Riding wonky - how much can a chiropractor type person help?

Christmas Crumpet

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Have noticed I'm riding a bit wonky i.e my right leg seems to sit further forwards and I feel slightly unbalanced in the saddle. My right knee comes closer to the edge of the saddle flap than my left one.

Just been to see Mctimoney lady and am booked to see her again next week. She said my left leg was longer than my right (which kind of makes sense) and that it wasn't going to be a one session fix. Also that the problem stemmed from my pelvis.

Anyway am more than happy to go and see her as often as required but wanted to know whether this is going to sort out my wonky position or do I also need someone on the ground rectifying my position as well telling me where I'm going wrong. Am I being overly hopeful that just seeing the McTimoney lady is going to sort the problem on its own?!!!
 
I went to a mctimoney chiropractor in the winter and had a lot of treatment on hips, back and shoulders. My hips were severely rotated (a lot to do with riding) and they are much much better now. The back and shoulders were a result of old riding injuries/repetitive strains but made worse by hips.

I have found that my riding has become increasingly more balanced, even and I am able to sit 'deeper' if that makes more sense during and after the treatment. That said, I would always have someone on the ground as they are able to see things that as the rider you are unable to, plus a second point of view is always incredibly useful.

I'd definitely recommend to keep going with the chiro and get some lessons so you know that an improvement is being made too!

Good luck! :)
 
It definitely makes a vast improvement with me, I twist through my pelvis and collapse through the ribs on one side. However no matter how hard I work on straightness in the saddle I relapse in my body and have to go back every 2 1/2 months as a regular appointment. I also 'knock' myself back 'out' if I do something stupid or if I have a fall. However I suffer with hyperflexion and I think the issues I have relate to this and that generally people can go longer between maintenance appointments/ not need to go after initial sessions.
 
I go once a month now, but when i've been in trouble sometimes i have been twice a week for 2 weeks, then once a week and so on. Its not an instant fix and your body does need time to adjust itself. It does help and i swear by it.
 
I collapse through the ribs on one side. However no matter how hard I work on straightness in the saddle

I have this problem......and its worsened (i think) since I fell offon to my neck last week. I can sit 'straight' if i really work on it and focus all of myself on doing so but find it impossible to maintain it...plus my other shoulder feels reaaly tight.

Sorry to hijack but do you think it will be worth seing a physio etc? and how much roughly will it cost?
 
If you have got issues - whether structural or muscular that are affecting your riding - they will be affecting everything else too! How you walk, how you move...everything. The body will compensate for issues that are there long before you are aware of them...once you are aware of them or experience pain, the damage has already set in. So yes, you need to see someone on a regular basis who can work things through and sort out the underlying problems.
 
It definitely makes a vast improvement with me, I twist through my pelvis and collapse through the ribs on one side. However no matter how hard I work on straightness in the saddle I relapse in my body and have to go back every 2 1/2 months as a regular appointment. I also 'knock' myself back 'out' if I do something stupid or if I have a fall. However I suffer with hyperflexion and I think the issues I have relate to this and that generally people can go longer between maintenance appointments/ not need to go after initial sessions.

Intersting, me too. Maybe it's a common complaint! Horse gets lots of TLC and have had osteo, physio and massage. Me? Nowt! Maybe I should invest in a bit for myself, as makes perfect sense that these things impact the horse/riding as much as (more?) than how the horse is going. Maybe I could book a double appt for me and the hoss :)

...although I could give the carrot stretches a miss. Wonder if cake stretches work as well :)
 
I have 'wonky hip' problems & see my chiro regularly, last year it was at least every 3 months following a fall on the ice. then 3 months ago I took up Pilates its been great I feel more supple, less lopsided & generally deeper having dropped my leathers a hole. Have had both geldings backs done at the same time so we should all be straight now.
 
To those with the same problem I definitely recommend Mctimoney. I can be sat in the saddle riding thinking 'I'm twisted' and do my damndest to correct it but I really physically struggle to if I'm not straight in my body generally ie after a chiro appointment! I tried physio years ago didn't do anything for me then, but can't comment on whether it would help now! It definitely makes a difference to my horses way of going because being twisted means both my weight and my aids aren't equal.

Bernster I love the cake stretches idea! :D.
 
I had a lesson on a horse simulator, the lady that teaches also specialises in Alexander technique. It was a really good way to help straighten me out on horse back.
 
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