Blummin hips.... human

justabob

justabob

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Both myself and horse have been off games for a while, him abscess, me sciatica, both better now but my hips are shot to hell. I have an old rogue of an ex racehorse that is as sharp as a knife that I have to ride in a racing saddle, because my hips will not cope with a normal saddle as I need to ride short. I am used to that as I have a racing background..............but I am nearer 60 than 30 and feel it is time to give up. So sad as our ride today, after a few weeks off left me in agony. I was just wondering if any of you of an older age have this problem and how do you cope with it.
 
I have no advise to give you, but just wanted to say how sorry I am to read of your situation. Only you can say if it is time to give up, other people can advise but really its only you who knows how you feel. Its very hard when horses are in your blood. I do hope that someone might be able to offer you some advise, I do hope that you can sort something out. Take care
 
ebonyallen said:
I have no advise to give you, but just wanted to say how sorry I am to read of your situation. Only you can say if it is time to give up, other people can advise but really its only you who knows how you feel. Its very hard when horses are in your blood. I do hope that someone might be able to offer you some advise, I do hope that you can sort something out. Take care
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I know you have far more to cope with than my fragile hips, thank you for responding. xx
 
My sharer is suffering with her hips has been told that ultimately will need a hip replacement but is trying steroid injections first. Told likely to settle the arthritis down for a while. Have you tried any treatment? Would be a shame to have to give up :(
 
Surreydeb said:
My sharer is suffering with her hips has been told that ultimately will need a hip replacement but is trying steroid injections first. Told likely to settle the arthritis down for a while. Have you tried any treatment? Would be a shame to have to give up :(
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Yes, hip replacement is on the cards but I have too much to do here on my own. Steroids are going to be the next question to my GP.
 
Have you tried 2 Ibuprofin & 1 Paracetamol an hour BEFORE you ride? I find this works wonders, plus I always get on and off with a mounting block if possible :-)
 
I am also starting to struggle with arthritis in hip (already have it badly in fingers). Thankfully my horse is these days a 14.2 Haflinger and not my old 17 hand hunter as getting off is the worst part by far.

Ive had it confirmed as osteo by blood tests etc but am holding out as long as possible against going down any treatment route as steroid etc arent very good in terms of side effects so am just trying to carry on.

NB I do find riding more often helps, if I only ride a couple of days a week it is a lot worse than if i ride say 5 days a week.

I can really see the problem with riding short, Ive lengthened my stirrups almost to endurance/dressage length and thats a lot better most of the time, except for an occasional agonising 'lock'/spasm.

ETA I find a mounting block worse as it makes me slide down onto my left foot while right leg still coming over the saddle (left is the dodgy hip side), whereas without one I dont hit the ground until both legs are sliding down and I can specifically put right leg down first. So if both legs affected mounting block will prob be v good, but if left worse than right it might not help.
These mounting blocks are the tallest I know and very strong, I have the 3 step and the 2 step and they have lasted 5 Cairngorm winters so far
http://www.horseshowjumps.co.uk/premium-3-step-450-p.asp
 
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lachlanandmarcus said:
I am also starting to struggle with arthritis in hip (already have it badly in fingers). Thankfully my horse is these days a 14.2 Haflinger and not my old 17 hand hunter as getting off is the worst part by far.

Ive had it confirmed as osteo by blood tests etc but am holding out as long as possible against going down any treatment route as steroid etc arent very good in terms of side effects so am just trying to carry on.

NB I do find riding more often helps, if I only ride a couple of days a week it is a lot worse than if i ride say 5 days a week.

I can really see the problem with riding short, Ive lengthened my stirrups almost to endurance/dressage length and thats a lot better most of the time, except for an occasional agonising 'lock'/spasm.

ETA I find a mounting block worse as it makes me slide down onto my left foot while right leg still coming over the saddle (left is the dodgy hip side), whereas without one I dont hit the ground until both legs are sliding down and I can specifically put right leg down first. So if both legs affected mounting block will prob be v good, but if left worse than right it might not help.
These mounting blocks are the tallest I know and very strong, I have the 3 step and the 2 step and they have lasted 5 Cairngorm winters so far
http://www.horseshowjumps.co.uk/premium-3-step-450-p.asp
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I have a huge tree stump that I mount from, BUT I have to be like Olga Corbet as matey boy likes to be mounted on the run!! To get off I have to throw my leg over his withers. God knows what I have become.
 
my mum has the same problem :( she dislocates her hips quite regularly and she has slipped a disk in her back 9 times her lower back has now completely seized up and she can no longer get her knees more than 14" apart. she took a gap from riding for about 4 years and is now getting back into it and she is yet to feel stiff from riding although she lives on painkillers so i doubt she would notice :o she sits more like shes in an arm chair so my gp saddle is quite good for her :) but shes getting on with it better now although shes not doing any hard work with them just hacking out shes in her late 40's but shes not really interested in riding anymore she just likes being around them and shouting at me while im riding them ;) she too had a background in racing but also, breeding, showing, riding club and show jumping
 
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missroses nanna said:
hi just dont give up hope i had almost stopped riding after 45 years due to hip probs but last year had double hip repacement and now back in the saddle.
like you i had racing background.
Hope you get sorted :-)
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That has given me hope, tell me, how long were you out of action. Are you as old as me? lol.
 
hi justabob
i am 54 started to struggle about 6 years ago hips kept locking and then last august tried to get on the big hoss and could'nt get my leg over !!!!!!!!! saw doc a wk later surgeon 2 wks later he told me not much of hips left and couldnot believe i had got to that state without seeing docs...... too far gon for injections or resurfacing so 27 oct had both replaced. started tring to get on hoss after 3 months but was 4 befor i managed it. she is a big girl but i have no probs at all now. if you get the chance of the opp get it done you will be fine.
good luck :-)
 
I had osteo a went through physio, pain killers (diclofenic mostly) steroid injections( lasted 6 weeks) so surgeon said hip resurfacing, simular to replacement but they dont take off the top of the fema just rub it down and put in a screw type thing with a smoth surface ( looks a bit like a mushroom). had both done with in 6 months aged 46 now can ride any thing!

dont despair you will be sorted! :)
 
I've no experience myself, but have several friends who have had the op, and every single one said they wished they'd never put it off for so long... I would look into getting cover for your horse and what you have to do and get yourself on that list - it could be summer when it comes up, when life is so much easier.
 
I'm 37 and have had problems with my hips (mostly my right) since a teenager and as I get older, it's getting worse. This is why I rarely ride astride now as I CANNOT ride wide horse at all now. I had to school my friend's son's Irish cob a week and a half ago for 20 minutes and I've been in agony till yesterday as my hips can't take being stretched apart. I have to accept that I will never be able to ride any of the big wide horses any more (narrow sensible TB's only now) and with astride saddles, have to look for saddles that have a narrow twist in the seat- the part of the seat that goes in in the middle (about 1 1/2"- 2" wide- any wider and the saddle b*ggers my hip). I also have off-side side saddles so I can ride on my "good" left hip on days that my right hip is acting up.
 
I have osteo arthritis in my hips, mainly my right one and am going in for a hip replacement at the end of this month.

I found that taking eight paracetamol a day (under supervision of my GP) made me far more comfortable though sadly not for riding. I take one Tramadol when I ride but can still only manage an hour without pain.
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
I'm 37 and have had problems with my hips (mostly my right) since a teenager and as I get older, it's getting worse. This is why I rarely ride astride now as I CANNOT ride wide horse at all now. I had to school my friend's son's Irish cob a week and a half ago for 20 minutes and I've been in agony till yesterday as my hips can't take being stretched apart. I have to accept that I will never be able to ride any of the big wide horses any more (narrow sensible TB's only now) and with astride saddles, have to look for saddles that have a narrow twist in the seat- the part of the seat that goes in in the middle (about 1 1/2"- 2" wide- any wider and the saddle b*ggers my hip). I also have off-side side saddles so I can ride on my "good" left hip on days that my right hip is acting up.
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SSG, I bought a side saddle in the hope of having pain free riding, cost a fortune, I thought after 50 years in the saddle I could master anything, me and my horse said no!!! Nit wit TB at 17 years old has a hissy fit.
 
StormyMoments said:
my mum has the same problem :( she dislocates her hips quite regularly and she has slipped a disk in her back 9 times her lower back has now completely seized up and she can no longer get her knees more than 14" apart. she took a gap from riding for about 4 years and is now getting back into it and she is yet to feel stiff from riding although she lives on painkillers so i doubt she would notice :o she sits more like shes in an arm chair so my gp saddle is quite good for her :) but shes getting on with it better now although shes not doing any hard work with them just hacking out shes in her late 40's but shes not really interested in riding anymore she just likes being around them and shouting at me while im riding them ;) she too had a background in racing but also, breeding, showing, riding club and show jumping
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Thank you SM, I am at the 14inches apart and less stage. I am a huge fan of you and your lovely spanish horse BTW.
 
Would it be practical to ride bareback or with a pad? I know nothing about your position, but if you could be as close when mounted to a standing position, perhaps it would reduce the pain? Or if not bareback, the narrowest, most close fitting dressage saddle you can fit on the horse.
 
A friend has just had one of her replacement hips replaced (IYSWIM) and been told that she must not ride if she wants this one to last. It is the stting astride which causes the problems apparently, rather than the risk of falling off.
She is going to borrow my side-saddle, as we think that as she will not be 'stretched' across it, she should be ok - we just have to see what her horse thinks!
 
I'm 33 and have also struggled with my right hip since early teens. My girl is very wide and I find it very painful to dismount. My pelvis is also rotated.
 
justabob, that is a shame about the side saddle as it's really opened up a new lease on riding for me as I thought for a while that I would have to give up too :( Most horses take to it like old pros and go better in them than astride saddles but yes, there are a few that just don't want to know. I don't know where you are but if you are near to me, you would be welcome to come and have a sit on my donkey TB and try my near and off saddles :)
 
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