preparing to ride again

[emm]

Hi.
Having had a long break from riding, about 5 years. I had an assessment lesson for my birthday in August, the plan was to have 4 or 5 lessons as a birthday treat, sounds great.
The lesson was half hour, felt ok, the horse must have been the quietest they had as I had to work so hard. Had couple of canters at end, felt ok, but bright read and struggling for breath.
Trouble was, for the next week after I could hardly walk. Would love to ride again, but the weeks agony has put me off. Anyone had a similar experience and could give any advice.
What could I do to prepare myself. I felt very silly as I was so out of puff!!
The RI said I could join in thhe experienced class, which I was pleased about, but I am scared I could not keep up and have not re-booked.

[Shire Monster]

Firstly Hi! :D
You could be me, I started riding again after a little bit longer out the saddle than you, I am very unfit and overweight and I couldn't walk without discomfort for about 5-6 days after my first half hour private lesson which was about 5-6 weeks ago and that was on an 'easy' horse who didn't take very much work to get him going at all. I think I had a hot radox bath every day that week :D
HOWEVER this is the good bit ... I've had three lessons since (had a 2 and a half week break cos of a fallon third lesson doh!) and each lesson I've ached roughly a day less each time. The last one was on a much less forward going horse, I was puffin and panting after 10 minutes but that was on Tuesday night and I'm not aching today. It won't take long for your muscles to get more used to it again, no doubt you'll probably ache just a little after a lesson as time goes on but nothin quite like that first lesson. Stick with it, it's definately worth it.
Also you say the RI said you could go into an experienced class (I presume this is a group lesson) you'd probably not have to work quite as hard in a group because there are usually short breaks in walk in between while people canter to the rear or jumps etc. and your horse would be less likely to be awkward (hopefully) with one of his friends to follow presuming you wouldn't be in front for a few lessons to start with.
Anyways good luck with your riding and your aches n pains and I'd invest in a lot of radox for your first few weeks back, keep us posted :D

[Troi]

Hi hope you're feeling a little less tender:D
Like you I had a lesson for the firt time in several years. I couldn't get off never mind walk away:D:D
Now a month on I'm jumping off and climbing on without any hassle:)
Keep going it's worth the pain for a few lessons. I asked if I could go into a slower lesson to begin with and RI I now go to let me watch the canters the fisrt time, perhaps if you ask you can have a slower couple of lessons:)

[Cobgirl]

Lol I would definitely invest in that bulk box of Radox!! I walked like John Wayne for quite some time! Like Shire Monster, I had been out of the saddle for a looooong time. Work it out if you will, last ride when I was 17 years old now 57 years old and creaking well!

At present I have overdone the leg work and am paying with a strained groin, but I can ride for a couple of hours now and still walk the next day. My stiffness has improved as has my overall health. Lost just over one stone since I started riding back in May and I have had no back pain either. Yippee, now I have aches and pains where I didn't before, but who cares I am loving it!

Hope everything goes well for you in your riding future.

[Tally.]

Hiya!

After my first lesson i, like everyone else was in agony. During the week though i done stretch's, sit on the floor with your feet touching and gently rock your knees up and down, even when you are hurting, this will stop the muscles tensing up and stetches you out for next week. Dont overdo it though, your legs will slowley strech themselves out.

I done this everyday during the week jus while watchin tv and after my second lesson i wasnt in any pain :D

[Morganna]

It helps to do some stretching exercises before and after you ride. Us riders are all about warming up the horse before he does any hard work and we often forget that it's good for us too. After my first lesson back in the saddle after a long break I was in agony for a week too, but the more I rode the easier it got and I was soon not in any pain at all after riding. Having had a recent 3 month break I am back to being sore again but I know it won't last, my legs are quite sore at the moment from my first jumping lesson on Wednesday.


Don't forget too that a half hour private lesson tends to be more exhausting than a group lesson as you get less time to get a breather when it's just you.

[emm]

Thanks all, Not feeling so over the hill now. Think I will book a group lesson, but I am going to go into the meium group instead of the experienced, maybe I be able to keep up a bit better then. Only doing it for fun as I adore horses, not competitively. To be honest I love being on the ground with them more than riding, but without my own and being 36, not a teenager, its the only way to get contact with horses.

[cwb]

emm,

ask at the RS if they want adult helpers - I do this at my RS and get free riding in return as well as learning about stable management - tomorrow I am stewarding at an XC meeting at the RS.

[Suzanne2]

I nearly crashed my car after a 30-minute lesson following a TWENTY-year lay-off from riding. My right leg went into spasm and couldn't move it off accelarator for few seconds.
That was three years ago. Now I can ride three horses in a day without problem from stiffness - unless it is a manky saddle, then I know about it next day.
And quite agree with stretching after, esp hamstrings, gluts and inner thighs.