HayleyUK
Well-Known Member
I've been working my mare lately in a more 'dressage' orientated way and after spending years going like a giraffe we're really getting some lovely work from her.
I'm learning to ride more from behind into a contact and shes learning to accept it and go forward into it which is brilliant.
We're going out getting low/mid 60's at local prelim and managed a placing last time out so I'm incredibly pleased with how well shes come on in the past 3 or 4 months especially since shes 15.
Anyway, Back in January, I had a car crash. Not too serious but it was bad enough to cause whiplash and a back injury. I'm still having physio for it but am told I can ride etc.
I 've found that over the last month my back pain when riding has reduced and I'm pretty much recovered in terms of riding ability however on the left rein I absolutely can not hold a contact down my outside rein. Once I pick up the contact I need and I feel the 'connect' my right elbow just gives and my whole arm is painful especially around that area. Its a fairly recent development now I'm asking a bit more from myself thats only happened since the accident.
Its progressed to getting to the point now where I cant pick up the contact without pain for more than say a 10 m circle and pony isn't really getting much from my riding on that rein.
Today it all came to a head, I got frustrated to the point I really wanted out and just to give up, I was verging on tears because I feel as if I'm letting her down by this inability to hold the contact physically and obviously the pain as well.
I'm wondering if I should just not ride and continue to lunge her in side reins a couple of times a week to continue the education and maybe hack or pop a few fences once a week or so and not really worry too much about working her forwards to a contact.
I'm also wondering if maybe I should see if my trainer could have her for a week or two for some schooling and see if I'm more physically able when she comes back.
I'm so frustrated and disheartened by the whole thing and its driving me insane that its basically the result of an accident.
What would you do?
ps; a glass of wine if you got this far!
I'm learning to ride more from behind into a contact and shes learning to accept it and go forward into it which is brilliant.
We're going out getting low/mid 60's at local prelim and managed a placing last time out so I'm incredibly pleased with how well shes come on in the past 3 or 4 months especially since shes 15.
Anyway, Back in January, I had a car crash. Not too serious but it was bad enough to cause whiplash and a back injury. I'm still having physio for it but am told I can ride etc.
I 've found that over the last month my back pain when riding has reduced and I'm pretty much recovered in terms of riding ability however on the left rein I absolutely can not hold a contact down my outside rein. Once I pick up the contact I need and I feel the 'connect' my right elbow just gives and my whole arm is painful especially around that area. Its a fairly recent development now I'm asking a bit more from myself thats only happened since the accident.
Its progressed to getting to the point now where I cant pick up the contact without pain for more than say a 10 m circle and pony isn't really getting much from my riding on that rein.
Today it all came to a head, I got frustrated to the point I really wanted out and just to give up, I was verging on tears because I feel as if I'm letting her down by this inability to hold the contact physically and obviously the pain as well.
I'm wondering if I should just not ride and continue to lunge her in side reins a couple of times a week to continue the education and maybe hack or pop a few fences once a week or so and not really worry too much about working her forwards to a contact.
I'm also wondering if maybe I should see if my trainer could have her for a week or two for some schooling and see if I'm more physically able when she comes back.
I'm so frustrated and disheartened by the whole thing and its driving me insane that its basically the result of an accident.
What would you do?
ps; a glass of wine if you got this far!
