For those with bad knees - which saddle is best?

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shmoo

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As title really :p

Do you ride in a GP, dressage, or something else I can't think of - Ok, not the longest list to begin with I know :D. Just musing after an earlier post. I have always wanted to ride western, but my little TB probably doesn't.

Leg on - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Leg off - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Pull on reins - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Turn left - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Turn right - oh, do you want me to gallop ?

:D She's not that bad really - just don't know if they need to be uber calm first?

Just wondered if there's a specific or best way to ride to overcome lifes little niggles like knee issues, and ankle twinges, and hip groans... oh, and my eyes are dim... I'm considering starting to substitute my evening meal for D&H 16+ ...

Please no give up riding's... we all need something, and I need horses ! :p
 
I have a dodgy knee and ride in both gp and dressage saddles ...what makes the real difference is my 'wobbly' stirrups....I have some sprenger ones and some knockoff ones that work just as well . I dont see why your tb shouldn't adapt to western...may need a bit of retraining but good western horses ae sharp and responsive!
 
shmoo said:
As title really :p

Do you ride in a GP, dressage, or something else I can't think of - Ok, not the longest list to begin with I know :D. Just musing after an earlier post. I have always wanted to ride western, but my little TB probably doesn't.

Leg on - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Leg off - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Pull on reins - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Turn left - oh, do you want me to gallop ?
Turn right - oh, do you want me to gallop ?

:D She's not that bad really - just don't know if they need to be uber calm first?

Just wondered if there's a specific or best way to ride to overcome lifes little niggles like knee issues, and ankle twinges, and hip groans... oh, and my eyes are dim... I'm considering starting to substitute my evening meal for D&H 16+ ...

Please no give up riding's... we all need something, and I need horses ! :p
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Well, a Western saddle will probably help you as it will sit you back a little and you'll most likely ride longer with knee and toe turned slightly out. It will place you slightly higher above the horse than an English saddle anyway so you'll want to lengthen the fenders a little to put your leg in the equivalent place it would otherwise be in an English saddle. You can ride how you normally ride - riding in a Western saddle doesn't make you a Western rider any more than riding in a dressage saddle makes you a dressage rider, unless you learn the cueing and training systems and techniques that go with the tools for the task, i.e. the saddle and other tack. If your horse is a taker-offer, at least you'll have a saddle horn to hold onto!! Best thing ever!! If your TB is not a comparable build to a stock horse type, though, tread carefully in selecting a saddle as some are not at all accommodating of higher withers or non-barrel-shaped midriffs.
 
Ummm, nothing!

I have rheumatism in my knees (I turn 30 this month so not a good start!) and am having physio on one for a knackered patella tendon.

If I could not ride, I would. But I can't. So ibuprofen and paracetemol and 'manning up' is my "comfy saddle"!!!!! :D
 
I had a western saddle and I found the lack of knee roles very unnerving and not secure enough. IIWY, I'd look into clever stirrups first.
 
I duffed up both sets of cruciates and gave myself a meniscal tear in one knee and the only thing that seems to help (mainly) is my sprengers. It does also help having a saddle that doesn't me into place.
 
Ive had 14 treatments on my knees; inc three ops and find my sprenger bow balance stirrups to be the one thing that stops knee pain the best; i have had to change my saddle with new horse to an albion k2 gp and can honestly say this is the best setup ive had for my knees, i would suggest trying bendy stirrups first.
Dixie devils claw? How do you take it? As have other pains sorry for hijack of post.
 
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