Riding with a broken finger

[tobiano1984]

I managed to break the top bone of my left ring finger last week, thanks to lead ropes and electrocuted horses! Already feeling frustrated with not riding. I broke the same finger on my right hand last year, much worse, but didn't really notice the healing time as I couldn't ride anyway due to much worse breaks elsewhere.

So - can anyone advise on healing time? It's not a terrible break, just a fracture in a diagonal across the top bone under fingertip. I don't think it's all the way through. But is obviously a crucial finger for riding..!

And any thoughts on riding one handed, stuff I can do? I won't be trying to get on any of the youngsters but my 6yo dressage cob won't cause a problem - he's usually ridden in a double but not sure if that'd be easier than a snaffle (more reins but more precise and better brakes) or not. I've ridden one handed in a double when I used to play polo but the ponies were trained for that with neck reining etc.

I've tried to talk about this to non horsey boyfriend and family and all tell me I mustn't get on a horse but I imagine I'll get more sympathy from you lot...!

 

[Red-1]

I think if you have to ask you should not.

I did ride with a broken finger, a broken kneecap (both with a cast a few weeks later, but also on the day straight after - ouch), cracked pelvis, cracked elbow and broken collar bone. They were not from the same day!!!

One thing I am sure about - riding did not help my recovery!

You will know when it is right, and if you can realistically strap it up to be pain free. Otherwise leave well alone.

 

[Gloi]

I'm not telling you this but webbing reins with knots in make life easier when you have a duff finger. Hopefully you should be able to put enough strapping on to protect it and use your other fingers.

 

[dappyness]

I have a mallet finger ( torn tendon) with a spiral fracture on my right ring finger... I'm supposed to be in a splint for 10 weeks - we all know that's not going to happen!
I now ride with the reins between my middle finger and ring finger. It's not something I would do on a fresh horse but mine is extremely good and I have enough control if needed.
I will say that think about the recovery time. I know that my tendon won't fix and I will be left with a bent finger that won't straighten. As for the spiral fracture I do take a risk every time I ride. I'm lucky my consultant is a grass root eventer and totally understands that I'm going to ride but wil still advise against it.
Take it easy. It's amazing how long it actually takes to heal. I still had pain in the last spiral fracture 11 months after the accident.

 

[Boulty]

Personally I'd try one handed You could always have a fiddle with the two sets of reins without the bit being in the horses mouth to see how you feel and if too faffy you could always just use a snaffle or similar for now. Probably wouldn't be road hacking (unless your roads are more or less private) just in case but if horse is sensible then schooling and hacking on bridleways / fields should be fine

 

[tobiano1984]

Thanks folks - I'll give it a go. Definitely only in the school, not hacking (last years 8 broken bones were from a road accident..!)
I had a spiral fracture a couple of years ago on a middle finger dappyness- really painful! This one is definitely more simple but I don't want to aggravate it so would prefer to ride one handed than to try and use my bad hand.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Personally I would strap it to the middle finger and crack on, but that's my decision!

The hardest bit is not holding the reins normally, could you wear a mitten on that hand instead of a glove, it would mean protection of sorts for the finger as the whole hand would hold the rein.

 

[Jnhuk]

I hacked out with my reliable ID one handed on the two occasions that I had a spiral fracture (thumb and third finger) but I found tacking up the hardest to do on my own with my thumb so that limited me to when someone else was about!

 

[catwithclaws]

I broke a finger on my right hand a few months ago - bringing a horse in from the field who just spun and took off with no warning. I just strapped it to another finger and carried on. stupidly I didn't even get it checked over, when I still couldn't move it after 5 weeks I went to get it looked at - its now too late and its healed wrongly, totally bent and very sore if it gets knocked.

Don't do what I did! keep it well supported and don't risk injuring it further!

 

[Sophiecollins11]

I broke my little finger and ripped all the ligaments when I was younger and refused to admit to my parents how much it hurt so I used to rife with my reins through different fingers in that hand I hot used to it after a while though as it took so long to heal!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

i broke the lower bone of my right ring finger earlier this year. i kept it taped together with its neighbour and did all yard work and rode as normal. when riding i put my glove on then taped the fingers together and just put the rein under my little finger to keep pressure off the break.

i rode at least one horse a day, carried on lunging my youngster etc and it was healed enough to discard the tape in about 4 weeks. it was sore if really yanked but not unbearable.

its still improving, its a little lumpy if you look closely but im getting the normal definition back month by month.

keep it taped up firmly and crack on.

 

[caras mum]

I've broken that finger before. Leading two horses, one lunged at the other and caught my middle fingers, didn't let go, so I pulled them out breaking the ring finger in the process. I actually started back riding a few days later with little problem. Just had to adjust the finger I put the rein over. Driving was my biggest problem, that finger hit the indicator stalk every time I turned the wheel. Bloody painful that was. Took 4 weeks to feel ok then another 2 till completely back to normal. My finger kinda stuck out a bit, so I had to do exercises, squeezing a sponge, first under a cold tap, then hot tap, then cold again to get the finger bending properly again. No lasting problems though. Hope yours heals up quick!

 

[PorkChop]

I broke and dislocated my ring finger - hospital gave me straps etc and I rode as soon as I could, probably before I should have though.

Bad news is it took nearly two years before the pain went and it felt normal, sorry.

 

[tobiano1984]

Thanks everyone, I did try riding a few days later and it didn't work too well - I went for the double bridle as I figured I'd have more control, but unfortunately my horse is too sensitive with it and just having the reins arranged differently confused him so all we managed was walking round in wonky circles..! Bless him, he was so sweet and a little concerned.

It's now been two weeks and it's a lot less painful - I can type etc, but still hurts like ***** if I knock it or put any pressure on it. I think I'll have a stab at riding in a snaffle in the school and just have the rein either off the middle finger or under little finger, as I can close my hand now (last week I couldn't which made it a lot harder..!)

It's a pretty simple fracture compared to the last two which makes me hopeful - I've had a spiral fracture that included both joints, and split my distal phalanx on my other ring finger from top to bottom, through the joint. The latter was just last year and still hurts (and my nail is not quite right..!) - the spiral was a couple of years ago and doesn't give me any issue now.

Just getting antsy about watching other people ride my horses...! Very frustrating

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

it will hurt but no pain no gain! definitely a single rein only and keep it taped so it cant be stressed sideways.

 

[tobiano1984]

it will hurt but no pain no gain! definitely a single rein only and keep it taped so it cant be stressed sideways.

Haha exactly! My trainer suggested vetwrapping them together...

 

[marmalade88]

Ver wrap is the way to go and the normal bandages just rip and get really grimy, at least you can dispose of vet wrap.

I broke my middle finger earlier this year and buddy strapped it with ym ring finger and kept on riding, though got a few funny looks by only having a glove on my left hand.

 

[seh_notts]

I broke my right ring finger below the joint (also.slightly displaced) and rode.a few days later with it in a splint. Afterwards it swelled up and was more painful but I'm hoping that when I get it re.xrayed on Monday it won't have done too much damage Surgeon basically said don't ride or you might need an operation