.

The Equestorian Back Brace is perfect for correcting upper back posture in horse riders. By pulling the shoulder straps tight, the brace instantly corrects rounded shoulders and prevents slouching. It is like having a portable riding coach that will improve your riding posture at minimal cost and effort.

Equestorian was originally founded in Singapore back in 2016 by a group of passionate equestrians. The company’s goal is to help riders achieve the perfect posture and have more enjoyable and safer rides.

Although the Equestorian Back Brace is designed for horse riders, you can also wear it in your office or during a walk outdoors. It will help you develop body awareness anytime anywhere without having to pay for an instructor.

The product currently retails for $149.85. You can also get $10 off your order when using the code “horseyhooves”.

The Equestorian Back Brace is designed with horse riders in mind and so has several features that set it aside from similar products. These include:

For best results, the Equestorian team recommends you wear the back brace during every ride until you can maintain perfect posture without it. It will take some time for your muscle memory to set in, as this comes with consistent wear.

However, you don’t always need to be in the saddle to practice perfect posture with Equestorian. You can wear the back brace off-horse too, starting with 15 to 25-minute sessions. After the first few days, you can extend the session by 20 minutes every day.

This will allow your shoulder and back muscles to gradually adjust without causing pain and discomfort. The company recommends a timeframe of 3 to 4 hours for wearing the back brace on a daily basis.

For maximum customer satisfaction, Equestorian offers a 45-day trial period for their back brace. If the product fails to meet your expectations in any way during this time, simply contact their customer service for a replacement or a full refund.

To ensure your return is successful, the company advises customers to ask for return instructions for their specific regions. This will minimize the chances of your parcel getting lost on the way to the warehouse.

When purchasing the back brace, you can also opt-in to the Equestorian Guarantee for extra peace of mind. This is an insurance add-on that includes hassle-free returns with no questions asked and a guaranteed product refund.

After waiting for around two weeks, I finally received my very own Equestorian Back Brace. This was the first time I was trying out such a product, and so I was excited to give it a go and see what happens.

My first impressions of the parcel were that it was light and compact. Smaller than I expected, in fact. Nevertheless, I opened the box and was greeted by a thank you note and a tidy carrier bag.

On the back of the note, there were step-by-step instructions about how to assemble and wear the back brace. And so I unzipped the bag to reveal a lightweight brace with a waistband and shoulder straps.

The instructions were very easy to follow and it took me less than 2 minutes to put on the back brace. It’s always a relief when a product is easy to use and doesn’t complicate our lives even further. Although I did require assistance from my partner as the shoulder straps were a bit fiddly to put on by myself.

For me, the back brace was as comfortable to wear as the company claims it to be. Due to its lightweight materials, I could hardly feel I was wearing something at all!

The only thing I would note is that the shoulder straps can cause some discomfort if worn over several layers of clothing.

As for back support, I could feel an instant improvement in my posture and body awareness. It was great to be able to relax into the support of the metal bars and achieve a perfect frame with no effort. I could already see how the back brace would help me focus on my riding without having to constantly correct my posture in the saddle!

Before climbing into the saddle, I was curious to test the back brace at home and wore it while sitting at my desk writing articles. Having failed to read the company’s recommendations, I made the mistake of wearing the brace for 4 hours straight!

As a result, my neck and upper back started to ache. I have since remembered to start with shorter sessions and gradually increase the amount of time I’m wearing the back brace.

I’m happy to say that my first real trial of the Equestorian Back Brace was overall positive. I was riding a somewhat challenging American Standardbred called Toby who tends to confuse trot and canter with pace. Therefore, I needed to focus my attention on getting him to perform clear transitions between walk, trot, and canter.

While otherwise a lovely horse, Toby can also rush into things and go after his own head. Because he can be quite unpredictable with his gaits, my posture is of secondary importance when I ride him. As a result, I often look rather stiff on his back with my legs and feet all over the place.

Thanks to the Equestorian Back Brace, I didn’t have to pay much attention to my posture at all! Since that side of riding was taken care of, I could focus on giving Toby more accurate and timely cues and getting him to concentrate on the task at hand.

I would highly recommend the back brace to not only beginner riders, but also to those training young horses or retraining older ones. Since our posture can greatly influence the balance of the horses we ride, it is paramount that we work on ourselves first before we attempt working on horses.

As I have seen for myself, having one less thing to focus on goes a long way towards achieving the goal of a riding session. By the end of our ride, I have successfully walked Toby through all three gaits, did polework, and jumped from canter. These are all things we were struggling to achieve in the past.

Here are two videos of me riding with the back brace:

Based on my personal experience, I have compiled a list of pros and cons to help you decide whether the Equestorian Back Brace is right for you:

The Equestorian Back Brace isn’t the only product that provides upper back support and posture correction to horse riders.

Here are three other popular upper horse riding back braces:

Overall, I believe the Equestorian Back Brace makes for a great riding aid to riders of all ages and levels. Having good posture not only allows you and your horse to move more effortlessly, but is also a great confidence-builder in the saddle.

Especially for riders with rounded shoulders and upper back pain, the Equestorian Back Brace can make the difference between an enjoyable and unpleasant ride. As with all new gear, it takes some getting used to, but the end result will make all that worthwhile.

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