Have you the rider ever had an injury and how long was you off riding?

[pocket]

Having now spent since July out of the saddle and now getting serious withdrawal symptoms, while I saddle my horse up for my instructor or a friend to ride, I wondered how long other people have been banned from riding and how did you cope?

Do you break yourself in gently when you get the all clear or did you just jump on and tally ho?

Do you all listen to doctors orders as we do with our vets when our little gems are injured and we listen to the vets every last command in fear that if we don't, we may end up doing more damage to the horse? Or do we just get on and hope for the best when its our own health that's being put into question?

Just wondered as I know of many people, myself included who has not listened in the past and then paid the consequences, for the sake of a ride

 

[Bozzy]

I'm naughty and never listen to medical advice....broke my arm (again) in June and was back riding within a fortnight. Even had my plaster taken off really early and convinced the hospital I'd wear the splint they gave me as an alternative.

I do think long term I'll suffer with not letting myself heal properly with my various injuries but I'm far too impatient for that

 

[Cobland]

OH fell off his horse and hurt his back, he was told by the doctor that he couldnt ride for 6-8 weeks, but after a couple of weeks I found him out riding Mae!!

He said that he cant stay out of the saddle that long.

Ive cut my riding down cause of being pregnant, i get huge withdrawal symptoms if i dont ride for a day or two. Hope your back in the sadde soon!!!!!

 

[lastresort]

Broke my wrist in august and rode the whole time even did 3 hunter trials on a 4 YO!! and a 10 mile sponsor ride. Did have help a bit with tacking up etc. Now the colds here it does ache a bit and I still can lift anything heavy.

Hid it under my gloves and clothing but had no option other than to pay someone luckily my mare ( I have 2 horses) was recovering from injury so she was not ridden. Had to wear a brace for a couple of weeks but everythings ok so tbh think that cast supported it enough so I could ride. Wouldnt reccomend doing a drop for the first time on a 4YO with broke wrist, not one of my better ideas!!

Do what you think is right, everyone said I was mad but I felt I could cope

 

[catembi]

I got bucked off my 4 yo ages ago. Hurt my back & while I was lying on my front trying to get up, he galloped back over me & trod on my heel, totally wrenching the front of my foot.

It swelled up huge but I never went to casualty in case they strapped it up so I couldn't ride. Got my mum to bandage it & carried on. ie riding the next day. I couldn't point my toe enough to get my boot on so had to wear one of o/h's jodhpur boots. Couldn't bear pressure on ankle so rode with stirrups crossed. (TOTALLY insane on Mr Buckaroo.) Getting on was fun as couldn't stand on my r foot at all & couldn't get on from the other side cos couldn't weight bear with r foot in the stirrup long enough to step on.

To cut a long story short, it has healed stiff & I walk like an old lady when I first get up. Neighbour who's a nurse says I prob cracked a little bone cos it hurt a ridiculous amount ie enough to feel v faint on virtually no provocation & took 6 months to improve.

So now I really wish I'd gone to casualty cos it's been 8 or 9 years now so I'm prob stuck with the consequences!!!

 

[pocket]

Normal people, that is non horsey just would not understand why we risk ourselves for the sake of an animal, just to get to that competition or to continue mucking out etc.

I was in and rta in July and have not been able to ride (physically) as I started to feel better, then I started mucking out with assistance with taking muck up heap etc. I am just over an operation to both knees and I'm already planning on rider friendly splints for my knees.

I think with horses, the need is so great that it overshadows everything. My friend had a fall about 3 years ago and had internal fixators to his right leg and was riding affiliated SJ within six weeks? Mad or what?

 

[snurse]

Yes, various broken bones, worst was sternum. No, I never take any notice of medical advice. In fact, I stay away from hospitals/doctors if at all possible. Ride when I feel like it.

 

[pocket]

Ouch that's a nasty one! Have to admit I'm an A&E nurse! Was taken into my own A&E department after the accident, had no choice, gave all my mate one hell of a shock

 

[pottamus]

Until a couple of weeks ago I had not ridden for 6 months so know how you feel! My back went all that time ago and it has taken since then to get right and even now it plays up when I do too much. But I waited until my physio had given me the all clear before riding but to be honest there was no way on earth would have tried it before I was ready...I could not afford a set back and to go through all that pain again. So I waited despite it being frustrating for me and the horse!
I am three weeks back into it now and can only plod about in walk as my boy is not fit, nor am I and my back is not strong enough for trot anyway. It is going to be a long slow journey to get back to where I was but I am prepared to wait because my health and mobility is more important.
For me having my feet knocked from under me was a frightening experience and I don't want to repeat it.

 

[Sprout]

Had a riding accident many years ago, damaged a kidney and was off riding for nearly a year.
Dislocated my knee cap and was left with a knee that wouldnt bend 9 months after the accident, despite physio/hydrotherapy/accupuncture etc, so got on one of our ponies, who then did a massive shy at a pheasant - that magically got my knee bending again!
Few years ago, broke an ankle and then developed a DVT - obviously told not to ride witha broken ankle and while I was on Warfarin, but that didnt stop me!

 

[meandmyself]

Pst- were you off riding is correct!

 

[herbert]

I broke 4 ribs into lots of pieces, punctured my lung and was not expected to live. Was painfully back on board after 2 months.

 

[Chex]

I waited until the doc said I could ride after I broke my leg, which was 6 months *polishes halo*. I was tempted to get on earlier, but I was told if I fell off again, the bone could shatter around the pin, and they can't really fix that

. I was terrified when I finally got back on so I definitely took it slow! It was still really too painful (still is, over a year later

)

 

[Sali]

I only had a minor accident which resulted in me being 'out of action'. First time I fell off the young 'un and the first time I was taken to hospital in an ambulance!

I popped two ligaments in my leg this time last year. I had a month of crutches before I started physio. I should only just be riding again now. I however, was back in the saddle the moment I had the crutches taken away from me. The pain was imense bu I still rode....and competed! =/
Now I'm paying the price for it! I'm still attending regular physio, I have a lovely bump on my ankle which is excess scar tissue, and some days I can't walk. Somedays it just hurts too much to have my feet in the stirrups.
I certainly won't be rushing back into the saddle if anything like that happens again.

 

[paintsplat05]

I fell off on a hack and had to go to hospital-i had sprained my ankle so as soon as everything was alright i started riding again but just did flatwork and didn't go out hacking again for a couple of months.

 

[amazingjewel]

A few years ago I broke my collarbone, and was out of riding for about 8 weeks. I didn't plan on getting back in the saddle until it had healed

, but the doctor said that if it was knocked hard enough, then the bone would have broke the skin!!!

...so that put me off even more!!! When I did get back on, I took it very slowly

 

[SteveD]

I broke my back which put me in hospital for nearly 2 years but as soon as I could ride again I went back to competing SJ)...I have also been stupid enough to exercise my horse whilst wearing a full leg non-weightbearing plaster on my right leg...works if you just let it dangle... I guess that says how stupid I am !!

Aint we all a little mad??? but we got to get our value out of the NHS somehow...and they do a great job of gluing us all back together when the wheels come off.

 

[shelly018]

I broke both elbows and fractured my kneecap nearly 3 years ago after being dumped on the road. Started riding again after about 8 weeks - but have to admit - my confidence is still shot to pieces - but think thats due to my age!!