After a broken ankle - how do you mount? xx

Rudey

Rudey

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I severely broke my ankle back in July 2009 when a youngster reared over backwards on top of me. Six months on, I have finally got the go ahead to start fully weight bearing yey!
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Perhaps jumping the gun here, you need to walk before you run type of thing, but it got me to thinking of riding.
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How will I get on - bearing in mind it is my left ankle that is broken??
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Initially I will have leg up's and help getting down, but after that, how? If I get on like normal, (I will use a mounting block), my left foot will be in the stirrup and as I hop up, it will be taking all of my weight through it.
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Or I could get on from the right? Would this be easier? Less pressure on my left?? Or is it still quite alot of pressure due to having to spring up off my ankle??
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Will I ever be able to mount from the ground? Just thinking of shows, etc...

How have you coped? xx
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Broke my leg not my ankle, but I was in a full cast for a long while.

I found muscle loss was my main problem, as I didn't have any spring left!

I think you just need to take it very easy. Just make sure you do the physio exercises and don't rush it. It's great to get back into the saddle, but the damage you can do if too fast is much more lasting - as I have found out
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Vault??

If you can't vault then you would probably be best to use a very high block whenever possible so you can just swing your leg over.

When you eventually come to get out and about more you will have to experiment with which side is easier to get on from. Depending upon the damage it could be either!
 
Thanks for that, how did you break yours? It's awful to hear you have suffered after rushing it
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, but that will help keep me grounded, safe and sensible!
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I most definitely do not want any more set backs, or further damage, and so I am going to be a good girl and do as my surgeon and physio says!
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A girl who use to be at our yard mildly broke her ankle, didn't require an operation, just potted. Was told to rest, keep it elevated, and non weight bearing for a mere 4 weeks. Only after 2 weeks, she was fully weight bearing
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and riding her horse with a pot on! She even fell off!!
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Now 2 years on, she is having major problems, probably from not doing as she was told to. Her problems need surgery now where they want to cut her ligaments and re-wire them again, and she has a 50/50 outcome the poor girl.
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This is what made me realise to keep my leg elevated and do as I was told. I would never forgive myself if I stuffed my chances up just to rush about.
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As they always say, the tortoise wins the race! xx
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Vault??

If you can't vault then you would probably be best to use a very high block whenever possible so you can just swing your leg over.

When you eventually come to get out and about more you will have to experiment with which side is easier to get on from. Depending upon the damage it could be either!

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Valut - no chance - I would belly bounce off my horse across the yeard lol!
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Very high block sounds like a plan!
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I guess I will have to have the strength in my ankle and experiment like you say. I'm trying to picture it in my mind, which ankle has the least pressure - the one on the ground - or the one in the stirrup??
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xx
 
My sister broke her ankle a couple of years ago, when she was finally able to ride again we had the mounting block made a lot taller, and my dad put an upright metal bar behind it which she could hold on to. She also trained her mare to stand next to the block to get off (again the pole came in handy) She is now able to get off without the block, but never mounts from the ground, we have a portable block (normal size) which we take if she knows she is going to have to get back on, otherwise handy walls etc. come into play, Hope your recovery goes well. I broke my wrist last year and stupidly rode with the pot on in the rain, modified the pot when it was damp, now an having to go back to hospital, had a steroid injection in November and in a fair bit of pain!
 
I broke my ankle really bad infact so bad id shattered the lot, i had pins and plates. To be honest it took me 6 months to walk again but i bought a youngster he was 5 mnths when i got him and he helped me walk properly as physio didnt help me just hert alot. I rode again after a year on friends old faithfull, i used huge mountain box like well over the top 1 so i could put leg over then put feet in stirrups your find it will ache but riding got my joint moving again, and getting off always look for flat ground and land on other leg i use to sort of slide really slow down lol. I also find that my ankle use 2 get stiff and hert after riding. Even now 5yrs on it herts but only when its wet and cold.
 
Oh mannnn, poor you! I hope it won't cause you too many problems in the furture. In fairness, in the past, if I heard someone had broken something, I was never overly concerned as I assumed you just had a pot on, and it was right as rain and mended after the pot was taken off.
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But now I realise it's never as simple as that, and everything you do may have an effect on how things heal, etc...
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Looks like if I plan to compete, I will need a portable block then lol! I did wonder about this! xx
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Personally, I would be getting on from the right from a tall mounting block for a while until my ankle got used to being in a stirrup and I got used to being in the saddle.

Do you have a friend with a pony that you can practise mounting on when the time comes? Then you can practise the springing/weight bearing when you get on?
 
haha, yeah I'm, rubbish at vaulting too, can't vault onto anything over about 13hh.... but some people are dead good at it, guy who used to be on our yard always used to vault on as it is less strain on the horses back and the saddle.

High mounting block seems to be the way forward. I went to a trekking centre type place once that had one so high that you didn't need to put your foot in the stirrup to get on even of a 16hh plus. Felt dead weird but was easy.

You can get off onto one foot, I have done when I have a sore ankle (mine are weak and I get lots of strains and sprains).

Or you could train your horse to put his head down so you can straddle his neck and then lift you on.......
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or to stand under an upstairs window so you can jump cowboy style.....
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Oh thanks for your response, it's interesting reading. If you were walking by the same point I am at, makes me wonder if I will be riding in 6 months? I know everyone is different, but it's something to aim for at least.
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Did you break your talus bone? That is what I have broken, and my fibula. I had a plate and screws in my fibula but my main wound split open after 9 weeks and you could se the metal work inside, so the surgeon whipped it out 18 months early to prevent risk of my talus metal work getting infected! Are you on FB? Here's a link to my album if you fancy a gander! Feel free to add me, I love nosing at peoples horsey photos lol! xx
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http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/album.php?aid=125127&id=626507929
 
Oh 4got to add i jump and mount just like i did b4 and my ankle was my left too. Your be waery of the leg and when u havn't been in the saddle for a while you will loose your confidence also your have people sayin just get on every1 breaks summink but they don't understand how frightening it is till it happens to them. You might find your self unbalanced 2 when your riding properly as your ankle might not be as flexible as it was b4 the damage was done but my horse has addapted to me and my peg leg lol
 
Yes bloody horses indeed! Every time I speak to my friend I tell her how I dream of a date with a 12 bore and her mare wuhahahaaaaa (evil laugh)!!!
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Oh god, sending lots of healing vibes your way. How did you do yours? What bones did you break? I know how disheartened I was with my second operation.
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It's mentally exhausting, and feels never ending. But it does get better!
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I joined a group on FB for broken bones, and added a girl that broke her ankle, and we swap our experiences, nice to speak to other people going through the same. Good luck, I hope your operation goes well, don't worry, and keep your chin up! xx
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Not broken but I did rip and tear every muscle/ligament and tendon in it.
Mounting, used a block like others here and nice high one so I could pretty much lay over and swing my leg over then get my stirrups.
To be honest mounting even from a smaller block easn't to bad because the physio had me doing those point your toe then circle your foot, then lift you toe up and do the same excersises.
Now dismounting was painful, the slow slither and land on the alternate foot someone else mentioned was the approach I took, but if I forgot owwwiiieee.
After a few long rides I was know to be sat on top of my horse desperatley wishing I had a handy giant to come and just lift me off instead.
Good luck I hope your recovery goes smoothly from here on in.
 
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Or you could train your horse to put his head down so you can straddle his neck and then lift you on.......
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or to stand under an upstairs window so you can jump cowboy style.....
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People like you shouldn't speak to people like me.... you're a bad influence putting such idea's in my head ROFLMAOOOOOO!!!!!! *hops off to find cow girl hat*
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What about one of those spring boards gymnasts use te he heee! xx
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Yes exactly the same i got scars on inside and out side from ankle going up leg a bit. ur b k i found that im soooo horse mad that it werent gona ruin my plans lol keep smiling m8 it gets better.
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I can definitely relate to that! My confidence has taken a major battering! Not just horse wise, I'm petrified of falling over and banging it! I am unbelievably clumsey!
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Hate getting cars too! I panic in case we crash. But these things take time, and aren't magic better over night eh! Riding wise, I had never thought that my balance would be affected, just my strength through that leg, but thinking about it, what you say makes perfect sense! xx
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Thank you to your response, it was some useful reading! I wondered about using a mounting block and leaning over bit, gentley springing with both ankles/knees and using my arm strength.
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Oh my word, the amount of times when I have forgotten about an injury, like a bad back, and done something I shouldn't! That is something I am going to be very warey of lol! xx
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I actually like my war wounds (strange girl I know) lol!
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I love showing them off, especially to blokes that get squeamish about it!
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I'm pleased I did it on my friends horse and not mine. I think it will be alot easier to get on my good old faithful Sammi just for that reason! If I had done it on Sammi mind, I think all my faith would have gone, and I don't know if I would have wanted to ride again - if that makes sense!! I openly admit I am a backward girl lol!
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xx
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Good advice so far,I got jumped off and landed on my right, shattering it. No plaster, but non weight bearing, then physio.These days, find it easier to use a mounting block, or a stool at a show.I try not to mount from the ground, but thats because I am also old with bad back!
Going to research flexi stirrups though, as I am going to do longer distances.
JC
 
[ QUOTE ]
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Or you could train your horse to put his head down so you can straddle his neck and then lift you on.......
wink.gif
or to stand under an upstairs window so you can jump cowboy style.....
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

People like you shouldn't speak to people like me.... you're a bad influence putting such idea's in my head ROFLMAOOOOOO!!!!!! *hops off to find cow girl hat*
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What about one of those spring boards gymnasts use te he heee! xx
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oooooh yeah, then you could leap frog on over his bum and into the saddle (also cowboy style) and then gallop off into the sunset!
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You really need to get that cowboy hat!!!

Yeeeeeeee Haa!!!!!
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My friend suggested getting some flexi stirrups! I couldn't make my mind up whether they would help me or not?
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At the moment I have alot of movement pointing my toes down, but only 90 degrees pointing up, so my foot is level if I'm stood up, no higher (just yet). Made me wonder if I lost my footing/balance, whether the flexibility of the stirrup would push my ankle too far or not?
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xx
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Or you could train your horse to put his head down so you can straddle his neck and then lift you on.......
wink.gif
or to stand under an upstairs window so you can jump cowboy style.....
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

People like you shouldn't speak to people like me.... you're a bad influence putting such idea's in my head ROFLMAOOOOOO!!!!!! *hops off to find cow girl hat*
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tongue.gif


What about one of those spring boards gymnasts use te he heee! xx
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[/ QUOTE ]


oooooh yeah, then you could leap frog on over his bum and into the saddle (also cowboy style) and then gallop off into the sunset!
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You really need to get that cowboy hat!!!

Yeeeeeeee Haa!!!!!
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I AM LOVING THIS TOO MUCH!!! YeeeeeEEEEEE HaaaaAAAAAA!
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I shattered my right ankle. I was a bit naughty though, 2weeks after my op I managed to find a way to mount using crutches from a block. I was totally non weight bearing for 3months so rode without stirrups the whole time...
Advice would be to take it slowly, mount from blocks where you can and the higher the better. No stirrups work will help your balance and stop it aching too badly. I don't have a problem getting on or off now but I swear by flexi stirrups. I have a limited degree of flexibility so they really help to make riding comfortable - espeically when jumping or riding up and out the saddle. I didn't find the wedge treads helped me too much though.

Good luck!!
 
I broke my leg 6 years ago now, and have titanium nail from knee to ankle, with pins in. I use a mounting block still, as I do not have enough 'push' to get on from the floor now. I have to take my foot out the stirrup every so often, otherwise I get cramps in it, and when I dismount I kind of slide off and try to land on working leg more!

I would not have to do all this now still, but that I did not heed surgeon's instructions and went back to work after 4 weeks instead of 3 months - reaping the benefits of my leg not setting quite straight now!
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Definitely get some bendy stirrups (Sprenger are the best) and get on from the right at first. I was kicked just below the knee and am still pinned and plated but i can just about get on from the ground now. I can't get leg ups but that is probably to do with twisting my knee which you won't need to worry about! Like you, I was sensible and followed surgeons' instructions and I can do so much more than i was told I would ever do. You will find you will need to keep moving the ankle or it will get stiff and painful in the stirrup and don't overdo it at first. Good luck!
 
From a block.

I broke left foot in 2001, and my right ankle in 2005 and now there is no way I can get into a saddle from the ground as both ankles just give way................and its just not fair on the neddie or the saddle to have me scrambling on to them. ut then I feel tat in general its fairer to mount from something - saves the saddle.
 
I broke my left ankle too ! still a bit weak even after all these years - had a load of physio on it and i do protect it when i am riding using an "ankle bandage". I got a pair of steps for shows (robinsons do them) and i do still wince when getting on in the winter. But the worst is dismounting especially off a 17hh on a cold winters day - not very elegant these days I am afraid - I slither down !

Also watch your riding when you are back up and running - I am always having to focus on pushing weight into my left stirrup as because it hurts I dont use my left as much as I should !
 
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