Riding damaging fingers...???

little_critter

little_critter

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I have had a horse on loan for 3 months now, before that I rode once a week at a riding school.
For the last month I've had problems with my right ring finger locking in the morning and my left ring finger feeling a bit stiff.
I was wondering if it had been caused by riding more often and taking up more of a contact when I ride (I'm not heavy handed but ride more firmly than I used to) Of course it's the ring finger that takes the brunt of any pull / lean that the horse puts on the reins.
I saw the doctor about it but she was useless.
Has this happened to anyone else??
 
It could be a mixture of that and the cold. When I started riding more regulary I had a problem with my hip it would lock up but it doesn't anymore unless I've been out for hours.

My instructor has been trying to get my to carry more weight between my thumb and finger so you can do mire adjusting and 'playing' with the reins like this. For some reason I find it really tricky but maybe you could try doing that? :)
 
I'm pretty sure it can cause repetetive strain type injury, I used to ride for 5 or 6 hours every day and currently have my own horse and at the age of 45 have developed a very unsightly lump on the joint of my ring finger which hurts and I am unable to bend it properly. I've never been to a doctor about it but I think it will probably be arthritis.
I tend to use the rein between the next fingers up when it is particularly painful (around the little finger hurts too.)

Still worth it when you have a fab ride though!
 
I've ridden almost everyday for the last 15 years, i have very weak hands but wether that's down to riding or not i couldn't really say.
 
Hi, my third fingers hurt when I ride a lot and also both my thumbs are very sore from doing up so many rugs. Probably arthritis setting in I would think! I use ibubrofen gell are similar on them and it seems to help. :)
 
Sounds likely TBH. Might be worth investing in a few lessons to get your legs and seat doing more of the slowing/steering or whatever you mainly use your hands for.

I used to try to spend 5-10min schooling (circles, changes of pace, loops, serpentine etc) without any rein contact at all a couple of times a week. Depending how long they are you might just be able to drop them/knot them or keep hold of them but totally loose. Do it in an enclosed space to start with and use voice/repeat whatever you've just done with rein contact first and you should soon find that your hands get even lighter because you're that much more confident in your other aids.

Note: I wasn't taught to do the above by anyone special and I did only do it with an already educated horse I knew well (i.e. not a youngster I was worried about confusing). But nothing made us feel closer and safer when riding than knowing that I could school him quietly (and sometimes bareback) with no rein contact at all. :-)
 
Hi Its prob the riding thats causing it, but if it gets worse or you get any pains in other parts of your body ie shoulders knees etc go back to your GP.
I dont know your age obviously but it might help under 30 ish wouldnt me an age thing if you get my meaning;) I hope this helps and it gets better:)
 
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