Wonky Rider alert

[spamiad]

hi all

help and advice needed.

Last April i badly broke my Tibia, three lengthy and complicated operations later and a couple of months of Physio i was back riding a friends old horse (September) had to sell my youngster as i had no one to look after her, so February i purchased a welsh section d 18 yo but very youthful to get back into riding without the added pressures of schooling anything on, plus i was expecting to be quite weak.

anyhow i have progressed with her quicker than i expected just generally having fun hacking, fun rides, cross country etc.

but i am starting to get a little frustrated with my self now, i cant seem to ride straight at all, which is effecting how poor Pepsi schools, i would really like to have ago at some dressage through the winter with the prospect of doing a couple of Unaffiliated one day events next year, unless i can find a way to work through or around this problem my flat work is useless, i was quite good before the break.

i have lost a certain amount of flexibility in my right ankle, which will never return to normal, and how the rod was inserted has also effected my knee strength which will get better with time and is getting better, i notice this improvement most week's. i can get all the bend i like on the right rein, but left is is as stiff as a board and i know its the way i am sitting.

how did you all get over you injury's? has anyone else had a similar problem

 

[Wheels]

You would have to assume that the horse is also a bit crooked. They all are and we all are too to varying degrees.

For the horse - I would do a lot of lateral work in-hand - then you can start to straighten him without the added complication of a rider.

Are you still having physio? Do you work out? Pilates/yoga etc? I have an old back injury and I have regular physio to keep me straighter - every 8 weeks (well I did until lockdown!).

If you can find a biomechanics / seat trainer who can help you to use your weight aids more effectively and help you to get the horse really off the leg then you won't need to use your legs as much

Saddle fit for you is also very important - if you can get into a decent pelvic position and your legs can hang in the correct place then the other things won't matter as much.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I didn't need as much treatment as you after I broke my ankle, one operation was quite enough for me, thanks! but I was left with a stiff ankle, even after the NHS physio course ended. I got flexi stirrups, which helped and then needed physio after a car accident. The private physio that i went to worked on the ankle as well and time also helped. I also found that my older horse had some muscle wastage, which made me sit unevenly, so I dealt with that, too.

I had some sessions on a mechanical horse, which helped my straightness.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes I have I had five years of surgery to broken leg they have made the leg longer to repair it .
I was hugely helped by being about to teach riding myself so I understood the how very well .
you leg is what it is so my advice would be to work extra hard on the rest so the your seat and back and core will support you and let you allow for your limb .
My horses are straight when others ride them that’s always a great relief to me .
you need to develop a lot of self awareness .
Others Things, hill walking helped me more that I thought it would ,my perception and relationship ( weird I know ) with the limb improved I did one to one yoga with a teacher I had lots of massage .
Boots breeches socks all need to be the perfect ones for you I ride in knee length mojo runners compression socks most of the time
Time ,it’s too soon to be frustrated my leg improved for years you need to embrace that a degree of impairment is just how it is and work with it .
and I agree with the above you must have a really good saddle for you And stirrups .
Remember a horse can feel a fly on its skin you don’t need to be strong if you train smart .

 

[spamiad]

Yes I have I had five years of surgery to broken leg they have made the leg longer to repair it .
I was hugely helped by being about to teach riding myself so I understood the how very well .
you leg is what it is so my advice would be to work extra hard on the rest so the your seat and back and core will support you and let you allow for your limb .
My horses are straight when others ride them that’s always a great relief to me .
you need to develop a lot of self awareness .
Others Things, hill walking helped me more that I thought it would ,my perception and relationship ( weird I know ) with the limb improved I did one to one yoga with a teacher I had lots of massage .
Boots breeches socks all need to be the perfect ones for you I ride in knee length mojo runners compression socks most of the time
Time ,it’s too soon to be frustrated my leg improved for years you need to embrace that a degree of impairment is just how it is and work with it .
and I agree with the above you must have a really good saddle for you And stirrups .
Remember a horse can feel a fly on its skin you don’t need to be strong if you train smart .

Thanks, i might take up the hill walking and yoga, i agree that i will and still is improving, surgeons did say it could be year before i was walking properly, thanks to my dogs and a good physio i was doing that before Christmas, i did find that hacking out once a week from September did help my ankle flexibility when it came to walking.

Private physio is a little un affordable at the moment although i still do many of the exercises he sent me home with

i may look into a second saddle over Christmas, she did come with her fitted Harry Dabbs saddles which was checked when i went to view her and i really like it due to the fact i was able to adjust the knee blocks to enable me to have my knee and ankle where i could ride and not be in complete agony at the start, i am riding two whole shorter now than i did in February.

which stirrups do you recommend ? there are so many different types now, im riding in free jumps at the moment which i bought before my accident ( in hope of preventing one lol ) they do have a wider tread on them, i cant take the flexi stirrups at all, they hurt far too much

 

[Marigold4]

I have a dodgy knee and have struggled with getting myself less "wonky". I had a brilliant biomechanics lesson with Ali Wakelin this summer in Suffolk. She gave me SO much useful understanding of how I was sitting and how to correct myself. It was not expensive but a long drive for me.