In so much pain

[Tootsie4U]

Dressage rider converted to hunt seat - sixth lesson last night.

I am in agony. Its not just muscle soreness, its deep in the bone throbbing! At the end of my lesson, the thud from hitting the gound after I dismount is excrutiating.

New instructor is obsessed with my leg. Right leg has a habit of lifting and toeing out. I still haven't mastered applying leg aids in this new position. I feel like a fish out of water.

I can't believe the pain but it must be correct, because when I do what she tells me to (untwist my leg, sink into the stirrup, open my pelvis) the horse instantly, IMMEDIATELY responds.

But it causes alot of pain for me. After riding four to five days a week for the last two and a half years, its a little discouraging to end these HALF HOUR lessons huffing and puffing and barely able to stand.

This new seat is not at all what I'd call normal (she says to think that my toes and knees are pointing at each other) and Im tyring way too hard to keep it.

Someone tell me this is normal....

:o

[Mehitabel]

normal, i'm afraid! if your right leg has been twisting for so long, every time you ride - and probably when you stand and walk as well, as these things are rarely in isolation for riding, that's a lot of muscle memory to unlearn.
sit in the hot tub! even better than a hot bath. (still working out how to get one..)

[Tootsie4U]

Knees and toes pointing at each other tho! How on Earth is that comfortable, even when you're NOT on the horse :p

Even when I first started riding, I dont ever remember this much pain. Last night I almost had to ask to stop the lesson. :o

[Mehitabel]

remember the pulling thigh back/out/up thing i did with you? try doing that, amd more with the righht than left leg - that will help with leg alignment and might be less painful than however she is getting you to do it.

if it hurts that much though, she may just be asking too much at a time - no sense tearing muscles, better to go slower and be able to keep it up.

[laura jeanne]

Tootsie, what is different about a hunt seat from other seats?

[kelsey]

I am confused....I thought that hunt seat riders had their toes pointed slightly out (per the George Morris critiques in Practical Horseman).

I ride dressage, and I ride with my feet parallel to my horse's sides, which took me about a year to achieve gradually (requires opening up the hip joint).

I don't think that I could maintain this if I had to crank my stirrups up a few holes, though!

[cvb]

tootsie - might some gentle stretches off the horse and inbetween riding help ?

your knee joint can't provide the turn so your hips need to. But it needs to be soft and open not wrenched around.

I appreciate you're sore right now....so stretches might not be on the agenda this minute :eek:

Its not that your toes/knees really need to point to each other - is that the adjustment from where you are probably makes it feel that way.

There's something in Alexander Technique called "semi supine" position. Simply put this means lie on you back with your knees up and feet flat on the floor. Make sure you are not holding any tension anywhere. Everything should just be where it is cos of natural position - gravity etc. (After a bad day at work I can FEEL bits of me shaking with suppressed tension !)

Ok - from this "semi-supine", keeping your awareness going, just "think" "open your hips" and see what happens. I'll bet you actually get a softening and slight movement in the knees.... ;)

Now deliberately allow one hip/knee to open. (If its easier, take them both out at once - but this may be a bit much with your soreness !). Just let the leg/knee fall outwards without lifting your feet off the flor (i.e. the foot will rotate a little to allow the movement) . Notice what happens - if you get any tension etc. Try and just let it happen, with no tightness or tension. Try it both sides and notice any difference. Now try both at once....

Don't take it too far - just as far as is comfy and doesn't require any twist or force.

(If you've done any Pilates - you can zip and tuck as well and see how it changes things)

There are "bigger" strectches you can do - but I like this "thought experiment" cos it shows me how big an effect the little things have on how I use my body....

[Jenks]

cvb,
Do you mind if I ask whether or not you keep the bottom of your feet flat on the floor while opening? or let them turn onto their sides? Or does it matter? (I am at work now, so I think I'll wait until I get home to try it!)

[cvb]

jenks - you would let the foot roll open as well, as the idea is to keep the tension to a minimum. This is just to get the feel of an open hip and see where else it affects you. Its also v.interesting to see how open your hip can go with no tension, versus when you actively TRY to open it when riding etc.

Its a classic "less is more" thing - the more we try, the more tension we tend to have so the less result we get :rolleyes:

By the way, just been lying on my office floor to double check this and I advise doing it without shoes ! :eek: ;)

The hip should NOT rotate - it should stay straight. And don't force it too far, just do what comes naturally to you.