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This message is from: Lois Berenyi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Of all my fears related to returning to riding this was one I had
not considered. Apparently between age 50 and 62 my lower back and
hip joints had seized up. Now my fear is that I will not be able to
get off (of my own choice) if I had to.
If anyone knows of exercises specifically to help this inflexibility
I'd like to know of them. I have not encountered this "disability"
in any other activity of normal life.
My defense against all the people who want me to risk life and
limb.....and put my extra 50# on a mare who can't talk and give me
her opinion...is that I love the horses, always have, the same as my
dogs.
Half of the horses at the barn where I board are not ridden. I
respect most the people who don't ride, but still come out and give
their horses attention. Several are older retired horses. One horse
can't be ridden due to any injury and his owner comes out every week
and does clicker training with him - they both have lots of fun and
the horse still thinks he has a job. I don't think I'd be very
interested in riding if the horse care and ground training were not
part of it as like you I love just interacting.
Stay solid in your conviction that you are the best one to judge how
you should interact with your horses - enjoy them anyway you can.
When I went back to riding four years ago after six years off for a
surgery and recovery, etc. I had an embarassing start. For my first
lesson, they had a 16 hand thoroughbred all tacked up and ready to go
and a little flimsy 2 step stepstool for me to get on. I couldn't
begin to get on her! Luckily they brought out a 14'3 or 15' quarter
horse and I somehow was able to pull myself on her. I couldn't ride
in a dressage saddle because I didn't have enough hip and lower back
flexibility. What helped the most to loosen up my hips and back was
riding- I bought my owner solid three step mounting block and with
time I was able to mount and dismount comfortably-without having to
lie down on her back to swing my leg over. I still use a large three
step mounting block with my Fjord because it is better for my knees
and his back. Good luck
--
Genie Dethloff and Finne
Ann Arbor, Michigan
