Do you seek help for your own crookedness?

[Little_Mare]

The real Little Mare and I have been having a few issues with straightness – this has been addressed on her side (physio) and hopefully sorted but what about me? Do you think self-awareness is enough or do you seek help? If so which route do you take – the riding route i.e. help from a trainer/instructor perhaps on a different horse or the medical route e.g. physio/chiro?

It’s a chicken or the egg thing really with us; I’d automatically say it was me influencing her but my instructor seems to think it's the other way round. Either way I’m wondering if its silly getting back on without getting myself checked out first…

 

[kerilli]

chiropractor first for me, then chiro for horse, then saddler. saddle trees can twist erratically over time, for no apparent reason, and it's worth getting them checked by someone who really knows what they're doing. a pair of eyes on the ground to make sure you're as symmetrical as possible, really helps too, i find.

 

[Little_Mare]

Yep, the saddler is already booked for next week!

 

[sfward]

You sound like me! My mare has been seeing the chiropractor this summer, and I went too at the same time as I was aware I didn't always sit straight. He has helped loosen me up so I'm not so tight on one side, and given me exercises to do to strengthen my weak side. After that I think it's awareness and training TBH. I don't naturally sit crooked (though I do have quirks such as finding it hard to keep my right shoulder back), but the way Missie goes throws me left and I'm not always strong enough to correct my own position.

 

[HBII]

Yes! McTimoney Chiropractor, turns out my pelvis was out on the right which influenced me riding as I sat to the right. Also a 5 week course of Pilates as I am very unsupple

although that is improving now. I do have regular lessons so my crookedness was picked up by my instructor and also photos show my appauling pevlic twist

.

Getting better now though!

 

[amandathepanda]

My pelvis has a tendency to rotate so I have to have it corrected every few months or I find I think I'm sitting square but my seat bones aren't level in the saddle.

 

[trundle]

I know exactly when I am sitting crookedly - Brooklyn crabs across the school and won't go in a straight line because she responds so well to weight aids. If i shift my weight, she straightens up !

When your riding teacher is a horse, you learn well....

 

[loobylu]

No but I really should, just haven't got round to it.

I got splatted last summer and got a couple of hairline fractures to my pelvic area and obviously, while this has pretty much healed, my muscles are a bit funny round there from protecting it.

Last pony was very green when I got her. Her canter improved hugely but I found it a lot harder to cope with on the left rein and felt I was hindering her balance by not being straight.
Friend's horse who I excercise always gives my back jip. I don't know if this is because he is squint too and we aggravate each other?
Have a rec. for a chiro so glad to hear it works for others.

 

[Little_Mare]

Thanks everyone. I've found a local McTimoney chiropractor so I think I'll give them a call.