My back hurts after horseback riding?

Why is my vagina hurting after horseback riding?

• well every saturday for the past four years, i horseback ride for roughly an hour. in the past year or so, after riding, my vagina hurts. i don't know how to explain the pain really, but it just hurts bad. and if i have clothing touching it, or if i touch it, it hurts much worse. i just got back from horseback riding today and it just hurts really bad. i've never had sex. i use tampons if that would make a difference... why is this hurting me so much? and is there anything to stop it from hurting or make it less painful?

• Answer:

  You need to see a doctor, and do it quickly, rather than asking something like this on here. The pain could be caused by any number of things, but one that readily comes to mind is friction of some sort, or bouncing. You sound as though you may be trying to ride on your crotch, which is NEVER a good idea- even the top riders don't make this mistake. If the pain you are feeling is a burning sensation, I would have to say that friction is probably the cause. If it's an ache, then bouncing is the culprit, and you need to take some lessons and learn how to sit correctly in the saddle. I'm a woman myself, and I've been riding and teaching students for most of my adult life, and I have never had ( or known anyone else who has had) this kind of problem. You say the pain gets worse if you are wearing tight or close fitting clothing. That strongly suggests a friction problem, rather than a bouncing problem, at least to me, because clothing rubs are caused by friction. ( Girth galls and saddle sores in horses happen because of the same idea, more or less.) I would get yourself to the OB-GYN, and tell him or her about this situation, and ask for recommendations after he or she has had a chance to examine you to rule out medical problems. Wearing tampons would not impact this at all, and I don't blame you for doing it- pads can slip out of place, and they are messy and often, smelly to wear- and you never want to wear pads around male horses, especially stalllions and young colts, if you can help it. My thinking is your doctor will probably recommend that you wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes when you ride, such as jeans, for example, rather than tight fitting breeches. You will probably also be told to take some lessons so you can learn to sit properly, and avoid sitting on your crotch. You may be told to purchase some padded riders' underwear- you can get this from companies such as Dover and State Line Tack- and learn to use that instead of regular underwear when riding. One last note: whether or not you are a virgin has NOTHING TO DO with this. This kind of problem can happen to ANY RIDER, regardless of gender- men experience isssues of this sort too- don't think they don't. Good luck.