For those returning to riding and those who want to help us :)

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

A thread for anyone trying to get back into riding after a break. A place to share experiences, tips, troubles and laughter :) The more the merrier :).

[Samba1]

I'm getting back into riding after a 10 year gap. I've been having lessons on/off for the last 3 years but bit the bullet and finally bought one of my own 6 weeks ago. Trying to fit it in and around my 21 month old is proving a little tough. I certainly feel I've lost my nerve a bit after having a little one. I was so fearless as a kid! What happened?

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Congratulations on your new horse Samba :) must be very difficult with a little one. I have a 15 month old and they are exhausting but gorgeous! I think losing your nerve is quite common as you get older, I guess we think about things maybe too much and have seen maybe too many accidents. Nothing wrong with taking it slow. I guess it takes time to build a relationship and trust between you so hang in there. Are you still having lessons?

[Samba1]

Thanks! The little one is getting an outside playhouse for Christmas so I'm hoping I'll get on a bit better spending more time outside with her in the garden and me the otherwise of the fence! Still going to have a lesson every couple of weeks as I've not brought on a 5 year old before who's never jumped. Lots of expert help needed with this novice rider horse duo!

[SimLondon]

That's exciting Samba - a young horse and a toddler wow.

Well I have now had 5 lessons after a break and will hopefully be getting my first horse in a couple of months. I say horse but an older steady ploddy type for hacking out in is what I'll be looking for.

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Very jealous of you both! :) will be a while before I can commit to a horse. Going to make the most of the money I'm saving on not having a horse by spending it on lessons. Really want to get back to riding well. Do either of you any discomfort after riding? My muscles don't hurt anymore but my hips feel stiff...

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Do you use any books or dvds you can recommend?

[SimLondon]

i've been rereading Lucy Rees's books and this is on my Amazon wish list mary wanless

How are your lessons going Shapesorter? are you having group or 1-1?

[Samba1]

Me too ShapesSorter I had quite a lot of stiffness getting back into it. Especially in trot. I found after baby my ligaments were still lax from all the hormones. Apparently it can take up to 2 years for your hips and lower back to settle down. If you had spd ( ouchy) it might be that settling down too. One of the little "surprises" I hadn't expected when having a baby. 21 months on and I'm back to normal. I definitely noticed it get better when I stopped breast feeding at a year. Best of luck. Love this thread keep it going!

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Hi Sim,

I haven't heard of Lucy Rees, will take a look. I have the Mary Wanless dvds and book. I do find them helpful although she does have some ideas which are bot universally accepted ;). I'm doing a take back the reins course and having some private lunge lessons. I find once a week isn't enough for my muscle memory plus I really miss riding when I'm not. Lessons going well, but lots of things to work on as a lot as slipped in the last 20 years! Concentrating and listening for instructions being one of them :)

Samba, I do think you're right, pregnancy does seem to really affect your pelvis and hips and they definitely feel looser but weaker too so hopefully with time it will improve. I stopped bf at a year too and I'm sure that can make recovery take a little longer. To be honest after having my first, lots of things about how it affects your body were a surprise to me! Was just glad to come out the other side intact with my second! I have tried yoga but I find it a bit too "still" plus I can't do most of it! Haha. I do love pilates though, it's just finding the time. I have the darcy bussell dvd which I really like. I guess it all takes time, which is fine, I'm just so happy I have taken the plunge to get back into it and have got over the initial fear and ineptitude ;)

[SimLondon]

There are some ethology videos of Lucy Rees + others on equine behaviourism, welfare on epona.tv I loved the series about the mustangs training.

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Thanks Sim, I keep meaning to investigate epona tv :)

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

More trotting without stirrups this morning. Right hip is feeling it now! 😯

[Samba1]

Well done shapes!

I had an oh my god what have we done moment yesterday when I found out hubs is off on business for the next couple of weeks and I can't get my heavy lazy draft to pick her hoofs up on my own. My next door neighbour who's got 30+ years experience couldn't get her to do it either. Always been a problem but extra stubborn now she's lead mare. I've decided to get a equine behaviourist in. Hubs can literally shoulder 1/4 of her weight and push her into doing it but there's no way I can do that. I'm just hoping they come up with something good!

Bloody hell I haven't a clue what I'm doing !!! Arghh!

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Oh dear! I'm sure she might be persuaded with some reward based training. Equine behaviourist will sort it I'm sure :) it's a learning curve, you'll be fine. A bit like parenthood! Haha

[SimLondon]

Shapesorter - just the right hip?
Samba - please let us know what you think of the equine behaviourist, they fascinate me.

Well i missed my lesson this week - about two hours beforehand my next door neighbours horse came flying past my window minus my next door neighbour and lots of cars started stopping outside so i ran out to find horse being held by a motorist that had stopped and neighbour lying in the road completely out of it :-( i went to to hospital with her and she turned out to have severe concussion. (horse was fine btw) It was a windy day and we live on a busy road, her hi-vis exercise sheet blew off and horse spooked, it really wasn't nice seeing her lying in the road but she's fine and horse was also fine.

So im tagging in on a group lesson instead on Sunday with a couple of young riders on a horse I haven't ridden before - I plan to use the 'I've just had a baby excuse' for everything :-)

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Good news they are both fine Sim. Does bring the dangers home. Yes just right hip. I'm pretty sure it's because I carry my youngest on left hip and use the right one to move around so it's much stronger and tighter than left. It's fine today though and range of movement seems to be getting bigger. Plus I have very narrow hips with straight legs and horse yesterday was fairly wide so getting my leg wrapped round required some contortion :). I read in a dressage article after the age of 30 your hip movement becomes more and more limited...haha wonderful! ;) who knew I'd feel old at 36!

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

How old is your little one Sim? :)

[mrslaughan]

Sim - it sounds like you could do with the help of a good osteopath or sports massage therapist- if your sore on just one side it is probably your weak side..... But this may also mean that your not riding "straight"..... So if you have time investing in working on your straightness is so beneficial to your riding.
Also Pilates - with a instructor who really does have an understanding of the musculoskeletal system is hugely beneficial to your riding ( and your ongoing fitness)

[SimLondon]

Ah MrsL I think that was meant for ShapeSorter - although i to have had the dodgy hip from carrying around a toddler and your absolutely right - it was an osteopath that fixed it - they are amazing.

ShapeSorter little one is 4 months, but i plan to use the 'i've just had a baby excuse' for some time :-)

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Thanks Mrslaughan, I did wonder about whether I'm sitting more to the left. Instructor hasn't noticed it but when I try and lift each leg away from saddle from the hip, my right is harder to left so I do wonder. Will investigate thanks!

Sim, wow, you really have just had a baby! 4 months is nothing! You have loads of mileage left! I plan to use it for at least another 10 months! 😉

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Congrats on your baby :) such a lovely time! My little one had men b jab today and not very well, he's asleep on me and it's precious! Will miss it as he gets older :(

[SimLondon]

Ah men b jab is where they advise lots of calpol right? i insisted that my little fella had it done separately because it would have meant 4 injections in one day and that just seems harsh.

Anyway my first group lesson is tomorrow, i'm hoping it's on a small and easy type pony - if it's on a stubborn or whizzy pony then my hints on booking the lesson will have let me down. It will be around 0 degrees but it's an indoor school and i have dug out my gloves and treated myself to new thick jodhpurs and gaiters - my post pregnancy / returning to riding body is rather different to when i bought my last pair of jodhpurs, plus i'm hoping that the pony will recognise my professional attire and not try it on :-)

ps - shapesorter roughly where in the country are you?

[mrslaughan]

Sim - sorry I got that wrong
shape - your instructor will only notice if the stand directly behind you Say as you work up the longside of the arena)......which actually is not where most instructors stand!
even then it may not be obvious - though normally you can see it.........it does depend where the weakness is, and how you compensate. It is an area of special interest for me as it is something I have been working on really hard on for the last year - and I would say the exercises I do off my horse have had the most effect on straightening me when I ride.

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

How did the lesson go Sim? I'm in Essex.

MrsL, actually I might see an osteopath as I'm wondering if I have a weakness in the right side of my pelvis at the back. I have felt it twing a few times since I gave birth but hadn't related it to the weakness in my hip movement. My right hip clicks sometimes when I do pilates or lunge exercises. Also it would make sense as theoretically my right leg is stringer muscle wise but less effective when riding! Which baffled me. I'm sure something is not quite right with it as I have no signs from my left after riding without stirrups but right one very stiff.

[ShapeSorterGoesWild]

Haha Sim, I always get either a stubborn or a whizz pony. Sometimes wish I weight more, then they might put me on a horse ;)