The next installment in Beka's blog hop is: I'm A Loser, Baby
Let's talk about your horse's biggest fail. What did Thunderhooves do that embarrassed you, scared you, shocked you or just annoyed the hell out of you?
Well when I first saw the theme on this blog hop I thought about skipping it because I really couldn't think of anything Chrome had ever done that upset me enough to include it. Sure he's done some things that annoyed me, but nothing big. Then I fell off of him and seriously thought about skipping it anyway because I'm still upset about it and I just don't want to dwell on it. So why am I doing it now? Because it's raining outside, really cold, I have a sinus headache and I'm bored out of my mind LOL!!
So if you want to read the posts about our fall go here and here. Physically I'm doing better. My neck is almost better and the rest of the soreness is gone. The only problem is my back is killing me. If I walk more than a few yards it starts seizing up on me. I think I did something to it at work on Wednesday because I had to load feed for customers and my upper body hurt so bad that I probably compensated in my back. I don't know for sure, but it started hurting yesterday and I barely slept last night because of it. It's a tiny bit better today if I don't do anything (like cross my legs while sitting). So between that and the rain Chrome is getting a break lol.
When I do get to start working with him I'm breaking out my longeing and long lining book. I know longeing is really bad for his stifles, but if I keep the sessions short and every other day he should be fine. I should only have to do the longeing for a little while before we can move into the long lining and stay more on straight lines. We can't avoid circles forever. I'm planning to just do lots of ground work.
I have no doubt that if I threw the tack on Chrome and climbed into the saddle things would be perfectly fine. The fall was just a freak thing that happens with horses, but I don't want to. I just don't. I have problems in the winter with motivation anyway and the fall just crushed any last bit of it I had. So I'm letting myself off the hook for the next couple of months. When the weather gets better I'll get back to riding again. I really, really, really wanted to try to ride consistently all winter to prove to myself that I don't have to be a fair weather rider, but I guess it's just not who I am. I don't ride horses to compete, to earn money or to prove anything to anyone. I ride to have fun. If it's so cold that I'm miserable, then what's the point? I don't want to be miserable doing what I love. Maybe I'll change my mind after he chills out (took him off the fat supplement). We'll see.
Anyway sorry for rambling. I just wanted to let you guys know how I'm doing.
Sorry that ended up sounding like a total pity party.....
ReplyDeletehonestly the only reason i ride in horrid weather is due to my innate sense of competitiveness.
ReplyDeleteagainst what you might ask..funny question now that i'm in germany.
LOL!! Maybe you're competing against the rain?? :D I don't really have much of a competitive streak unfortunately. That sure would make finding motivation easier. Oh well. I'm just being a big baby because I'm in pain. I do that you know. :)
DeleteAwww don't feel bad. My philosophy towards life is, if it isn't fun, why am I doing it? Sure, sometimes I struggle with something for a while and then get over it, but in general, if I'm not on a fun trajectory I back off or kick it to the curb. Nothing wrong with being a fair weather rider, and nothing wrong with taking a step back and taking a break. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you!! Your comment means a lot. That's exactly how I feel. :D
Delete*hugs* Sorry to hear that your back is still at you. When I put my back out in my teens (sleeping on a couch when babysitting - can often have trouble with it since *sniff*) i ended up having to go to a physio for them to unlock my lower back. One of the things they said to me, which has stuck with me more than a decade later - if we hurt our back NEVER sit with our legs crossed as it creates an imbalance. If i feel my back pull and take a minute to take stock, just the fact of u crossing my legs makes an immediate difference.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon *moar-hugs*
Eeek really??? I have to stop doing that. I almost never sit with my legs uncrossed... my whole life... oops. Thanks for sharing. I'll try to sit square and see if it makes a difference. :)
DeleteI still regularly cross my legs and actually only uncrowded them if i feel my back twinge - however when I do in cross them i feel an immediate difference.
DeleteIn saying all that, since I got Kika (and later Nancy) i am riding more and have had considerably less back trouble since.
I have heard horseback riding & swimming are great sports to muscle up backs and help support...I'm not saying that is why I ride but it is a happy coincidence ☺
I've heard that too! It's a great side effect. :D I can't ride through the pain though. I just need to ride more when it's not hurting to build up the muscles. I've seen a HUGE difference since I stopped crossing them yesterday (I've caught myself with them crossed a couple of times without realizing it lol, never realized how unconscious it is). So I really thank you for saying something. I had no idea it was making it worse.
DeleteYeah, I didn't mean for you to ride through pain, but that it is a wonderful side effect of riding the strengthening of our backs. Major downside is the potential spill which really messes things up though...hope you feel better soon
Deletei'm sorry to hear that you're still in so much pain!!! hopefully you start feeling better soon :( and i understand your struggles with motivation too, and see no issue with being realistic about your riding through the winter. it makes me a little sad tho since you two have been doing so well lately!! but that's ok - ground work is so important and you'll be able to pick up where you left off once it's warmer out :)
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad too because we were on such a roll, but it will be okay. Setbacks happen in life and we will learn to get past it. My back is feeling better this evening, especially since I stopped crossing my legs (thanks Aoife!!). Hopefully by tomorrow it will be all better. The rain is supposed to stop Sunday so I should be able to get out and at least walk Chrome. There's too much mud to do much of anything though.
Deleteit's honestly kinda nice when the weather conspires against us when we're in a funk. that way there's less guilt for not getting out as much lol. enjoy the time off and good luck!
DeleteIt actually really is. This is a first actually. Normally it conspires against me. :) I'm taking advantage of it this time!
DeleteYou should have better weather on the way. It's finally warming up here. Can't wait for all the mud to dry up. It's odd how the pain migrates in the days following a fall. I remember feeling the most pain in my knee when I fell off Bombay years ago, only to find out that I simply skinned my knee, but snapped my arm in half. I'm hoping your muscles are just tense after the fall and there isn't anything more serious going on with your back.
ReplyDeleteYikes about the knee and arm!! That is weird. It's crazy what adrenaline does to us. I don't think the back is directly from the fall. I think it's a compensation injury. It's the same spot in my lower back that I hurt several times last year... so it's not really new lol. I need to see a chiro I guess. It's doing MUCH better now that I'm not crossing my legs. I'm going to focus on that and standing square instead of dropping my hip. I think my posture is a big part of my problems. Thanks for the hope about the weather! I can't wait for a warm up and for it to dry out. Sheesh it is super muddy out there!! I think some areas around me have gotten three inches of rain! I'm not sure what our total is yet. I'll check tomorrow. :)
DeleteThat fall sounds like it was scary for both of you and your strategy of keeping things simple should help you both earn back confidence. Just take it as slowly as you need to.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, back and neck injuries can be particularly difficult to heal, especially when one is hauling big bags of feed around. Dex and I are sending good thoughts that you feel better soon.
Mango Momma
Thank you! Yes it does. My neck is almost completely back to normal. I still can't put my right ear all the way to my shoulder, but everything else I can do normally with no pain. My back is still giving me fits, but it's slowly getting better. I'm lucky I don't have to go back to work Tuesday so fingers crossed it's better before then!
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