Things you can do with just one hand.

Scoundrel

Scoundrel

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After a very dramatic sandwich making accident involving and bread knife a little finger and lots of blood, I will be one handed for up to six weeks as have managed to cut tendons and all sorts- Having an op later today to stick things back together. Feeling mighty upset and annoyed with myself.
Anyway question is realistically what can I do one handed horse wise?
Only just got going nicely with my new horse so don't want to just chuck him in the field and forget about him - he's fat enough already!
Has anyone ridden one handed? - I won't be able to close my hand at all in an emergency so not sure if it would be safe or not?

Has anyone else has a severed tendon in their hand? How long did it take you to get going again?
 
I always rode Mazzie one handed, but she was a polo pony! Does the new horse neck rein? Could potentially be risky though, but understand you not wanting to turn him away while you heal.
 
Hi scoundrel...you poor thing that sucks! my mam did a similiar thing last year...severed tendon at base of thumb & index finger. now she is not horsy but good news is she was back playing golf in 6 weeks or so which given the way you hold a club could have been very difficult with her injury. get physio!!! people think it sounds ridiculous for a finger but she did and feels it helped! also get bio-oil for the scar. a stress ball is a great thing for squeezing to get it limbered up again. she said her hand was very tight and uncomfortable for first few weeks and it still gets achey now when she is tired but just dont rush it and look after it. we were amazed how much she could do with it. if horsy is good to lunge then get you hands on a pessoa and work him that way to keep him right. you can do plenty like raised trotting poles etc with him. cotton and latex gloves to wear while you are around yard will be important too as a simple infection could set you back! good luck
 
Scoundrel said:
After a very dramatic sandwich making accident involving and bread knife a little finger and lots of blood, I will be one handed for up to six weeks as have managed to cut tendons and all sorts- Having an op later today to stick things back together. Feeling mighty upset and annoyed with myself.
Anyway question is realistically what can I do one handed horse wise?
Only just got going nicely with my new horse so don't want to just chuck him in the field and forget about him - he's fat enough already!
Has anyone ridden one handed? - I won't be able to close my hand at all in an emergency so not sure if it would be safe or not?

Has anyone else has a severed tendon in their hand? How long did it take you to get going again?
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Ouch poor you not nice, you ride western one handed but there is a lot of work to get to that stage and you oftern have to go back to two handed during schooling to help the horse
understand, polo ponies ride onehanded too
maybe a stupid surgesstion maybe you could ride on the lunge with an assistant or could you put him in training livery so he's tuned up for you when your hand is better???
 
Liking the lunging idea- wonder if I can train OH to hold lunge line properly and I'll do the voice and whip bit? Hmmmmm
Thanks for the advice guys, just need to get today over with and then dust myself off and get on with it. Feeling a little bit too sorry for myself!
 
Flying changes, canter pirouette, leg yield... Yes my horse is polocrosse trained but he is also a big hefty ISH (orange one in siggy) and was not brought up one handed, just bridge the reins so you are still giving direct rein signal to the bit rather than true neck reining. You'll need help to mount though.... Best of luck and get well soon (hope the sarnie was worth it?).
 
ouch! You did a proper job on that one, eh?

I think the riding on the lunge might be a goer, but for a few weeks, I really wouldn't do anything. Tendons and ligaments take an age to heal as it is (and don't us horse-owners know it) and it's better to not take the risk. You might not be physically able to clasp your hand, but it won't stop you trying and that's when you risk the further damage.

Can totally understand you feeling sorry for yourself. Hope the op goes well for you.xx
 
Scoundrel said:
Liking the lunging idea- wonder if I can train OH to hold lunge line properly and I'll do the voice and whip bit? Hmmmmm
Thanks for the advice guys, just need to get today over with and then dust myself off and get on with it. Feeling a little bit too sorry for myself!
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Be careful hun on the lunge as you know he can spook, I don't suppose your mum fancies keeping him ticking over?

Have you cut out all his hard feed now? I would just give him perhaps a balancer and some carrots, he is so hard to get the weight off when he's put it on. Perhaps soak his haylage to get the calories out too. I guess all of them are still coming in at night otherwise I would have just said to chuck him out in the field.

Is there no-one on the yard that would ride him for you? I feel so sorry for you as you have already had so many set backs. Oh and be careful when you have it all strapped after the op as he likes bandages and might try and nibble it off! x
 
I'm in the same boat although not as gruesome having broken two bones in the back of my left hand. I'm having to be inventive because it's in a cast, no riding for 8 weeks can't drive etc etc. Regarding excersising, my young horse lunges well off just a headcollar and with a bit of fiddling I can hold both rein and whip in the right hand, I also tried loose schooling yesterday and that worked quite well, I'm getting our trainer to ride mine once a week if she can.

I really wouldn't try and ride with your injury as tendons are slow enough to heal as it is.
 
I tried my current horse 'one handed' as I currently had my left arm in plaster (wrist to shoulder nearly) due to broken elbow. The test was if I didn't fall off, he was sane enough!
Maybe you can lunge him (carefully) or just do some simple groundwork in hand, so long as he's not too pushy or anything, which might be good for improving co-ordination/balance/suppleness etc. which can never be a bad thing and is better than nothing?! :)

Hope your hand heals fast!
 
Oh I'm such a fool!
He is just on grass and a small net at night and has his chop with lo cal balancer thats it.
Mum said she would ride him a few times a week keep him ticking over and I'm currently working on talking another livery into riding him for me as her neddy is retired and she keeps saying she wants to get riding again. I think I'll be ok to ride out in say a week or so-just around the lanes and with company should be fine as he's a sensible chap really.
Figured I can't do any more damage if its in a cast as can't bend it even if I want to!
Stupid hospital forgot about me and no one rang yesterday to tell mewhen to come in, so now have to go today- god knows what kind of disgusting mess will be under my bandage- its not even stitched or anything - they said there wasn't any point to undo it again.
Serves me right for being stubborn and going home instead of staying in.

Going to do lots and lots of lunging and ground work sure it'll be fine!!ha
thanks for all your advice guys x
 
Just don't push it as you don't want to have a weakness for the rest of your life just to get back on a few weeks earlier??!! You know I'm right!!

He should be ok with some lunge work and your mum sitting on him a couple of times a week, that'll keep him going for a while anyway. You could be mean and not give him any chop and just the balancer?? Can you tell I miss him lol!!!

Failing that just chase him round the arena with a lunge whip! That'll burn some calories and you wont need to hold on :-) lol!!

Just please be careful and don't hurt yourself anymore! x
 
our local cattle arket one of the partners lost hand and part of arm and there is hardly anything he can't do sorts lambs drives 4x4 with livestock trailer behind and helps on own farm he has learnt to manage and if there is a will there is a way, credit to him.
 
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