Having second thoughts

[CremeFresh]

I've booked myself a lesson tomorrow, the thing is I haven't ridden in years and am going through the menopause which makes my bones ache and drains me of energy . Typing this my legs are killing me and I am so stiff.

Am I mad to think I will be able to get on a horse and more to the point, get off again !! ? I've always loved riding and being around horses but I'm having second thoughts now .

You need to be a bit mad to get involved with horses. Give it a go. What is the worst that can happen?

Absolutely go for it. I can feel like crap, but without fail if I kick myself up the bum and go ride it makes me happier and just feeling more cheerful and having you time makes everything else easier to handle.
Have a great lesson. :)

Thankyou , it's been a good 10 years since I last rode and this time is an assessment so will be interesting what they say.

Go for it! I sat on a horse for the first time in nearly 20 years last night - my children have started riding lessons and being around the horses at the stables made me realise how much I've missed riding. I grew up with horses but since I left home, went to uni etc, then started working in different cities, there just wasn't the opportunity.

I hadn't forgotten anything, but I def need to work on my core and leg strength because I was a bit all over the place, and leg aids were a bit slapdash. But managed to work through all the paces, and kept up with the lesson, which I consider a win. Was lucky to have a horse that was forward going but steady (if that makes sense) who looked after me. I felt so happy and exhilarated at the end.

Hope you have a fab time. Don't expect too much of yourself, is what I would say - just enjoy it!

My only advice is to take it steady. I was an experienced rider in my youth (I used to event), but, not having ridden for ages, booked a lesson. Because I could ride we did a lot - work without stirrups, a lot of sitting trot, some lateral work etc. I was I agony for the next few days! I also had a bogof lesson the next week, which just compounded my pain. However, if I just went for a quiet hack with a friend, (which i then resorted to) I had none of these problems, age and lack of fitness had just caught up with me. Beware over enthusiastic instructors, and tell them you are not riding fit.

Thankyou for the encouragement and tips. I'm definitely not riding fit, I get out of breath just mowing the lawn!

Just had a Video by Karl Greenwood pop up on FB about returning to riding after a long break - spooky !!

It's meant to be! Let us know how you get on later.

I will . Sitting here in jodhpurs already ! Lesson's not til 6 . Nervous ? You bet !

You'll love it! I went back to riding a couple of years ago, in my 40s after a 25 year gap. I'm really enjoying being around horses and outside through the seasons. Also feel a real sense of achievement improving my riding skills steadily. I enjoy both hacking and my lessons. Have met some friendly, like minded people too- lots of ladies of similar age at my stables!

Shit shit shit

I had a lovely 17:1 old school master. Walking was ok , trotting not too bad, he had a very very bouncy trot. The instructor asked if I wanted to try a canter and I felt confident enough to try. So went into sitting trot, came down in the saddle a bit too hard and bang , my back went, mid thoracic spine. I had to stop immediately and could only slump on the poor boys neck. Managed to dismount and drive home but I'm in agony.

oh no no! So sorry to hear this. I hope it's nothing serious.

So do I , it was such a sudden sharp pain. Thought I was going to vomit and came over a bit dizzy. So ,so disappointed. I'm an idiot. Have spent the last 9 months recovering from a serious rta , my spine was the only thing that wasn't bloody injured!

You're not an idiot - there was no reason to think this would happen. People hurt their backs in all sorts of daft ways - brushing their teeth or coughing in the wrong position. It's just rotten luck that it's happened now.

Aw bless you for being kind , I'm just kicking myself for pushing my luck , I've worked so hard to recover from my injuries and now this !

How's your back today, Creme?

Not as bad as I thought it would be , a bit stiff but I'm not in agony , so I reckon it was just muscle spasm. The instructor was lovely and said I could come back and just have a gentle walk round the field, which sounds perfect .

phew! That is really good to hear. I did something similar with my back at the gym a few months ago - at the time I thought I'd done something really serious, and expected to spend weeks laid up in bed, but luckily I got away with it. Sounds like you did too!

I think it's a case of knowing my limitations ! 53 this year , menopausal achy bones and squashed from rta certainly doesn't lend itself to just jumping on a horse and expecting to be ok !

Poor you! I hope you are feeling better today. I feel for you! I started riding again in January at the stables my daughter rode at until leaving for university. I'm 56 and over the years have intermittently tried to get back to riding but either my upper back has seized up or the lesson/hack has been far too long at 2 hours and left me crippled for weeks/even months. When I started again in January I took some magnesium and an ibuprofen prior to the lesson although since Easter I only take the magnesium (one fizzy tablet from Lidl). I wear a lumbar support (had slipped disc L4/5 23 years ago but also place it near the level of my bra clasp as that is where my muscle seizes up) and a tight compression strappy vest top under my t-shirt to keep my back muscles warm. I have had no problem with my weak spot in my back! It took quite a few sessions before my inner thighs stopped aching though. I also only have a 40 minute lesson which since the spring goes up to an hour if my instructor and I go off on a hack.

All was going swimmingly until 2 weeks ago when I fell off jumping and despite wearing a back protector I landed firmly on my sacrum. Omg! Agony! I did get back on and I managed to ride and even redo the jump correctly but have been pretty incapacitated since. I finally saw the Dr on Wednesday, had an X-ray (no fracture) and that evening an appointment with an Osteopath who said I had displaced my coccyx. He fiddled around from my foot to my head and readjusted my spine, fiddled about with my sacrum and supposedly pushed my coccyx back. I'm hoping that the only reason I am still feeling sore is soft tissue/ligament damage.

I have just phoned up and cancelled my lesson for tomorrow. I'm so upset as I have been loving my lessons, really making progress and it has given me such a buzz all week before the next lesson where I normally feel anxious in the morning until I get back to the stables and get my allocated horse ready.

I do hope you are able to continue and you feel better quickly.
Sorry for the long post!

Sorry you had a fall , I guess we don't bounce quite like we used to !

The back support sounds a good idea , I also think I need to build up my core strength as I've spent 9 months slumped on my sofa and have no muscle tone at all. Although I'm hugely surprised that my legs and bum don't ache much.

My big fear is falling off , I really can't afford anymore broken bones (I'm recovering from 8 as it is !!)

I imagine you are fearful and one never knows if a fall is going to happen but then the fear is outweighed by the joy of riding. Maybe invest in an air vest?

I'm delighted that the osteopathy seems to have worked for me and I'm almost pain free.
Have you ridden again? Do a short ride and gradually build up your strength especially after your injuries as I'm sure your body is still healing.

I haven't ridden again yet , and yes I'm very fearful of falling off, I really can't risk any more injuries, maybe I'll just have to resign myself to not riding again

Don't give up! I'm guessing you are still driving after your RTC, and that carries a risk. As long as you are riding suitable horses, your chances of a fall should be minimal, and the health benefits will be huge, once you start getting fitter, not to mention the emotional side!

My back is still a little bit sore , so will wait til it settles before plucking up courage to try again. I'd really be happy with just a gentle walking hack so will ask if the stables do one. I was lucky to come out of the rta alive , I was on a coach, driver lost control, we crashed and it rolled on top of me, I had to be cut free so am very wary of taking risks now with my health. Riding though makes me feel so good , especially mentally as I've been quite low at times.