[harmony]

Yes I had my hip assessed, including x-rays, the first time it did this - which was after a many miles long walk alongside the slope of a mountain in Scotland, on my honeymoon!  So I was only early 30s at the time.  X-rays showed nothing, but I was in agony, literally, for some time before it settled.  It's been on and off grumbling pretty much ever since.  But the "off" can be months or even years, to the point where I can't even remember which is the dodgy hip.  Then it has a grumble, and I remember :/.

Riding creates the same movement in the hips as walking. It is why it is physically good for people with limited movement or who are wheelchair dependant. It is also important that the horse is the right fit both in width and stride. So, it is interesting what you say about the walking in Scotland above and how you found that horse to ride.


Anke mentioned posture and getting a physio to look at this for you. You can tell a lot about how someone will ride from watching them walk and how they stand.

[landroverroy]

More than 20 years ago I had extreme pain in one of my hips. Was found to have arthritis and it was that painful that I had to give up my job because of the heavy equipment I carried. The specialist said I was too young to have a new hip. I mentioned I had one leg longer than the other. He measured them and agreed and suggested i build up one shoe a bit. I then put an insole in all the shoes on my shorter side and the pain almost instantly disappeared, although I am careful not to go on long walks as it can flare up again, though not as bad. Sometimes if I go without the insole ( or gel heel support) for any length of time it can get painful, but nothing near as bad as to warrant a new hip. (Thank goodness.)


However about 10 years ago I decided to have riding lessons but had to take an aspirin beforehand or it was painful to get my right leg over the saddle. (You might find it useful Sally before riding again.)
I also found I always ended up leaning to the left, to such an extent that I once fell off. In the end I used to not use stirrups when riding my donkey as that was the only way I could stay balanced. It was only recently that it the obvious answer to my lack of balance occurred to me - knowing I had one leg shorter than the other - the obvious answer was to shorten the stirrup leather on the shorter side. Instant upright riding position. [size=78%]  [/size]

[SallyintNorth]

Lol, you may have something there, llr.  My father was discovered to have one leg 5/8" shorter than the other, spent ££££££ on orthotics for all his shoes, then the bad hip which had led to him being assessed got worse and he had a replacement, and they levelled him up as they did it, all those nearly new orthotics had to come out again... 

And I do struggle to get my stirrups right...   

[harmony]

Most people do not ride with level stirrups even though they think they are. The wrong length stirrup makes a lot of difference. People tend to ride too long rather than too short because too short is harder work for your muscles so people will make an adjustment more quickly.


Most peoples starting point is level with the ankle so that would allow adjustment for one leg being longer than the other. Your stirrup length should leave you "play" in your joints ie joints shouldn't be at their maximum range or you wont be able to absorb movement.


Position of the foot in the stirrup is important too. Riding on the ball of your foot makes you push up and locks your joints. Having the stirrup just behind the ball keeps your leg softer.






With well used stirrups the holes are rarely aligned. You can see how level your stirrups are if you fold the iron upwards and see where the base is in relation to the bottom of the saddle flap and compare each side.

[SallyintNorth]

Thanks so much for all your input - some very practical and all supportive - on this thread, [member=24672]harmony[/member]    (Just realised I hadn't responded directly to any of your comments and wanted to say Thanks!) 

[harmony]

Thank you Sally. I was wondering only recently how you got on with your ponies and looking for a new one after the problems with Davy.


I have put many hundreds of people on horses over the years and adjusted countless stirrups. Interestingly many people despite having had lessons for years can not adjust their own stirrups or tighten a girth.


I've spent a long time being involved with disabled riders, some who have had severe difficulties with their limbs but ride beautifully because they have a balanced seat.


Most able bodied riders have imperfections they don't even know about and aren't aware how their position and ability is hampered by them.

[SallyintNorth]

I should update this thread.

I decided to take myself off to see a chiropractor.  Best decision I could have made.

Turns out that on that mountainside walk on my honeymoon 30+ years ago, I damaged my hamstring attachment, and it never healed properly.  Almost every issue I have had since, in hips, knees, ankles, balance, back and shoulders (and I have had all!) can be laid at the door of that original, neglected injury.

So I am seeing the chiro fortnightly and doing exercises set by her, firstly to undo the badly healed stuff, then to correct the consequences of it and finally to rebuild strength throughout. 

It will be worse before it is better, but it will eventually be so much better!  She has found no arthritis at all in any major joints, bar one tiny bit starting on the outside of the other hip (which now that we are aware of it, we can keep it at bay for as long as possible.)  I can already see a lot of improvement in my balance, now that I am becoming less uneven, and am pretty sure that I will eventually not need the cocodamol I have been taking daily for about a decade - and stopping that will, says the chiro, give me more strength and stamina too.

So I would not wish my New Year's Eve ride on anyone, but it is going to turn out to be a blessing in disguise.   

[Penninehillbilly]

Brilliant news Sally,
Amazing something all those years ago, caused so much pain, finally being sorted 👍🏼