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Discussion on Just curious about riding after injury | |
Author | Message |
Member: Corinne |
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - 10:23 am: Hello all. I am sure you know from other posts that I am getting back on my feet after foot surgery seven weeks ago.Anyway, went for two lessons so far at the training barn where Demetrius is brushing up on his dressage training. I still wear the CAM walker but have a special (hardsoled but soft) shoe on my recovering foot for riding because one of the osteotomies hasn't healed just yet. Anyway, in prep for riding, to get him completely focused on me we walk him around the arena on the on the lunge prior to lunging on that reign. On the left reign where his shoulders are perpendicular to my limp side, as he is walked against the wall, or when he is lunged to the left, he doesn't seem to be listening to my commands as intently as he does on the right where he see my good side (I don't have as much trouble walking with my good foot leading and I don't limp as much with my right foot (I am trying to keep my pace even on both sides). In the saddle on the lunge while going right he is very responsive to my aides but on the left where my bad foot is the outside leg he seems to want to fall into his left shoulder. Perhaps even though my outside leg is not on to cause him to fall into the left shoulder I might be slightly more closed in the hip on the side because of muscle tightness from inactivity on that side which might be putting unequal weight on my thigh. (man is he ever responsive to the aides after training) I know this may be a silly question to ask but can he sense my injury? Could the limping he sees out his left eye be freaking him a bit? I have never seen him listen so well on the lunge when he sees my good side out of that eye. Anyway, we are doing well. I am taking it easy and am having stirrupless lessons twice a week. I just hope I don't get him home and teach him inadvertantly to compensate for my injury! Let me know what you all may thing about a horse sensing injury. v/r Corinne |
Member: Mrose |
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - 11:18 am: So glad you are doing so good, Corrine!IMO horses can definitely sense injury, illness, and your mood. My older horses, mares and stallions, always seem concerned about me if I have an injury or illness, and seem extra sweet to me. Some of the younger horses, however, one young gelding in particular, will try and take advantage of the situation, so I usually have my husband handle him if I'm not "up to par." I wouldn't think your injury itself would be affecting your horse's performance, though. But, I would think your uneven balance, and lack of strength on one side would affect the way he responds to you, his balance, and his performance in general. Ii think once you get our strength back, he will return to normal. In the meantime, what about carrying a dressage whip and cuing him with that until you get your strength back in your leg? Might that help? |
Member: Corinne |
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006 - 12:04 pm: Sara,Hello there! Yes I am getting along very well....of course I miss my usual physical workouts and definately being able to do more in the saddle but that will come with time. Yes....I think he is being overly sweet as well. Like my dog does when I am upset. Anyway, I was just curious because when leading him on the lunge on the side I limped he almost wanted to pick up the pace but I bet my body language is giving him that cue and I did't realize it and he has learned quite a bit about responding correctly to the rider's cues on the ground a the lunge. In the saddle I always carry a dressage whip and just use a little more inside leg to correct the bend if he falls in and if that doesn't work a little tap with the whip. I must have been machanically slightly lifting my outside seat bone and putting on a little more thigh asking him to do that because my lower outside leg was in a good position. What is funny is that he is so smart and anticipatory that when the trainer got on next ride he tried to do that with her as well....it was like...well Mommy asked last time for me to do that...let me show you what I have learned. Also, to get him to focus when he is on a mission or spooky (as he is a highly energized and sometimes spooky horse) they have been putting him in an outside bend down the long line at times so I think he might also be anticipating that from me or is waiting for the cue to counter bend and I probably don't have enough inside leg on to catch it so his shoulder falls in as well. haven't ridden off the line yet so I will see on Friday. I shoudn't be suprised that with him in training it's going to be a learning curve for me as well to get used to his newfound responsiveness. Oh boy! Anyway, got to run and catch up on some school work. Thanks Sara. Corinne |