can you spend too much time in the saddle?

[Alameda]

I am getting the 'my hip is wearing out' feeling which I don't have when I'm on holiday or had when I had a sharer for each horse/ pony

some people ride several horses a day every day though, what am I doing wrong? Apart from getting old

I think I average about two hours a day, sometimes three. It's not a lot is it?

Well you did say your gees are a bit on the porky side at the moment, perhaps that has something to do with it? It must be harder on the hips.

yes is a bit like riding percherons

the grass is rich at the moment but summer is officially over isn't it?

Think our grass is growing faster than ever tbh - dpony has just moved to the field of shame (aka the starvation paddock) as he was getting fatter even in the paddock he was in which wasn't exactly lush and shared with 6 others.

Prob if you have a bit of a dodgy hip, the wide legged position isn't helping. You could try some chondritin/glucosamine to try and help out. Or some pilates

Or a sidesaddle?

Dhorse now has the tiniest, barest paddock and just two little fluffs of brown (ie old stuff, not nice and green) hay a day. Yet still he gets fatter! The vet is coming to do his jabs next week, he's going to tell me off.

Grass is very lush ATM!! Mistake many people make this time of year.

I think it's like everything, an increase in any activity can cause short term discomfort!! Maybe take a few lighter days see how you get on!!

I don't think you can spend too long in the saddle though :)

thanks, I think I was taking a sort of human cortaflex for a while - will find it and resume. Love Pilates but is awkward at my gym, awkward time, extra £ and impossible to register. Could look elsewhere, someone was advertising Pilates for riders recently.

So they had a little over 30 mins each today, not nearly enough but better than nothing

it's horrible when it feels like a chore, was bad tempered with horse (he was extremely trying, either refusing to move at all or cantering sideways with his head between his knees, grrrr) but pony is so willing and honest, he was allowed a little gallop

don't like myself when I'm grumpy

I've got two pregnant mares and two youngsters. I don't have to worry too much thankfully!
We bought some silicone based supplement at Hickstead last year. It was sold on the Falcon Feed stand, and they had a horse version and a people version. It was pretty great!

no advice but I have first time riding in years leg and back pain plus period from hell back and tummy pain so am in sympathy for you!

I only rode for 25min...I can't imagine the pain after 3 hours!

What about lunging or in hand work? (horse agility?) sometimes 30minutes if making them think is like three hours of hacking!!

Well I haven't ridden for about two weeks (too much else to do) and my back is bloody agony atm. I'm hoping that when I start riding every day again my back will improve.

Also, try cod liver oil. I have found it to be really helpful with my knackered knees.

yum painkillers, thanks

oh yes my knees ache a bit too

but even young sprightly people complain about their knees after riding the podgier one - we tried the horse walker but it ended with a trip to the vet and a lot of stitches in someone else's face so there is a general consensus that it's not a useful bit of apparatus for us. But two of my daughters are quite good at lungeing, we'll get there. Winter is coming.