Is anyone else buggered from riding?

[SpringArising]

I'm pretty sure I've done my knees and ankles some long-term damage from years and years of riding - anyone else?

I ride stupidly short (always have - hate riding long) and am very 'heels down' - probably too much so if that's possible.

Problem now is that I physically can't run more than one or two steps without either knee pain (at the back) or ankle stiffness/sharp pain (on the top).

I love exercising away from horses but can't do anything that's hard on my joints which is starting to bug me.

I probably *should* go to the doctor & have been thinking about getting some physio, but just wanted to know if anyone else suffers?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I am buggered from yard work-wrists and hands mostly but also my right elbow. I also like to force my heels down a bit but found wide tread stirrups helped with associated knee/ankle problems (I am bench kneed anyway so have always had pain from riding).

 

[Kezzabell2]

Bad knee and thumb from falling off 6 weeks ago

Bad ankle from a fall from the muck trailer in February

 

[Luci07]

Yes I do. I try to keep up spinning and power plate as found a long time ago that my muscles were becoming unbalanced as only riding encourages over development in some areas and subsequent weakness in others. Core is one that suffers, riders have strong backs and need a good core but riding alone won't help it. Knees are damaged as well. I did use to do body pump...but my horse of the time wrenched my shoulder so badly I tore a hole in the ligaments and have a way to go before I can revisit BP again. I now have 6 monthly mctimoney sessions to keep me straight now as well

 

[Juni141]

Completely screwed!

I permanently damaged my shoulders whilst I was grooming and have reduced movement particularly on the right. Bad lower back. Unlevel and rotated hips (whatever that means). All related. Tried all sorts- none of it sorts it out long term. Basically a doddery old woman at 30!!

 

[luckyoldme]

got on my friends horse the other week, a big wide 17hh gelding. He was really nice but my god when i got on him i thought i was going to dislocate my hips. I got my stirrups shortened and bounced around like a tit on a trampoline...not good

 

[mega spoilt ponies]

Yup, two screwed knees, a broken back, two broken fingers and a dodgy wrist which all cause varying degrees of on-going pain!

 

[siennamum]

Day 3 on the sofa, with an ankle which looks like a purple sausage, after falling off Sunday. Fingers bent in all sorts of directions (they always seem to suffer the most) knees buggered, horrible nails, unmanageable hair and wrinkly weatherbeaten skin - happy as Larry tho, just frusrated I won't be able to ride for a few days yet.

 

[Princess16]

Being new to riding this thread fills me full of promise

 

[poiuytrewq]

This is interesting! My daughter rides very short and heels down also. We are forever trying to convince her to lengthen her stirrups a little (she's actually very good at dressage). She also suffers with her knee's. Wonder if there is a link, I'd never thought of it before.

In reply to your question though, yes I'm pretty knackered! I was fine until the last few years and a dodgy horse. Re-occurring bad back, hip and general achy nasties.

 

[YasandCrystal]

My hands are the only bit affected but they are really affected, swollen and painful all the time. I cannot make a fist anymore and have to ride in Bionic gloves.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

actually having not ridden my own horse since last Oct when i lost Pea,and only riding clients so not every single day i can say im more buggered when im not riding!

i do however have a spanky new metal collarbone thanks to Goof and a wonky finger also.

but my body in general is used to riding every day and is stiffer for not doing so. im still doing yard work etc.

 

[sasquatch]

I'm 19 and have been riding since I was 7.

I have a bad knee that stiffens up if sat still for too long, and an ankle on the same leg I think I may have fractured and never got looked at. Which of course, riding doesn't help.
My toes have frequent broken/odd shaped toe nails thanks to clumsy stand on foot horse.

I have a bad back made worse by all the heavy lifting (although the actual cause is unrelated) and after a fall 5 years ago broke my wrist and that still gets stiff.

I ride both short and long, depending on what I'm doing, but am much comfier to ride shorter and often don't bother changing stirrups from jumping length to school in (partly as I'm using a jumping saddle atm). Having had a break, my whole position has changed again. I also found riding with tall boots gave me more support as I really force my ankles down and the lack of movement in my tall boots as they may as well be made out of wood helps put my heels in a better position and less pain. For a while I could put my heels down but if I put leg on to ask to turn it was agony.

That's not counting broken nails, thumbs, burns (I do love a sand arena and skidding along it at high speed), bruises and cuts that have all happened whilst falling out of the saddle
and also the year round farmer tan.

I'm seriously considering a retirement to Spain already.

 

[SpringArising]

Ok, (sort of) glad to know I'm not the only one!

Riding in long boots is a good idea Sasquatch. I've always ridden in paddock boots and definitely feel the pressure on my ankles more when I don't have my gaiters on.

 

[Enfys]

Being new to riding this thread fills me full of promise

A lot of people ride for years without any of this

 

[Enfys]

Yep, only the usual minor ones though, although I had fun in between times

Hideous varicose veins on one leg (several treatments and operations - no good) that came up overnight after I was trampled 30 years ago. It was not good having a seriously ugly leg at 21

The usual worn out knees and hips - which is why I no longer ride trotting horses.

Total shot ankle and foot - crushed when a horse landed on me when we were racing over haybales (as kids do) yikes 40 years ago, we just strapped it up, turns out I fractured most of the bones in my foot. Whenever I get stood on, or used as a lauch pad it is ALWAYS that foot that gets it!

Bumpy collar bone, it is an inch higher than the other - I always land on that one.

Every toe on both feet is wonky from being broken, half of them don't even bend anymore

 

[pansymouse]

I have the neck of an 80 year old (I'm 53) caused my falling and bashing my head a couple of times (at least). My legs are also iffy and I can no longer wear very high heels which I love. However I have been riding for 50 years so I guess it's to be expected.

 

[touchstone]

I've just done my knee ligaments so no riding for a bit, although my mare's just retired anyway. Trouble is my other knee's started playing up now too.


Also got a bit of arthrits in previously broken toes and dislocated elbow and definitely not as supple as I used to be.

I need to be like the queen and have pony tacked up and waiting for me to go for a pootle out.

 

[tallyho!]

Riding in a hunting/jumping seat (short stirrups) is notoriously bad. Which is why it has a separate name to just general riding.

I was taught to ride short I admit when I was very young. Thank goodness this was corrected in my twenties. I now find riding a real therapy in itself.

If you go to docs and physio but continue to ride as "normal"... it will do no good whatsoever. You have to change.

 

[spacefaer]

Sprenger stirrups are a godsend for knee/ankle joints - if I ride in non-flexi stirrups, I know about it the next day.

Knackered back from bad fall when I was 16 (locked a lumbar vertebra and didn't find out for 10 years, by which time "wrong" muscles were pretty well established) Very stiff and get crooked very easily if I don't go to chiropractor regularly.
Back worse if I walk or teach a lot too

Arthritis in both big toe joints from being trodden on - can't wear high heels
RSI in left wrist and both elbows from too much sweeping and yard work
Stiff neck which occasionally gives me migraines


The only downside, is that I'm worse if I don't ride - my back seizes up completely! So I can't give up..... I'm trapped!!

 

[Ceriann]

9 months post broken left hip and suffering daily due to my three screws now sticking into my muscles and causing constant inflammation. Surgery to remove due next month. My right hip whilst not painful is a little numb from a haematoma and my ankle clicks badly from a fracture. My legs always seem to suffer when I fall! I'm sure I'll have a few more before I'm done!

 

[ozpoz]

Pelvic and back injuries from my teenage years cause a few issues. But I'm finding it all much worse since I stopped riding after losing my horse to colic a fortnight ago. my back feels as if it has seized up.

 

[kassieg]

I have knackered ankles & knees from cross country & galloping up to 5 horses in a day at the event yard

I have legs that discloate at the hips & a bad back

& I'm 23 ...yayy haha

 

[lunarmagic]

Yep combination of being a groom and years of riding have left with my two knackered wrists, both from falls, hole in calf muscle from a kick, a recent kick has left a hole in my thigh and a huge swelling which might need draining, shoulder that needs surgery to release a trapped tendon, sore knees in winter, scars on thighs from chill blanes, three broken fingers and just found out I have bilateral hip cam impingement that needs surgery or a hip replacement at around 45 if left. (Caused from riding and general wear and tear) I'm 35 lol......still just at into the horse way of life, though I'm wondering if that's due to too many bumps to the head lol!

 

[lunarmagic]

Pelvic and back injuries from my teenage years cause a few issues. But I'm finding it all much worse since I stopped riding after losing my horse to colic a fortnight ago. my back feels as if it has seized up.

This, I haven't ridden for two weeks and everything hurts so much more!! 😖

 

[Deltaflyer]

I have a wonky little finger from where I broke/dislocated it when I caught it jumping a drop jump last year. My right shoulder and elbow are buggered and my hips are feeling the strain after 45 odd years of riding. I think though, at 55, I'm in pretty good shape for someone whose fallen off more times that I can count and always either worked at yards or had my horses on DIY. I also have an over flexible spine and some times the muscles go in to spasm but riding actually helps with that

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Feelin' your pain OP (and others).

I'm actually MORE OK when I'm regularly riding, than when I'm not, if that makes sense.

My back, in particular lower back, and sciatic pain, is worse when I don't ride.

What I do find helps is gentle dance-type exercise and trying to keep a good weight/height ratio (not easy!). Also some simple stretches, after riding, helps.

 

[TigerTail]

Yep - hypermobile ankles even riding dressage length all the time give out when i dismount, damage o lower back and neck from previous accidents etc etc.

Swimming is about the only thing I can do thats zero impact on the HMS side of things, kettle bells and weights are good but if you're getting stiff you need tai chi/ballet/yoga etc

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I'm pretty sure I've done my knees and ankles some long-term damage from years and years of riding - anyone else?

I ride stupidly short (always have - hate riding long) and am very 'heels down' - probably too much so if that's possible.

Problem now is that I physically can't run more than one or two steps without either knee pain (at the back) or ankle stiffness/sharp pain (on the top).

I love exercising away from horses but can't do anything that's hard on my joints which is starting to bug me.

I probably *should* go to the doctor & have been thinking about getting some physio, but just wanted to know if anyone else suffers?

I fell in Jan and got pre patella bursitis which was agony and my knee has not repaired properly as i have folds of bursa sac i can feel along with the original problem causing me to limp with the same knee.

 

[spotty_pony]

I see a Chiropractor every 8-10 weeks due to past injuries from falling off. Suffer from back pain and am often stiff through my shoulders and neck. My knees and ankles are stiff, and one of my feet doesn't like to sit too far through the stirrups for some reason?!