Riding with bad balance/dizziness?

Montyforever

Montyforever

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Have been around horses for a long time, and own my own but only recently started riding as my balance/dizziness has got to the point where its controlled enough to even attempt it!
We are on a small private yard, lessons are with YO & friend who knows my issues and wouldn't push and horse is a saint (albeit a forward going, incredibly bouncy/long strided one!) Been having lessons in just walk working on steering/balance/position for a few months. Hacking out 2 times a week etc so feel very comfortable on him now :) and he's a sweet horse, perfect for someone like me!
Today i decided to bite the bullet and try a bit of trot (eg actually ask for it rather than the unplanned bits on hacks!) and god is he bouncy! Amazingly didn't go dizzy, and apart from when he lost his balance i kept mine ok although cant say he's very comfortable! (had been warned he's got a difficult trot) but would be interested to hear from anyone else who has balance/dizziness issues that rides and if they have any advice/issues i should be watching out for?
Fallen on my feet with lovely forgiving horse and very good instructor but its hard to explain how my issues are effecting me in the saddle to someone that doesn't have these problems!
 
check all your riding clothes/equipment fits you properly- Sounds silly but when I first started riding I would get so dizzy, I'd get a massive headache and throw up after every ride, once I actually threw up still mounted, all down the side of the poor horse! Riding made me feel sick and my dad even suggested maybe it wasn't for me, turned out my riding hat was too tight. Everyone had told me it was supposed to be tight and I was making a fuss. Got a bigger hat never had that problem again, can't believe it was something so simple!
 
huskydamage said:
check all your riding clothes/equipment fits you properly- Sounds silly but when I first started riding I would get so dizzy, I'd get a massive headache and throw up after every ride, once I actually threw up still mounted, all down the side of the poor horse! Riding made me feel sick and my dad even suggested maybe it wasn't for me, turned out my riding hat was too tight. Everyone had told me it was supposed to be tight and I was making a fuss. Got a bigger hat never had that problem again, can't believe it was something so simple!
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Oh god that's not good! My issues are pre-existing though, stem from a brain infection 4 years ago. Cant walk in a straight line on a flat solid surface! Standing on the mounting block to get on makes my head spin ...Funnily enough, my balance is better in walk on a horse, rather than on my own two feet!
Probably should be at RDA, but have been on the waiting lists so long i have all but given up!
 
I suffer badly with menieres, can't even stand on one leg with falling over and regularly feel like I have just come off a roller coaster or have just finished a bottle of whiskey :D

I do everything with my horse but I have to work very hard with my core muscles to stay on if something unexpected happens.

There is nothing I wouldn't do with my horses because of it but you just have to be a better rider then others that can easily stay on.
Lots of work without stirrups to develop you seat should help.
 
Look into Body Balance, too. There's a balance section in every routine which helped my balance issues a lot. I'm dyspraxic so not great on my own feet either!
 
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