After a broken ankle - how do you mount? xx

[irishdraught]

I had my tibia & fibula pinned & plated after falling off some time ago. I mounted from a block or from the off side to start with.
My ankle did not have full mobility and used to REALLY ache when I tried to force my ankle into the correct position when riding. I lost a lot of muscle tone in my leg aswell so I had no choice but to take it steady and build up again gradually.

I had to get a letter from my Doctors for BHS exams to show why I couldn't hold my ankle down and one ankle was bgger than the other making it a real problem to find comfortable riding boots.

Then, after 10 years of having the metalwork in my leg, the heads of the pins were causing problems so I asked to have everything taken back out. This meant being back to square one again.

I still mount from a block as I do not have that flexibility in my ankle anymore.

 

[Rudey]

Ah great, thanks for that, some useful input here. Someone above mentioned flexi stirrups might help, my friend had said about them, and I was undecided whether they would help or add to injury! Good to read that you have had same injury as me and that they work for you. I will start doing some research on them thanks!

Just to check, do you mean the stirrups that hinge mid way up the iron covered by rubber, or the ones where the foot tread hinges at the base of the iron?

You are naughty - riding so soon! Gosh weren't you scared of hurting yourself? My OH doesn't want me to ride for another 6 months yet! We are having a battle of wills on it!

I said as soon as my surgeon tells me I can, THAT'S when I will ride lol! xxx

 

[Rudey]

Oh poor you, it's sad to read that! I am glad that I have taken so much time from work. My mental reasoning for it is simple - I only have one ankle, I want it to be the best it can be and I didn't want to cause more problems for the future then I will already have to battle. It's hard though, I am losing approximately £800 a month from not working, very skint.com, but managing well. Luckily I hate debt so I don't have finance on my car, loans or credit cards to pay out, just a house to pay for with the OH! But that's hard enough!

Will you ever have to have your metal work out? How did you break yours? xx

 

[Rudey]

Thank you, some very interesting advice there! I think reading through these responses it will be definitely an investment to get some Sprenger's. I had wondered about those safety peacock stirrup irons incase I fall off, so my ankle wouldn't get caught. My friend said they're more aimed towards children and aren't made strong enough for an adults weight.

I'm pleased to hear you have done so well, it gives me hope! My surgeon was really pleased with my progress, he seemed surprised at how much movement I have already! I work hard at it, I practice writing the alphabet with my foot several times a day! I know about it if I don't move it for a while, it does become stiff and painful! xx

 

[Rudey]

Oh my word!

Poor you, damaging both sides! That must be so painful in winter for you!

I think a block is definitely the way forward. I spoke to the farmer at the yard today and he said he would build me a high sturdy one as the ones we use are rickety and only about 2 foot high! xx

 

[Rudey]

A 17hh - oh lordy lol!!!

I am fortunate to have just a 15.3hh to get on at the moment!

Although my youngster is coming up 2 years old in April, and everyone is estimating him to be be an inch or two over 16hh which I am dreading when he's old enough to ride - nevermind a 17hh!!

Which way round do you mount then? From the correct side, or is it easier the other side?

I have got a support bandage already, and I bought myself a decent set of ankle boots to ride in. Gone are the days of me riding in my hunters

I was naughty!!

Luckily when I did my ankle, I had some decent boots on for once, was wearing ariat ankle boots with steel toe caps and treadstone gaiters

I dread the thought of what the outcome could have been if I was wearing my hunters - which I nearly did and changed my mind!!

My left was my stronger leg for riding

When Sammi plays up, which ever rein you are on, he will either fall in on the left, or go out of his left shoulder. I'm going to have to be so careful and remember not to ride too strong - otherwise ouchies me thinks lol! I think I might wear a bigger spur that side to compensate lol! xx

 

[Rudey]

Oh goodness, you really have been through it haven't you

It's bad enough doing this 6 months so far once - nevermind going through it twice! Especially after 10 years! Disheartening wouldn't justify how you must have felt!

I think the screws that are left in my talus are there for good, but my surgeon said he might whip the wire out yet, which apparently isn't a big job!

I did have a plate and screws in my fibula which were supposed to stay in for 18 months minimum, but after 9 weeks my main wound split open and the metal work was on show bleughhhh, so I had to have it out in case it infected my talus metal work! At the time I was gutted, as it felt like square one again. But looking back now, I'm pleased it happened back then, instead of facing one year and having it out! Did it take you long to recover again? xx

 

[Gingerwitch]

If i were you - I would wear "long boots" (no heels for a while if you are out on the razzle!) for a bit more support in every area of your life if you can - my ankle is really weak after all these years and trust me a sprain is very very very painful- infact it hurt more than when i broke it. Also I say get on as soon as you can - my horse fell on me and I got on the day after the cast was taken off - I was shaking like a leaf, hanging on to the browband and looked like a monkey up a stick ! but I needed to get over the "fear" - so glad i did

 

[soulfull]

I had my left one plated and pinned just over a year ago. I have to wear a splint most of the time especially when riding

BUT Its all falling apart now tho even tho I only did what I was told I could.


Starting riding 3 months after I did it I tried getting on from the right but it put too much pressure on the left as you spring off. I use a bigger mounting block and just grit my teeth each time.

Flexi stirrups are A MUST!!!

 

[COBSFOREVER]

long post sorry - Hi its not easy when you used to be able to vault on your pony/horse and now I also have to use a v big mounting block as I also broke my femur and hip well they said it was smashed in several places so a large mounting block is a must and it goes everywhere with me so as a bit of inspiration I hope- I had to have a dynamic hip screw put in to hold my hip and leg bone together bit like a big bolt from leg into hip with screws - all I wanted to do was get out of hospital and see my horse mad I know as he was the one that put me there horses hey once there in your blood thats it ! anyway it took me 2 years to walk again but I was back on in 3 months only walking and I was terrified but it felt like I was home again in the saddle but the surgeon said if I had come off it wouldve smashed and I would ve ended up permanently in a wheelchair hence I then didnt ride for a year and a half after that until it was healed still got a floating bit on insiude of my leg but it is usefull when my horse is on the wrong leg I just blame my floaty bit-sooo the inspirational bit is please do as the surgeon says and let it heal before getting back on I am so glad I did and find the biggest mounting block you can find idealy one you step from block straight on horse no foot in the stirrup and the springy stirrups help a lot as said earlier and when getting off hold on and dismount v slowly and land on your good leg/foot first and keep dodgy joints as warm as poss ie thermals tights loads of socks ect any way I did my first show earlier this year it was fantastic - so there is hope and loads of fun still to be had with your horse even after severe injury just take time to heal and look forward to that day back in the saddle beleive me there is no feeling quite like being able to ride your horse agian good luck to all people who are recovering from broken bones ect they do heal and you will be back in that saddle before you know it and that feeling is like christmas morning every time you ride good luck

 

[Rudey]

Hmmmm interesting advice about the long boots offering more support. I assumed they would be weaker as they are thinner material around my ankle if you understand what I mean! I have bought the mountain horse rimfrost paddock boots as they are really chunky around my ankle, and so I assumed they would offer more support? xx

 

[Rudey]

I remember your photo post about your ankle as you were concerned about your appointment.

I'm really sorry to hear it's not going so well.

The only giving grace is that you did as you were told, and this hasn't happened because you over did it or did things you weren't supposed to do - although I appreciate that's no consolation

Massive HUGS xx Have they recommended any treatment to help your situation?

I'm grateful for your advice, especially with you injuring your left too. I guess it will be a trial and error thing that will be the deciding factor to which side I mount! Intriguing that you prefer the correct side! Anyway, I have been won over by the amount of people who have recommended flexi stirrups, something I am going to have a look for now! Thank you xx

 

[Rudey]

I am so grateful for your post, thank you. My word have you been through it you poor thing!!

That sounds like a horrendous experience/injury/recovery time!!

There I was feeling sorry for myself being off my feet for a mere 6 months!!

I will definitely take heed of your post and make sure I don't over do it. I am going to follow my surgeon's orders to the 'T' and only get on board when he is happy!

I don't want to make my injury worse or prolong it any further then what it is, afterall, I have to look after my bones, they're the only set I have lol! I dream of the day being back in the saddle on my good old faithful Sammi!

Good things come to those who wait!

Lovely to hear that you are competing again, especially after what you went through, it gives me so much hope! xx