Frustrated with my riding

Santa_Claus

Santa_Claus

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2001
Messages
22,282
Location
Wiltshire/Hampshire ish!
www.katiemortimore.com
I have been getting very frustrated with myself recently as my riding seems to be going downhill. When on ponies/early horse years I was told I was a very good dressage rider (finalist BD pony spotters and 3rd Talent Spotters final at 17), I would get on anything and could get a tune out of it and showjumped as well with a lot of local success.

Since moving to England and more importantly being at uni though it all seems to have gone a bit t*ts up especially in the last few years since I have been working full time and since a riding accident about 3 years ago.

Although I know I can still ride effectively and get a tune out of pretty much any horse I know I'm not as secure in my seat (mainly due to bad back) and I am wonky through my pelvis (again my back) and therefore far from as effective and i can feel it, I can feel my body stopping me or being a hinderance to what my head wants me to do
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I know my back is a major issue and the fact I only ride about 6 times a week instead of previously I was riding at least 3 horses/ponies a week about 5 times each and doing more physical exercise so I was much stronger through my 'core' muscles previously than I am now.

I am just so frustrated with myself especially when these problems were once again pointed out last week when I reattempted my A test last week. I knew I had failed and I knew why but to have it confirmed by three respected and knowledgeable people got to me. I just want to be able to ride like i know I can but without spending a lot of money on my back (i am though seeing my chiro tomorrow infact!) and time which I don't have getting fit and riding more horses I just cannot expect myself to be able to ride like that. I know I'm very lucky I can still get a tune from most things but I can't help but be frustrated with myself and its not something I can sort 'just like that'. Just hoping a few sessions with chiro will help me strengthen my back a bit and so at the least stop the downwards decline
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Sorry for the rant but needed to write it down
 
Def go to the chiro. You don't expect your horse to be able to work with a bad back so why should you. Pilates can help to, strengthens your core, so your back will stay stronger.
 
Agree, Pilates is good for strengthening core muscles. Does a back support eg Sportabac help? I'm sorry it's so frustrating for you. Do you have lessons with anyone? Louise Hutchinson (sp?) is in your neck of the woods, she's good.
 
Louise is good if you can get her to you on time
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LOL I used to have lessons with her few years back and did well with her. I do have lessons with lady from my yard now. She is very good and totally understated charges me next to nothing but always produces the results (she was previously national novice champ (before open/restricted!) and ridden at advanced!).

I haven't got the time for pilates, hell I haven't got the time for anything! As it is I leave for work about 7:20am and am lucky to be home before 8:30pm having gone straight from work to the yard. In winter with mucking out i'm normally back past 9 and never wanting to do anything more by then. And no can't do anything during my lunch hour!

I have used a back support in the past when my back actually hurts (it is out of alignment at mo and was painful last week due to muscle strains/spasms but it isn't as bad as it has been!) but i find they are too tight and don't allow me to absord the movement with my hips and pelvis and leave me feeling rather perched in the saddle and not able to sit to the movement.

Hopefully a couple of chiro trips will put me back on the right path but I just can't see me being able to ride how I want to ride without making big changes to my life which I am not willing to currently make. Gah just demotivated at the moment by it all, where are those easy fixes when you want them
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Sorry to hear about your problems with your back.
I too had a lot of back injuries and have spent a fortune on Osteopaths over the years. Now I have great faith in Pilates - find yourself a remedial pilates instructor who can teach you how to correct your posture and build even muscular strength. There's a lot more to it than just core strength. I have been pain free for a year now and feel as though I can ride again after having hung my boots up in despair. Have private lessons - not a class as you need to address your own issues of imbalance in your muscular system. good luck!
 
but thats the thing I'm not in pain anymore except for rare exceptions like last week (trying to ride 6 horses in one day when used to riding 1 or 2 was never going to be a good idea
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) and my lessons are always one on ones (haven't had group lessons in years with exception of uni team training).

Give me a few days and I will get over myself and realise I am lucky to still be able to ride as well as I do.

I have improved my posture etc (chiro always harks on at me about that
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) but I simply don't have time or know where I could fit time to go to pilates (or similar) sessions as currently I choose to do a daily 80 mile commute to work whilst also looking after and riding 2 horses and now also keeping my OH happy as well!!
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Sorry to hear of your frustration - however - no easy fixes . Get your back sorted out, make an effort to improve your core stability , and have a lesson or two in order to give you a few things to work on . Otherwise - dont expect your horse to carry you correctly , and put up with the consequences. I hope you chose to improve the situation for your horse .
 
thanks I think!!!

Trust me I want to improve the situation, I am having lessons (see above) and I am having treatment on my back but it is likely that I will never ever be entirely straight again through my pelvis due to the nature of the injury which wasn't helped by me going XC schooling on a 4yo for 2 hours a week after the accident before any treatment! My fault yes but long term consequences still.

I am straight of a fashion when riding but I am limited with my movement when I put myself straight, hell I wouldn't have even attempted my A test if my riding was that bad as I would have been laughed away (ok i wouldn't of but the standard is incredibly high!) but I knew I wasn't ready.

There is an easy fix, its called quit my job and work with horses so riding 4-6 a day (as a FBHS and a few other people have told me) but that isn't going to happen as thats not my plan in life. An extra hour or two in the day would be enough to allow me to fit in the extra physical activity (pilates for example) but again that isn't going to happen without cutting out my commute which currently there is no prospect of that happening.

Will go to bed and stop feeling annoyed with myself now. Hopefully I will get on my horses tomorrow and feel I can actually ride rather than be a passenger which wasn't helped by Fleur broncing about like an idiot today because the hay was being carted in by tractors whilst trying to ride!!
 
I think what you are experiencing is commonly known as getting older
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Like you, I used to be a much stronger rider when I was a teenager...I came back to riding after an 18 year break and fully expected to pick up where I left off
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It's taken over 2 years of feeling like a failure to realise that I have to lower my expectations of myself and my riding and accept that I am now a middle-aged commuter who competes a couple of times a month for FUN. I can still get a better tune than most out of the horses I sit on, but i've been trying to compete alongside the pro's ad wondering why i haven't been getting the success that I expect...since lowering my expectations by competing in classes more aligned to my status as an amateur the success has returned and both myself and my horses are much happier as a result
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I'm not advocating lowering your standards by any means...just suggesting that you accept there are other pressures in your life now that didn't exist when you were at your peak.
 
Glad Rambo said it.
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The harsh reality is that some of this is what's known as "growing up". Time gets tight, money all of a sudden seems a lot more important and hard to come by, bodies don't bounce so well anymore, all sorts of things interfere with the fun parts of life . . .

It happens to everyone. (It even happens to people who work with horses. Now THERE is a tough, grown up world!)

Being a teenager is tough in lots of ways but in fact it's pretty common for people to have a fair amount of competitive success (relatively and situationally speaking) during those years which can't then be immediately duplicated later on. The talent pool is smaller, there is more support (even for people who don't have doting parents) and it's possible to concentrate on horses and riding to an extent few people can continue into their adult working lives.

Sorry, not saying this to depress you, merely to point out that what's happening to you is perfectly "normal". You have a different life now, horses will fit into it differently.
 
I know i'm in denial LOL turned 25 last week as well and although I know thats not 'old' i'm most certainly not 16 anymore!!

On plus side my back is now readjusted. My lower back and pelvis wasn't 'too' bad had more issues through my shoulders and neck.

Already 'lowered' my targets although admittedly not through choice, was jumping 1m30s 4 years ago, but injury of horse left me with housemate's very difficult novice who I started back at the bottom with and now due to funds I'm lucky to get out competing once every couple of months and when I do its unaffiliated as can't afford/justify affiliation fees *cries*

Just need a nice lottery win so I can do what I want with my time and just ride ride ride!!
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ha ha
 

I am 27 and I suffer with my back, like you I have spend hundreds on treatment. I also compete in long distance running. I agree with majority, as we get older our bodies just dont recover as quick! I find that if I have a good stretch before I ride I am much more comftable in the saddle, also it seems to me that you are a very busy person always on the go! if I was you I would take some time out and have a sports massage, you and your back wil feel a million times better!
 
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