Soreness and my tale of woe....

[MelissaH]

Is it normal to be sore after riding when you havn't in so many years? The next day my hips at my joints were sore. More than likely becuase they were in the saddle & not used to this.

Is it faily common? I guess just like exercising, you get sore in the places that are not commonly used to being worked out.

I have dusted off the treadmill and the weight machine and have started an exercise routine. I am so disapointed in myself. I have lived my life in hopes of one day living my dream of having horses. So now I can, but I am overweight and out of shape. I didn't realize the importance of your health when taking up horses. My lack of confidence is not between horse and rider but only in myself.

I always said I would lose weight then get horses. Well, it's a good thing I didn't go that route or I would have never had them. There is no greater motivation than seeing your horses in your yard (soon) and knowing you must be healthy for them and yourself. As you get older, you start to realize your own mortality.

[winterbalto]

Of course it's normal to be sore after taking up riding again after a long while or taking it up for the first time. In fact, it would be abnormal if you weren't in a lot of pain. When I first started taking lessons 7 months ago I was in so much pain that I could barely walk or spread my legs more than a foot apart. In fact it took a few months before I didn't feel horrible after each lesson. And now I still get sore if I have an extremely hard lesson or if i'm on a horse who I have to use a lot of leg on or if he is really bumpy at the canter.

Even though I am not overweight I am also in bad shape and have started doing something about it. Horseback riding is my motivation to getting more fit and healthier because I know it will make me a better rider. Right now after an hour lesson of trotting and cantering I am huffing and puffing and i'm ready to just pass out. Also, i'm not very flexible which is why I get stiff sometimes or charlie horses when I ride. But I am in the process of doing two 5 minutes excercises every day. It involves stretching, stomach crunches, and jogging in place. It is not a very hard excersize but every two weeks I'm increasing the amount of time I work out and how many stomach crunches I do. For me it is best to start out small and then work up since I would get discouraged otherwise. Plus, horseback riding itself is great excersize so you'll probably lose weight and gain muscle from that. Actually I first gained a little weight which was due to gaining leg muscle that I never had.

Anyways, don't feel too bad. Lots of people are out of shape and unlike you don't do anything about it. Good luck!

~Nicole

[cvb]

Melissa

I've been riding over 20 years. Last few weeks have been awful weather so have only got out twice in about 5 -6 weeks, until this weekend just gone. And yes, I knew it on Monday morning :eek:

So don't beat yourself up TOO much ! ;)

[halllv]

When I first went back to riding in October 04 I'd already started losing weight and going to the gym. All the schools I looked at had a weight limit and I was at it. The thought of them maybe asking for proof ie the dreaded scales gave me the push I needed. I too was sore and aching at first but that wore off after a few weeks. I'm still working at the weight and the gym there's no denying that riding is phsically demanding, they say it burns about 400 cals an hour. Good luck I'm sure you'll be feeling less saddle sore in no time!

[Grace O'Malley]

Don't worry, it will get better. You will get stronger, fitter, and trimmer--just from riding and looking after your horses.

A couple of weeks ago I had a day off work and ended up riding for about 3 hours, instead of my usual rushed one. I was sore after that! But I didn't care ;)

Grace

[carrimclaren]

Was going to say don't lose heart. We all feel it i'm afraid. I'm not in too bad shape (mainly down to riding so much nowadays) but after a sunday morning 2 hour ride of mainly trot i def. knew it on Monday morning.

[MelissaH]

I am allergic to riding......


Last Sunday I spent with my horse. Monday night I came down with a terrible, knock you on your butt cold. The kind with the cough that won't go away!

I'm falling apart. :D

Can't wait to be well again.

[Holly B]

Awwww, hope you get well soon! :D

[NoviceNic]

I went out on Tuesday for hack. 1 1/2 hr hack. Fantastic but my knees where hurting from trotting and then I just knew I had to dismount. :eek: As I fell to the floor I picked myself back up again and walked to the stables as though I were 80 years old. I wondered where the bus had come from that was between my legs. :D Still would go out on another hack like that again and again and again. ;)

[Jinete789]

Remember that riding uses different muscles too! When I returned as an adult I was fairly fit (can complete a half marathon though not break any records and run/use Gym regularly).

This made some things easier, eg I don't struggle to mount from the ground if I need to, however on my first few lessons I was quite stiff afterwards, and the first time I did some "no stirrups" work I felt like I was walking like John Wayne for a few days. :(

Just now I have to travel some distance to ride so go for a four hour session once a fortnight, and the following few days my legs feel like I am dragging them around under me.

It's good to know though that there was a whole set of muscles who were getting an easy time of it previously and now they are having to earn thier keep too :D

Jin

[LovemyTB's]

I'm coming back to riding after more than 25 years out of the saddle. My problem is I am unable to mount my horse without a mounting block. I'm just so ashamed! I do have tall horses (16.2 and 17hh), but that never stopped me before! So, I have been working on my weight (those pounds stick so hard when you're in your 40's) and working on my legs. My goal is to mount like a normal person by the middle of summer! So, you're not alone!

[claude]

Gosh - I know what you mean! I've had a month and a half off due to buying a new horse and started riding again this weekend. I ache so much this morning, I'm struggling to walk! Plus I seem to have forgotton how to ride! My instructor tells me it will come back to me soon though!

I know what you mean about your mortality catching up with you - I'm amazed what the yonger riders at our yard do - I'm a big scardy cat now!

[roxycutie]

Yes, its normal to have a little soreness after riding. By the way, hope you feel better. :D

[Gill]

My sympathies, I hate getting older.

We are obviously all completely mad to put ourselves through this. It must be similar to a drug addiction?

Right I'm off to ride now!

[Bah Humbug!]

I ahve just got a new share pony and i rode her for 2 and a half hours last night! I havnt ridden for 2 years and my goodness i can feel it this morning!!! She is quite strong so that probably didnt help but the jumping and almost continual cantering to make her stop probably didnt help!!

[amandal]

I think you're doing well if you're only sore, I'm normally in total agony even after a small break. When I started riding again after my long break I couldn't walk properly for some day !! wheeling myself round the office :D