Giving up competing...reasons?

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I tore my cruciate ligament playing rugby and had to build up one thigh and leg completely from scratch as it wasted from surgery. It is hard work and there are no short cuts. I was back playing top level rugby within 6 months. I notice inbalances when I ride but have worked really hard to sort them out.

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That's what i did.. my thigh looked soo funny, it waisted away so much it almost looked like it wasn't mine.. but as i said above, i spent along time in the gym, building it up again, and now i'm back..

As Tarr Steps said, getting injured is part of riding, esp as a profession so you just have to deal with it and move on.. if you don't want to deal with it/can't move on, then maybe you're in the wrong job
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If I didnt want to improve it/do something about it then dont think I would be worried if that makes sense...

Thanks everyone for your replies, first step is physio tomorrow, will try and get some different exersizes to do, and see what they think of the muscle difference.

I do really want this, but want to make sure I am doing everything right, and doing the best I can
 
To much thinking time methinks!

You have a brilliant new horse, and lots more to ride so don't give it all up! You may never get it back!

My right shoulder-blade is three inches lower than my left, and yes it had effected my riding but I need to adjust my body shape and my riding.

If I couln't compete I think I wouldn't ride though!
 
Don't give up competing and become a 'leisure rider', if you're anything like me it won't work. Without the incentive of competing it's not the same and I'm definitely not cut out to be a 'happy hacker', it doesn't sound like you are either!!
 
My sister had a horrible rotational fall at Hartpury advanced several years ago and smashed her leg up very badly. She couldnt ride for a year and it is still painful, shorter than the other and much weaker.
Through sheer determination she got back to advanced and her riding is hardly compromised now, she has just learnt to adjust.

If you want to do it then there's always a way through
 
to be honest i was thinking the same thing about a year ago. I fell over at work and effectively smashed my eblow to pieces and had to have some surgery to pin it back together and then another operation to have the pins taken out because they penetrated the skin
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i was in plaster for a while and had limited/no movement for 6-8 weeks then i started getting movemnet back but it affected my grip and the docs told me that it would likely never be the same as it was before the accident. As much as i wanted to get back on and ride and compete again i knew one dodgy fall in the near fture could posisbly scupper all future riding due to the nature of the injury and possible nerve damage etc. And also what do i do when i need to turn left with little/no grip in my left hand!!!

ultimately i had to make a decision.

i was offered a horse in the may after it all and thought well i will always be asking what if if i dont go and try it - well i never looked back and it has been hard because training a novice from just backed to where we are now has been one hell of a journey and i do still think about what if i fall etc etc and getting it right on the left rein with my less than desireable contact but once i got over the initial realisation of what had happened then it wasnt too bad and i got into it -


for now i am so glad i did not give up... the doctors are still a little errr warey that i am riding again, especially worried as my horse is opinionated and ginger so a little hot headded at times!!!

if you still have that drive and determination go for it it shouldnt stop you sometimes you just have to know when to give it a rest like if i jump at a show especially if i have two or three rides then i will know that i need to rest it and do very little with my arm the next day yet if i just have one at a show i may just be avble to potter around and pick up a few odd jobs around the yard

be aware of your injury but dont be warey !!! xx
 
If you or your horse are one sided then try brushing your hair and teeth with the opposite hand and generally doing more with the hand you don't normally use!

Don't stop competing, I think you have been thinking too much!!!
 
If you are still getting results and are aware of your uneven body you are obviously doing just fine.

I think about giving up purely because I struggle to progress as I struggle to ride often enough. I am so hard on myself, Sounds like you are the same and we should look at our merits.

Can you do more exercises to help you strengthen your weak areas?
 
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