One sided with hands...please any ideas

Persephone

Persephone

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I have this horrible problem of being considerably stronger with my right hand when riding. I had a bad accident 2 years ago when my left arm was partially severed just below the elbow, it was reattatched fine luckily but now that arm is weaker and I have no or partial feeling from the elbow downwards.

I ride with continental reins so I can make sure my hands are even and have been really concentrating on relaxing my shoulders and elbows but I am finding it so difficult, and always feel as though I am riding more with my hands than my seat and legs, but I just find it immensely difficult to even up. I grip like hell with my left hand because I can't really feel the rein in my hand and I have dropped loads of schooling whips from my left hand as I can't feel them properly. I feel this all makes my hands and arms very tense and not particulalrly forgiving for my poor Star.

Bless her she is so forgiving but I need to beat theses problems for her sake as well as mine.

Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated...

Jo x
 
Sadly this sounds as if it is a permanant problem. Your own physio wiill be able to recomend exercises apropriate for your particular injuries.

Would a handle/loop on the rein on your bad arm help? You won't have to grip so much. I know a lady who lost most of her hand in an accident and very little sensation in the stump. She uses a loop handleon one rein and she does very well at dressage competing on equal terms with uninjured riders.

Another idea might be to try western riding. You hold both reins in one hand and neck rein to steer. It might be fun to go for a taster lesson at a proper western riding centre.

Because it is your own horse, you could school it to respond to neck reining and one handed ridfing, and yet ride English in the saddle department.

Another thought is to try holding the reins in one hadn like we do driving "coachman style" You have the left rein in its normal position and the other between the 2nd and 3rd fingers. You steer by turning your wrist one way or the other and the spare hand is used to shorten the reins.

Have a play about. As tehy say, there is more than one way to skin a cat!
 
I'm terrible with my hands. My instructor got me some of those string gloves and threaded a mini flag through the back of each one - that way I was always aware of where my hands were and what they were doing. It really made a difference - gave my mare excellent impulsion for the first few lessons too!!
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Thanks! He's a nightmare to keep clean, so he is mainly brown and green! He started out a lot greyer, a bit like your nice grey and has gotten whiter over the years.

What do you think of the flexi reins, any good? I have a youngster who has been ridden with a lot of hand in the past and is finding it difficult to have a consistent contact. I am trying my best to be soft in the hand, but he can catch me out so I was going to give them a try.
 
Well, she seems ok in them. I guess time will tell and also more fast work before I decide!

I'm not looking forward to her whiting out tbh, I love her dapples!
 
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