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Post by watchbank on Jan 11, 2012 17:51:05 GMT
Well she changes colour in the winter, so she looks different. She needs some condition on, as you say shes lost it but im working on it, ive only had her 6 weeks! Thanks though some really useful advice x
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Post by sageandonion on Jan 11, 2012 20:34:22 GMT
How about getting a fit ball and sitting on it watching tv and you have to take both feet off the floor. If you are not sitting on your butt bones on the ball with your legs in balance under, you will very quickly be sitting on your bruised butt on the floor.
Try not to get yourself in a tizz about this, you will just tense everything up trying to get things perfect. If you have only had your pony six weeks, then you are not going to be perfect for a while. Go with the flow, go hacking and just enjoy for a while and then have a few lessons.
I don't think your pony is too thin at all and if this fine weather continues Spring will be here early and we will all be worried about the weight they are gaining.
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Post by tabbyx on Jan 12, 2012 0:50:51 GMT
I have to say I agree with S&O
first thing I'd do is go and see either an Osteopath or a Bowen Therapist. I've had personal experience with Bowen after my back and shoulders were giving me total agony, I was reccomended Bowen by a friend,it's light tough so no painful massages etc. after 2 sessions(roughly 45 minutes long) I could feel a massive difference not only in my back and shoulders but through my whole body, Freya(my Bowen therapist) had pinpointed exactly why I got Syatica(sp?) and what I could do to stop it,why my back and shoulders hurt and that I had tight but weak hamstrings, over 4 weeks after that she worked wonders on my whole body and it's been great for ages(longest I've not been in pain for about 3 years!) and I'll be going back again soon just to touch up again and fix everything. I love it,it's very relaxing and has worked so well! I used to drop my shoulders forwards when i rode because it hurt so much to bring them back and sit up properly. Give Bowen a go(If you do follow what they tell you to do in the days afterwards exactly,I didn't once and it wasn't a good idea!) it's not for everyone but it has worked wonders on so many of my friends!
I'd also have lunge lessons on an experienced horse or pony with no reins and stirrups,that also worked wonders for my position also gives you more confidence and you don't have to worry how the horse is going,you can concentrate 100% on yourself.
Lessons are a fantastic thing and very useful ad much easier for you if you have an instructor that isn't your mum or a family member, I struggle having lessons with my sister(if you call her yelling at me for doing something wrong before I even got a chance to do it a lesson!) I can just about work with my mum.
Good luck,let us know how you get on x
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Post by watchbank on Jan 12, 2012 18:42:58 GMT
i will be riding her on sunday again and trying out some of the ideas in this post, will take some photos and see if any improvements. I do get a achy back though tabbyx my mums been a long-term sufferer of back pain and has steroids annually in her back. I will maybe take a pain killer before i go to see if im maybe leaning forwards to curb a pain before i even get it, like some people limp before they acctuly feel the pain just incase it does hurt? Sounds sily but could be something to try lol!
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Post by sageandonion on Jan 12, 2012 19:39:48 GMT
Rather than taking the painkiller watchbank, try not to be tense and hollow through your back, really gives you back ache. Sit on your buttocks, rather than your fork (very BHS ;D) and pull in your tummy muscles to protect your back, relax your shoulders and visualise yourself as someone your admire, I alternate with being Jeanie L-Clarke and Anky on a good day.
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Post by watchbank on Jan 12, 2012 19:47:36 GMT
Rather than taking the painkiller watchbank, try not to be tense and hollow through your back, really gives you back ache. Sit on your buttocks, rather than your fork (very BHS ;D) and pull in your tummy muscles to protect your back, relax your shoulders and visualise yourself as someone your admire, I alternate with being Jeanie L-Clarke and Anky on a good day. haha thankyou, i will try and visualise my self as someone else and see how i go, i think mainly its going to be just time for me to get used to her aswell, i have just moved of a 17.2hh irish draught and just retired my id x tb so shes a big change for me!  |
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Post by GinaGeo on Jan 12, 2012 19:58:09 GMT
Agree with S&O. You need to relax. Easier said than done I know.! You look very tense through your shoulders and wrists to me. ( although that could be the camera angle!)
I was like that a couple of years ago. It's taken a lot to sort me out. You need to bring your thumbs on top of the rein and "unlock" your elbow. This will in turn loosen your shoulders. I found rolling and shrugging my arms greatly beneficial for this as well.
As S&O says you need to sit on your seat bones and pull in tummy muscles to help prevent you hollowing back. These are the same muscles you utilise when you cough, laugh and speak. Say " Puh puh puh" really spit it out. That braced feel in your stomach when you say that is your core muscles coming into play. So when you're riding try pulling in your muscles and saying "puh puh puh" you seat will feel more secure. It's just hard to keep it going- but it will become normal after awhile. I spent a lot of time last year riding saying "puh puh puh", shrugging my shoulders and shaking out my wrists. It's a good job nobody was watching lol!!!
Agree, with having saddle fit checked as well. If you aren't sitting on the flattest part for any reason, then your position will be affected negatively.
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Post by watchbank on Jan 22, 2012 13:45:42 GMT
Right so rode her today, same saddle with stirrups 2 holes longer. Was better but still feeling the need to lean forwards so decided to get off and let my mum get on to see if she did the same and suprise suprise she did it too! She thinks its the way the saddle is cut, the knee rolls are quite large and your knees rest on them forcing your legs back and legs being back means you automatically lean forward! SO... going to get the saddle re-fitted with me aswell because its not correct for me and my longer legs.. its been made to measure for her but also i think her previous owner has had it made to measure to her and its not right for me. Tried a GP saddle that i have always rode in before on my 16hh ID x TB which didnt fit her in the right places BUT just for trying its sake i rode up and down the yard twice and lo and behold im sitting correctly, no tipping, no legs going backwards.. so going to see if i can get the knee rolls a bit smaller!
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Post by rhosyn on Jan 22, 2012 16:01:05 GMT
Can we see a pic of horse standing with saddle on and no rider?
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Post by rhosyn on Jan 22, 2012 17:05:16 GMT
Oops watchbank sorry didnt read your previous post properly  |
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Post by watchbank on Jan 22, 2012 18:15:24 GMT
Lol! I can do if you want though, the saddle was a made to measure its a really good fit for her and shes comfortable with it, i had another one but it just wasnt right and she decided to bronk everytime i got on it so it cannot of been comfortable for her either!
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Post by mcw on Jan 22, 2012 20:33:51 GMT
Stand up in your stirrups! It helped my leg position a lot! |
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Post by sbloom on Jan 23, 2012 13:29:06 GMT
The saddle may well not be quite right for you but also it may not fit, M2M or not. If is down at the front it will rotate the knee roll back towards you, the seat will also be dropped, so this can account for both your issues. If you can post side on pics of the saddle girthed up with no pad I might be able to help - plus a photo of you riding in it in trot directly from the side and not too far away, ideally no pad |
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Post by watchbank on Jan 23, 2012 18:22:20 GMT
Awww thanks sbloom I will do that on wednesday, its my day off! Thanks! X
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Post by watchbank on Jan 25, 2012 17:59:24 GMT
Right here are photos of the saddle, as best i could. My better camera has no memory card as lent it to someone so its my phone im afraid but tomorrow i will ride her and get you a side on shot of her trotting. Im pretty sure its that knee roll thats causing my issues! In my eyes its a really good fit, but help from a saddle fitter i certainly need much appreciated sbloom! Heres the link to photobucket album; s1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj594/rachandria/ |
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Post by sbloom on Jan 25, 2012 19:18:33 GMT
Obviously without seeing it in the flesh and especially seeing you ride in it it is impossible to know for sure but it looks like the saddle could be a little wide for the pony - see this photo s1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj594/rachandria/?action=view¤t=IMG-20120125-00014.jpg and how the points look like they might be slightly winging off the side of the horse? The there are creases in the panel just below, where the angle changes to wrap around the ribcage, another clue that all may not be quite right. I suspect the saddle is dropping in the front when you ride. I might be wrong, but that is one possible explanation. |
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Post by watchbank on Jan 26, 2012 15:32:44 GMT
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Post by sbloom on Jan 26, 2012 18:02:05 GMT
It is clearly lifting off the pony's back in trot - too wide I'm afraid, or too curvy. I can't explain why it worked better for you with a thinner pad, as normally a too wide saddle is too low in front and needs lifting which a thicker pad will do. I'd get the saddle checked and don't accept that it is okay lifting at the back. Have someone there for the fitting with a good eye who can tell you if it is in balance and if it lifts in rising trot.
The saddle does look like it might be a little small for you, though that may be the angle, which won't be helping.
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