Rider biomechanics

[cazzamamma]

Hi everyone, wasn't quite sure what to name this thread but looking for some advice. I had the physio out yesterday to my horses. Both horses were sore on right side behind the saddle. One did have the pelvis out on that same side. Am I doing something wrong with my position or weight aids to have a similar issue with both horses?

I feel as if my left hand is stronger than my right when riding. Both horses tend to fall out the right shoulder due to my weaker contact down right side.

The older horse is competing at advanced dressage so working laterally and at sitting trot maybe twice a week. The younger horse is 4 so just doing light schooling, hacking and a fee x-poles

Thanks in advance

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It does sound as if the problem could also be yours. I have had sessions on a mechanical horse with a specialist physio. Does your horse's physio work with people too? You really need someone who understands horses and riders to know what to work on.

 

[cazzamamma]

It does sound as if the problem could also be yours. I have had sessions on a mechanical horse with a specialist physio. Does your horse's physio work with people too? You really need someone who understands horses and riders to know what to work on.

My current physio does not do humans. A previous one put the biomechanics jacket on me and I seemed symmetrical. I thought my older horse was sore because of an injury to a hind leg when he was younger but now I'm paranoid that I could be causing an issue. I suppose I have to see how the younger horse gets on after getting her pelvis sorted and maybe get physio back out in 4-6 weeks

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I wonder if your older horse's problems have impacted on you and in turn you have influenced your younger horse. I don't know anything about a biomechanics jacket but I doubt that many of us are truly symmetrical.

 

[ozpoz]

Most riders seem to be asymmetric and do need to work on it. Pilates for riders is helpful and checking frequently that the saddle is a correct fit for horse and rider is a must.

 

[Identityincrisis]

I have had a lot of lessons on a mechanical horse and it did wonders for my perception, awareness and position. If you're wonky on the mechanical horse you know it is you not the horse. When I first started using one, riding straight was very alien as it felt wonky but in time I trained my body straighter

 

[whiteflower]

A couple of years ago I did a session with centaur biomechanics where you where the jacket and they put markers on the back of your saddle and horses bottom. I knew I wasn't totally straight but the video feed back was quite shocking in how unlevel I was in my pelvis even though to me if felt level. Being able to watch yourself with the markers on and in slow motion on video can give you a good idea of what's actually going on when your in the saddle. I had seen several physios, non of whom had picked up on any asymmetry issues as they were only in the saddle ,not on the ground. May be worth a session if they do a clinic near you. I found it very useful

 

[tallyho!]

What discipline are you doing at the moment with them? Or maybe just a bit of everything? Where do you ride mostly and how? I've been following rider biomechanics (and previous incarnations, names and teachers) for about 15 years now and horse related problems, and you could argue the chicken and egg conundrum until the cows come home. All you can do is improve what problems you see either with you or the horse. Yourself is a good place to start unless there is a known confirmed condition your horse has e.g. back issues, hock, pelvis etc then perhaps resolve those first. Klaus Schoneich's book on correct movement in horses is great if you wanted to read a bit about horse biomechanics.

Have you read Mary Wanless' book on Rider Biomechanics? It's a good book. Well explained. To be honest though, it's much better to find someone near you who is teaching like this if you were interested.

 

[KautoStar1]

Just as a point to note, the pelvis can't be out. its an unjointed structure. Any joint that is "out" is dislocated or broken. Back issues tend to be secondary to lower limb issues - hocks, stifle etc.

Presumably your physio gave you some exercises to do ?

 

[ihatework]

I have had a lot of lessons on a mechanical horse and it did wonders for my perception, awareness and position. If you're wonky on the mechanical horse you know it is you not the horse. When I first started using one, riding straight was very alien as it felt wonky but in time I trained my body straighter

Same here. I found my mechanical horse sessions hugely helpful for identifying and correcting wonkiness

 

[cazzamamma]

Just as a point to note, the pelvis can't be out. its an unjointed structure. Any joint that is "out" is dislocated or broken. Back issues tend to be secondary to lower limb issues - hocks, stifle etc.

Presumably your physio gave you some exercises to do ?

So if the pelvis was not level ie right side was forward and down, how do you describe it?

The older horse got exercises - leg yield at walk getting good crossover and tail pulls to the side from the ground.

I was just told to keep the younger horse on straight lines for 72 hours and bring her back slowly

 

[cazzamamma]

The biomechanics session I had was based on the videoing with the jacket on but the assessment was not to the extent that centaur do. She also checked me off the horse.

I have been doing the 'dressage rider training' online program to strengthen and mobilise myself.

 

[Myloubylou]

So if the pelvis was not level ie right side was forward and down, how do you describe it?

The older horse got exercises - leg yield at walk getting good crossover and tail pulls to the side from the ground.

I was just told to keep the younger horse on straight lines for 72 hours and bring her back slowly

Think everyone calls it “out” when what they mean is unlevel - sort of short hand speak. Think is muscles and tendons that pull it out of alignment hence manipulation that physio does.

Re Mary Wanless, there’s a website called Dressage Training TV that you can subscribe to, there’s a particular series on there on riders body position that am finding useful. I also have occasional biomechanics lessons, you can really feel the difference with very small positional changes

 

[tallyho!]

Just as a point to note, the pelvis can't be out. its an unjointed structure. Any joint that is "out" is dislocated or broken. Back issues tend to be secondary to lower limb issues - hocks, stifle etc.

Presumably your physio gave you some exercises to do ?

“Out” can mean so many things... I wouldn’t be too presumptuous. It does bug me though that so many professionals use it...yes, what is “out” about it?

 

[Brownmare]

I am horribly wonky and if I'm not careful I can affect my horses. Over the years I have tried everything to straighten myself and the most effective thing I have found is regular yoga practice with a chiro / osteo treatment 2-3 times a year

 

[emilylou]

Everyone is wonky. I am prone to using my right hand more strongly than my left so when schooling at home I hold my right hand in french grip and left hand normally, and get rid of my stirrups. Really difficult to remain wonky then! Yoga and Pilates are really great too.
I am a physio so very particular about my straightness etc.

 

[Red-1]

“Out” can mean so many things... I wouldn’t be too presumptuous. It does bug me though that so many professionals use it...yes, what is “out” about it?

It just means out of alignment. I don't think anyone suggests that the whole joint has unravelled and sits outside of it's locator place.

It amuses me that people get so wound up about a pelvis being out (of alignment) and how this is impossible.

I had one leg longer than the other for years. My joints were out of alignment, because muscles were in spasm. You could have said that my pelvis was out (of alignment). It took just one gruelling 4 hour physio session to right. It was tricky afterwards as the floor felt too high on one side, it felt weird as I could not walk without scuffing the foot that had been high and was now low. The 4 hours included learning to walk again, being re-adjusted, walking, being re-adjusted etc.

I never did have one leg longer than the other, nor any joints popped out of where they should be located. But, my pelvis was out (of alignment) and was cured in this session. The muscles were released and I had to learn new proproception awareness, coupled with ongoing adjustments to my muscles and way of going.

 

[Melody Grey]

Hi everyone, wasn't quite sure what to name this thread but looking for some advice. I had the physio out yesterday to my horses. Both horses were sore on right side behind the saddle. One did have the pelvis out on that same side. Am I doing something wrong with my position or weight aids to have a similar issue with both horses?

I feel as if my left hand is stronger than my right when riding. Both horses tend to fall out the right shoulder due to my weaker contact down right side.

The older horse is competing at advanced dressage so working laterally and at sitting trot maybe twice a week. The younger horse is 4 so just doing light schooling, hacking and a fee x-poles

Thanks in advance

Forgive the blindingly obvious question, but you’re not using the same saddle for both horses I presume?