Horse Riding

Horse riding is a high risk sport in which so often we prioritise our horses' welfare over our own. It is easy to feel some heat or swelling in your horses leg, and decide it needs cold treatment, rest and a period of close watching before you decide if you need a vet or not. As riders it is vital that we treat ourselves with the same level of care, as a stiff joint or small area of pain can impact on your balance, which will affect how our horse goes, and your combined performance.

What Injuries are Riders Susceptible to?

Back Pain, neck pain and shoulder injuries - heavy lifting and repetitive yard duties inevitably contribute to this.

Falls - Bruising, back and neck pain, soft tissue damage (ligaments etc) and, at worst, fractures. This is one of the more obvious causes of injuries for horse riders.

Muscles strains/pulls - Riding on a cold day without sufficient warm up makes us prone to pulled muscles.

Generally stiff joints - Hours on end out in the freezing cold leaves even the most spritely rider feeling a bit stiff in the winter.

Foot and arm/hand injuries - Often resulting from handling a spooked, boisterous or young horse, whether they pull away from you, or end up standing on your feet.

Injuries from kicking or biting

What can you do to avoid these injuries?

Warm up (see previous page). Whilst going for a quick jog might not be practical before you ride, mucking out, clearing the field, topping up waters and giving your horse a good groom before hand will all increase your heart rate and get the blood moving round your body, achieving the desired result from a warm up. Then take a few minutes to carry out stretches, as detailed on the warm up page, before starting your ride.

Treat yourself the same as you treat your horse - if you have pulled a muscle, or had a fall, give yourself a few days on "box rest" or "light work" only. This will allow your body to start the healing process, and in this time you can gently keep the area moving as you are able. If you have had a nasty fall, or the pain is severe, get yourself assessed by a medical professional, who can then advise you of the appropriate treatment.

Cool down after your ride - You walk your horse off at the end of a ride, to cool off, so take the opportunity to stretch any tight areas you have, and make are you replace any layers you took off during your ride - cooling down too quickly can also lead to chills and tight muscles.

Wear the appropriate safety equipment, such as riding hats conforming to the most up to date standards and body protectors. Always check you equipment before you set off on a ride. Worn or damaged tack can easily break, so check it each time you use it and get any repairs done promptly.

Always stay aware, horses can be unpredictable and many injuries could be avoided. Simple things we all become complaisant with, such as walking behind your horse, or ambling down the home stretch of a ride with no contact, no stirrups and having a good chat to the other rider with you, can all increase our chances of sustaining an avoidable injury.

What Impact could rider discomfort have on the horse?
Pain in any joint, or tightness in any muscle, will affect that way you sit on your horse. For example, a stiff ankle, which limits how effectively you can keep your heels down, may cause you to tip your upper body forwards to compensate, which immediately increases your chances of coming off, and also means that your horse will be more inclined to work on his forehand, as this is where your weight will be distributed to.

Back pain, or weak core muscles (deep tummy muscles), will affect your balance whilst you ride. This may not present itself obviously to you, but many horses that are "unbalanced" or "one sided" are actually working hard to cover up your faults, and so always consider your position, and weight distribution, before assuming it is your horse who is out of balance! You may find that you sit slightly to one side, or that you collapse through one hip. If you can correct this, then you and your horse will probably work more effectively together

If you find that you cannot correct your position yourself, it may be that you are tight in some structures, or weak in others. This is when you may find a professional assessment by a physiotherapist will help to progress you in the right direction, as we can work with you to establish which structures are causing your symptoms, and devise a plan to resolve this.

Ultimately, the motto is easy, treat yourself with the same care and attention as you treat your horse, and address those aches and pains before they impact on your combined performance!