Lesson on a mechanical horse - hints & tips?!

R

Riverboy

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Hi all you lovely HHOs - happy psedo Friday!

Well - Luca is away being backed and is now being ridden and doing well so Jules - the lady who has him has said I should get riding as much as possible (because I've basically not ridden much for 2 yrs now). I've been riding my friends mare, and getting the odd ride off other friends when I can - but on Tuesday night I was hacking Luna round the farm and realised I was collapsing through my left side (I have a badly damaged hip on my left side and not doing any real exercise whilst Luca has been away has meant that the old devil is haunting me...)

Wanting to take the bull by the horns I rang a recommended local riding school to ask to book some lunge lessons to sort my position out - and they have suggested I have a lesson on their mechanical horse... and so finally I get to the point... anyone had a lesson/go on one of these? What should I expect?! I'm excited and nervous but I believe that it won't be worth having paid all this money to have Luca restarted slowly, correctly and in balance for my dodgy hip problem to make him all wonky again!!

Easter eggs and a nice malted milk drink to all with a dash of whiskey...

T xx
 
It's dependant on the quality of the instructor teaching you but they can be really, really beneficial, particularly for your sort of problem- it will really help you to straighten out and think your position through slowly and logically before adding in a creature with a mind of its own!
 
Well, I had a lesson paid for by a friend a couple of years ago and it was fab! My own mare is a bit sharp/spooky (cob) and I would have problems having a lesson with her for various reasons (no school at home, she is tricky to ride in my field etc.) So with the mechanical horse you can concentrate on yourself, your position, you can move about in the saddle, the instructor can move your leg/hip whatever (with your permission of course, very pc). Also the horse does exactly what you want so if for example you are doing rising trot and you want to change diagonal or slow down the rising or go sitting, there is none of that "what do you want to do now I might buck" sort of thing that you get with a young/green horse. If I could have afforded it I would have had more. Make sure the Instructor is trained to teach on it though. I went to a BHS approved centre. I would thoroughly recommend it! Good luck.
 
I would love a few lessons on one. I think they are fantastic. The only mechanical horse I have ever ridden is the racing one at the British Racing School
 
It is a BHS approved centre, and they said it would be good for me because they could focus on me without me having to worry about the horse beneath me - as its my position I need to work on. I always worry with things like this and new instructors though as I have to explain I am missing two muscles around my left hip and we have to work around it - my left leg cannot quite go into a totally 'correct' position because its physically impossible but I certainly didn't used to be this 'crooked'...

I noticed yesterday that I was sitting 'crooked' at work as well though so am focusing on sitting straight when driving/working as well!

Its so close to me having my boy back and being able to ride I just want everything to be ok!

Thanks guys though - it does sound like the best plan of action.
 
A quick tip about your hip...I'm sure you don't anyway but my chiropractor always tells me not to a)sit on my foot to et on the sofa b)do anything (including mucking out) on the same side always, like try to change ends on the sofa for example, as it's those little twists which set the muscles up for the big collapse! Pilates/yoga would probably be good, if you have the time and the money!!!
 
Ooh I'm excited! The simulators are FAB, I had a lesson on one at a riding school on holiday, before I got on the horse. The one I rode was sooo pretty, and even had a head and neck that flexed, so even though I wasn't 'turning' per se, I still had to use my reins and keep horseys neck straight. I also got the chance to canter without stirrups, which I would definitely NOT be able to do yet on an actual pony! Hope you have a good lesson, and we want updates and pics please!! x
 
rangerover - yes I do that a lot unfortunately - because its uncomfortable to sit on my left bottom cheek I tend to prop myself any way I can to relieve it... I am now trying to NOT do so consciously - I was thinking about Pilates classes - do you think these would help? I see my Chrio once a month - trouble is I was born with the hip problem but it wasn't fully diagnosed until I was 21 - so now my back is curved and I have several bad habits! Drs think riding is the only reason I can walk - built up secondary muscles around it!
 
Pilates is very good - I can never fit it in to go anymore - you can get DVDs etc. to do at home. It works you evenly on both sides which is good. Possibly see if someone local can do trial lesson for you? The mech horse sounds as though it will do you power of good tho. Good luck and enjoy!
 
Thanks rangerover! Will have a look for classes round here and let you know how the mechanical horse riding goes... I always worried that pilates would do me more harm - I tried yoga but it was agony and the instructor tried to move my leg into the 'right position' and I couldn't walk for a week!

x
 
I had a few lessons on one of these following a major spinal op. I wanted to get back riding but didn't want to ride the real thing initially as I was unsure if I'd cope physically. It was great as it really gave me confidence in my ability and built up the correct muscles to ride the real thing. Would highly recommend it with a decent instructor.
 
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