[The spine and horseback riding]

115 horseback riders have undergone clinical and radiologic examinations of the spine. A minimum of 10 years' riding was required. Depending on intensity of training and number of riding hours, the subjects were divided into three groups: roughriders, sport riders and hobby riders. It was striking that of the bare half of cases (51) suffering from lower back, only 8 (about 15%) had had medical treatment and actually been disabled. Moreover, 47% of the riders with lower back pain were painfree in the saddle, i.e. when riding. No causal connection was found between riding and a higher incidence of osteochondrosis in some parts of the vertebral column. In roughriders and partly in sports riders an increased stress on the spine due to prolonged intensive training cannot be ruled out if the higher incidence of pathologic X-ray findings and low back pain in this group is taken into consideration. On the other hand, other factors such as deficiencies and hard work in the past may, especially in roughriders with a rural background, also be responsible. A higher incidence of spondylolisthesis than in the normal population was not found. It is important that riders should possess a strong back and gluteal muscular system in order to avoid early painful spinal decompensation, especially in cases with degenerative alteration and static form anomalies of the spinal column.