crooked rider developing uneven muscle on horses shoulders.

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scewal

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Have seen a sports massge who has worked on my pelvis but due too it being misalinged for so long every time she works on me within a few weeks its misaligned again.
My mare has developed a larger shoulder and the saddle is now slipping very slightly to the left.

Any advice will be hugely appreciated.
 
Could you ask the masseur to give you some exercises to do at home between visits to help you to keep straight. Or go to see a registered physiotherapist who will treat you quite aggressively - they all seem to work in different ways.
Then you probably need a physio for the horse.
 
Thanks for your reply. Think it may be best for me to try someone else. Yes quite correct will be getting a physio out for the horse once i have managed to sit level.
Every time i ride i never feel level.
Saddler looked at horses shoulders and said the right is slightly larger but not hugely.
 
Contact Teresa Dixon, Biomechanics Coach. She works with riders and has treated Sophie Wells prior to the Olympics.
I'm hoping to have her work with me very soon.
 
I do so understand where you are coming from, as I have balance issues, but thankfully this has not efected my girl, I have her checked every year just in case. My balance has got better since I started have lessons. Might be an idea for you, hope someone else might be able to help you. Good luck with it.
 
Check your saddle too - I had a shoulder op last year, and when I started riding again my mare learnt that she could pull one way and get away more, so I ended up riding crooked and the saddle warped a bit...

I read an article in a magazine about this recently. They said it would be best to get some lunge lessons on another horse that is straight, to get yourself level before working with your own horse again.. (after having physio for yourself and horse).
 
You need a good instructor to be your eyes on the ground when you're riding and correct you every time you slip - you muscle memory effectively needs wiping clean and restarting.

Id want a HM saddle on the horse too - twisting on a treed saddle will not be comfortable for the horse. If its atrophying in one shoulder its because the blood flow is being restricted to that area and the muscle is dying.
 
I run the risk of this... I have regular massages and in between I ride with a back brace it's helped preserve my 'straightness', prolong the better times before I need to have another session and is helping lessen the crookedness, my muscles are better and more even than they were. I also wear it when I'm working /sitting down at a desk and typing, I've noticed I sit more prominently on one seat bone in the car when driving, this again is lessened but I am now going to start wearing it when driving too... It all helps... It wasn't that expensive and definitely worth every penny, although if you get one, don't tighten it too much to start... I felt wonderful relief in my bad muscles but a great ache in the opposing muscles where I had been compensating! I can now wear it tighter and it provides even more support! Another bonus is my shoes are not getting trashed... I used to wear one heel out a lot faster than the other!
 
I've had a similar problem. My physio was out to see my boy about 9 months ago and noticed that he was more built up on his left side, so he asked if I had any straightness problems to which I replied yes. My instructor said I collapse one hip and twist, but I don't feel wonky myself.
So my physio also has a riders physio clinic, which I've been going to ever since. I have trouble in that the right side of my pelvis is shorter than the left side, causing me to twist and i get lower back pain too. He's been great in helping me be a lot straighter and has done all sorts including ultrasound, physio exercises,massage,manipulation,TENS and kinesiology tape. Also he suggested to build up the right side of the saddle to make me ride straighter. I use a gel seat saver anyway so my mum adapted it so the right hand side is double thickness which means my pelvis is actually straight.
I'd really recommend going to a sports physio-one that specialises in riding if you have one near you, as mine has helped me so much!
 
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