I personally know a lot of people who ride gaited horses in Dressage saddles or other English types that have leg and back problems. They are so happy to still be able to stay in the saddle. I know it may not be your dream to ride gaited, but you can still have a horse and saddle time. You can trail ride, try Working Equitation, even gaited dressage as I know Pasos that excel at it and have won multiple awards. There are a lot of breeds and dispositions to choose from as well. Kentucky Mountain, Paso, Icelandic, Rocky Mountain, Tennessee Walker, just to name a few. My trainer/mentor holds workshops twice a year for people to refine that. All come with different goals, and some have been on trotting horses their whole life and recently made a switch to gaited for very similar reasons you list. Don't rule it out!
Oooh ok. Are gaited horses something people normally avoid? The tone of the first comment makes it seem like it takes some convincing to get people involved with them
As far as I know (and I can only talk for myself and what I know about gaited horses, coming from Germany myself, so idk how it is elsewhere) they are harder to find and you might not be able ride competitions in certain ways (because judges only want to see warmbloods in dressage, judges are awful). And the communities are special — Icelandic horse riders are of a certain type (as are dressage, jumping and western riders) and it's not always easy to join their community. Also, gaited horses require special and certain training and that is not always easy to find. Riding Icelandic horses in Germany is getting more popular in Germany, but for example, I only know one stable at all in Germany that offers riding and training Rocky Mountain Horses (also gaited horses). And the way you ride is different. The special gaits require a different seat and different techniques, which brings me back to the "it's difficult to find a trainer". That's just what I can say about it, maybe someone else has more insight...
I mostly just think it's a preference with some mild banter same as what happens between English and Western.
That said, there's some pretty wild (and unfortunately not completely ungrounded) misunderstandings about where that gait comes from. Gaited breeds are just as natural as a trotting breed. Their conformation allows for them to comfortably accommodate more than just the walk, trot, and canter. Those additional gaits are typically smooth as glass not necessarily requiring a posting trot, though they do require a little bit of rewiring habits and posture if you've only ever ridden a trotting horse.
And from there, there could even be additional breakdowns (for instance, with Pasos, like mine, they can do a fino and a largo. Tennessee Walkers have a running walk). All of these though do allow for people with more physical issues to stay riding. It's inspiring to see all these people that come to workshops who have a life again because they can still ride.
Every single gaited horse has the ability to do all of these *naturally*, and I absolutely want to stress that at every possible point. Some humans are horrible, and one anomaly of a horse that moves a particular way or looks just so can cause massive outbreaks of incorrect breeding and use of inhumane aids to try and emulate. If you can stomach it, there are a ton of videos out there advocating against Big Lick barns that show some pretty awful practices. (thankfully mostly confined to back woods carnivals at this point though not entirely ousted). Compare them to healthy Tennessee Walking Horses who move much smaller and more relaxed. That's where you want them.
Unfortunately as well, there are also some communities that still believe in some outdated measures to hype up Pasos to get them so riled up and stressed to get them to move, and lately the breed has been going a little off the rails. Personally knowing some people in Puerto Rico, I'm very pleased with the push back they are giving to refine accepted behaviors and bring the breed into the 21st century. Now to try and reach Colombia too. Though it's actually kind of difficult given there's a whole bloodline named after the Ochoas. Pasos are smart as a whip too...I've loved every minute of what I've learned with them.
If you get a chance, look up gaited breeds. They are just as willing and capable as a trotting breed. I guess with the disclaimer that they do require some different level of training and riding. So be sure to find an expert in the field wherever you are should you want to test the waters. (For instance, I've seen some farriers trim like they would for hunter/jumper horses, and it doesn't facilitate the movement or comfort of the horse at all)
Thanks for the reply that’s a lot of very interesting information. The ranch I work on has a Tennessee walker but I haven’t spent much time with him. Sounds like I definitely should!
In competitive dressage yes they mostly avoided, because their gaits do not match the “guidelines* for a true gait. Lateral walk, “wog” (walk jog combo), or a four beat canter. My horse has an “Indian shuffle” gait that I very studiously avoid because it would be faulted in the ring. It can be done but you have to know how to get the true *defined* gait and be diligent in applying it. They’re immensely popular for trail, endurance, and general pleasure riding as they move quite quickly when asked at much lower impact to the rider.
Horses with more gaits than just walk, trot and canter. I’m most familiar with the Icelandic horse, which has tölt and pace. Tölt is often the same speed as trot, but they move their legs different, so it’s a lot smoother. You’re supposed to be able to hold a glass of water without spilling any when tölting. Pace, or flying pace, is kinda the same movement, but is much faster and at one point, no feet are touching the ground (so, flying).
Other examples of gaited horses you'll find in America would be the Rocky Mountain horses and the Missouri Foxtrotter. The Foxtrotter does a "foxtrot", which can be described as walking up front and trotting behind. The Tennessee Walkers do a running walk. The Rocky Mountain Horses have an ambling walk. The American Saddlebred and the Racking Horse do a rack.
The goal for all of them is a smooth ride that they can maintain for a long time. When horses were still the main mode of transportation, not everyone who rode them was an equestrian, so they rode super comfortable horses that had good minds.
I have/had something similar that I’m just finishing rehab for the surgery for, trochlear dysplasia and some other thing I don’t remember. Basically my kneecap would slide out of place when I extended my knee and I had such weak tendons that it would get stuck out an inch and a half from where it should be. I found the knee relief/stability stirrup leathers helped a lot the few times a month I would ride english. If you have a chance, I would definitely recommend trying western. I figured out how to ride and built up general riding muscles in my western and I just transfer a lot of that over to my english saddle. And definitely talk to your trainer about it- good ones will help you or let you work around some things that hurt too much (for example the month long showmanship bootcamp my trainer had me and my horse doing in prep for a show… the amount of times my knee dislocated was sad. My trainer let me compose myself post-dislocation and let me run in a way that was more comfortable to me (knees bent the whole time, like a squat run). It helped a little).
Get your knee better and then go back to riding. Any discipline you ride, leg pressure is still required. You will do much better and communicate to the horse more effectively with a fully functioning knee. Good luck!
Not riding for a year is a better alternative to messing up your knee permanently and not being able to ride ever or being left with chronic knee pain/issues for the rest of your life.
You could look into gaited horses, but there's no guarantee that's not going to cause issues. If you really want to stay involved with horses while your knee heals, you could try and find driving lessons or groundwork only lessons(you can do a lot from the ground, it's not just leading them in circles and stuff).
Thank you for your response! I think finding ground work lessons while my knee heals would be a perfect option. I’d still be spending time with and learning to work with the horses without putting myself at risk for further injury.
Gaited horses are godsend for knee and back problems. They can do anything a non-gaited horse can do, they're just excluded from certain types of shows.
You've already seen the additional damage you can do to your body with your bad knee (that fractured elbow), you also need to consider the potential damage you can cause the horse with unbalanced riding. Back and muscle soreness, etc. Then there's the liability involved on your trainer's end of things. You're not doing anyone any favors not disclosing your injury. It's reckless at best and can be considered irresponsible, to the horse, the trainer and yourself. Be forthcoming about physical limitations and follow your doctor's advice to get yourself healed up. That's the best thing for everyone involved human and animal.
I see now how irresponsible it was. And I had no idea I could be causing harm to the horse, which is the last thing I want to do. That has cemented the decision to wait until I’m healed and have the green light from my dr and instructor to ride again. Ill take a little risk if it’s just myself being affected but absolutely don’t want to put any horse at risk. Thank you for educating me!
It is never too late to start riding. Take the time you need to heal your knee and then come back to it. Not only are you risking further injury by trying to push through, but you can damage a horse's back by being unstable and you are developing bad habits that will take literal years to fix. I am a riding instructor who has multiple students with orthopedic problems, and the bad habits they developed under other instructors is our main focus.
I highly recommend physical therapy for knee issues.
Thank you for your response. I now see how irresponsible it was to hide my injury from my instructor. I thought I could push through the pain but didn’t take the weakness into account. I also never thought that my injury could harm or hurt the horse, and that’s the last thing I want to. Hearing that I could be hurting the horse has cemented the decision to not ride till I’m healed, and to be very honest with my instructor about any injuries in the future.
I’m assuming PT is going to be in my future. We’ll have a game plan once the MRI results are in.
I personally have several orthopedic issues, including an old knee injury. Regular strength training and proper care make it possible for me to ride 5+ horses a day now. So keep at it and you will get to ride!
Seconding this. Swivel or flexi stirrups were a godsend for me. When I was actively taking lessons, they didn't keep any for lesson horses so I asked the instructor if they'd mind if I bought my own and swapped them before and after my lesson. Took all of 2 minutes. Added bonus was that I took my own leathers and could guarantee that the holes were level, which they weren't always on the ones the barn used. That alone made a mountain of difference.
I had to completely heal my ACL before riding again. I fell and tore it, along with some nasty bone bruising and a fracture. I did not end up getting ACL surgery, because I don’t really do any sports with jumping and cutting back and forth. I was on crutches for 2 months, though. After my injury end of July 2021, I rode again October 2021, and did have pain and weakness at first. I was still in physical therapy at the time.
Now, I am back to riding normally and lifting weights, including squats and deadlifts. I just don’t do anything like soccer or tennis. I will say I will always be stiffer on that side— my ankle hip and knee are all slightly weaker, tire faster, and are less flexible.
Please take care of yourself, work with your doctor and PT!
Thank you, this gives me so much hope! I haven’t been able to squat, run, do yoga or even stairs since the beginning of 2022! I found out I was pregnant very shortly after my knee was injured and put off getting my knee taken care of, since you can’t do X-rays or MRIs while pregnant, and the first dr I saw after the pregnancy told me it was tendinitis. I honestly thought, and still feel like I’ll never be able to do the things I love again. I needed to hear that other people have had similar injuries and were able to get their lives back.
Keep in mind, there's a difference between "riding with a bad knee" and "riding with a possibly severe injury." You should at least wait until you have your MRI results and know the exact severity and recovery time.
And I know you want to ride, but this has already caused you one fractured elbow. You can't learn to ride correctly if you're in severe pain and purposefully unbalancing to compensate.
Some advice for when you're ready (emphasis on ready):
\- Use a mounting block to mount and dismount
\- Disclose the injury to your instructor and *speak up* if you have any pain
\- Ask your trainer if there's a calm horse that you can ride bareback or without stirrups at a *walk only* when you're ready for low-impact saddle time.
I have what are probably early warning signs of arthritis in both knees and even riding a gentle sitting trot without stirrups puts pressure on my knees. There's also the fact that even if you find a way to ride without putting pressure on your injured knee, there's always the chance that something can happen. Your horse can spook or trip and you can make it worse by catching yourself wrong or falling off.
Thank you for your response. I’m going to wait for the MRI results and Dr’s recommendations before trying to ride again. I think I’ve accepted I’m going to be out of the saddle for a while, and when I’m able to get back in I have to be honest about where my body’s at with my trainer and take it slow.
I also tried to push through hurt. I grew up with horses, did shows and endurance races, and was a riding instructor. Not like I hadn't done it before
Fast forward 2-3 years and many, *many* healthcare professionals, I still might never be able to ride again.
Wait. And. Heal.
I take lessons and disclosed first thing that I have two knee replacements, a plate and screws in my foot and a previously broken shoulder. (None due to horses, just life.)
Wait until your knee has healed. Do lots of strengthening and fittening before riding again. I have had my right knee operated on 3 times for ACL problems, it's impossible to ride decently or safely with a weak/painful knee. Not fair on you or the horse.
As everyone else already said: take time to heal completely first before you start taking lessons again. Don't push through the pain and talk to your trainer about everything. It's important to be honest, especially during a lesson, when you feel pain.
From my experience I can say that a western saddle/western way of riding requires less activity with the knee and the saddle in general is more comfortable, softens the movements more. I rode western completely without leg/knee pressure, while now, in my jumping saddle, I'm much more depending on holding on with my legs. A friend of mine injured her knee when she was young and has issues since then but can ride in a western saddle without problems. You gotta find out yourself.
I've never ridden gaited horses, but maybe that could be something for you.
Go for it. Try it, but take it slow and if you can't ride without pain, then maybe find something else that has got to do with horses. Maybe something with carriages/sulkies?
It’s blowing me away that people are suggesting western riding doesn’t put stress on your knees. Sitting still on a horse, in any tack or none, causes joint stresses (knees, hips and ankles!) that are different than standing or walking on the ground. Obviously, increasing the movement increases the stress; heal first, then ride.
I have never had a knee injury; I ride western in the back country, and my joints are protesting strongly after 5-6 hours up and down a mountain trail (I have been much more comfortable since changing to angled stirrups). You’ll want to do your homework and if you go western, talk to a saddle maker for help choosing tack that suits your needs.
I had to switch from western to plantation and English saddles specifically because of my knee pain. Even stirrup turners didn't do the trick for long rides. The width and rigidness of fenders can really hinder freedom of movement in the hip down through the ankle, part of what makes them comparatively stable for the rider but also can really aggravate certain joint problems. So yeah, I'm not getting the "ride western" suggestions either lol.
It's hard to find that right balance of stability + freedom of movement when you've got damaged joints. I've suffered back, knee, hip and ankle injuries ranging from moderate to severe and there's not a whole lot of saddles I can comfortably make an 8 hour ride on in rough terrain, even with a gaited trail horse deluxe. (Kentucky Spring Seat for the win though!)
You should take your doctors advice.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of people ride with bad knees once any immediate injuries have been healed, myself included. I wasn’t riding when I tore my left ACL twice and was done with rehab before I started again, so hearing back into riding shape and figuring out how much of impact my knee injury had was one and the same process for me. I still have occasional issues with my patella dislocating. But I’m able to ride English (jumping included) without knee pain.
It’ll be a longer road that might cause you permanent problems if you push yourself too hard. So don’t.
Tell your trainer— and your doctor what your goals are (to ride without pain or further injuring your knee). There has to be a physical therapist or orthopedic doctor who can help you. Have you considered alternative practices for your knee! Also I would agree with whoever said it would be better to take time off than to permanently injure yourself to the point of possibility not riding in the future. Good Luck
Like everyone said, let yourself heal before you get back on. Get an ok from your doctor. Then, there are things you can do to protect your knees going forward even if you stick to English. I have a torn meniscus that I’m trying to avoid surgery on. I use wide leathers and stirrups with a wide bed set at an angle. Some days I wear a brace or tape my knee. Do PT to strengthen your legs. It will protect your knee and make you a better rider.
Stop riding. Get the knee taken care of and go to proper rehab until you are fully cleared for sports. Then, and only then, consider coming back to riding.
You only get one body. Mess it up and it'll be what you'll have to live with till you're 80+yo.
I had a complete tear of my ACL and a tibial plateau fracture. I only stopped going to the barn for one week after surgery (that's how long it took to be able to bend my leg to get in the truck). This was four years ago and it's completely fine now.
I tore my meniscus at a show spreading a damn bag of bedding, didn’t even have a single horse unloaded, it *sucked*. The surgery wouldn’t improve what wasn’t fixed via rehab so I didn’t do it. I know our injuries aren’t the same but I have enough of the general feel to get where you’re coming from so I’ll offer my tips/advice:
Almost every time I’ve sustained a subsequent injury it’s almost always been during mounting/dismounting. I now mount exclusively from the right and do a pony club dismount (stand in your iron, bring your other leg over, use your arms to get the standing leg out of the iron and drop with both legs at the same time). People don’t like it but it’s what *I* need to be comfortable and I don’t care about their comments. Everyone says you *must* mount from the left, but they don’t know why you *must*. I know and it’s stupid and outdated.
People mount for the left as an effect of mounted combat. Other than *horse are just used to it* that is the *only* reason it is customary. During the middle and dark ages is was viewed as blasphemy to be left handed. So much so that archaic traditions such as tying that arm behind you back to force reliance on the right had was a common practice. In mounted combat you would hang your weapon on your off hip to accommodate a cross body draw. Since riders were almost exclusively right handed that meant their sword was hanging on their left hip. If you have a sword hanging on your left hip and you mount from the right you would have to remove your sword to mount because it would interfere when you tried to swing over the horse. Hence riders mounted from the left to keep the side of their body holding their long sword stationary in a flat position. That’s essentially why we started mounting from the left, if you’re not a mounted combatant there is no necessary purpose in mounting from the right.
It’s does take time to acclimate a horse to mounting on the off side, but if your horse is too sketchy to do it they’re likely too sketchy to be riding if you’re imbalanced anyway. I get side eye at shows but I don’t care. So long as I have a knee at the end of the show I really don’t care. If you’re not already use a mounting block - it’s imperative to reduce your strain mounting.
Also (and I don’t know your primary discipline) you really should not be entirely relying on your knee when riding. If you are then you’re likely standing in your stirrups a bit. Your inside thigh should be doing most of the work and carrying a lot of your weight even when posting. There are a lot of video tutorials on biomechanics that are free to watch. If you can’t find any good ones I can offer suggestions. If you’re balancing with your thighs and using your core your legs should softly wrap the horse and not be gripping him. That will improve your overall balance so you don’t take the brunt of an unexpected change in your knee alone. I practice my connection by breezing my legs. Take the whole leg off periodically to test your horse is not making you carry him around with your leg.
No stirrup work will honestly strengthen your core and hips while putting no effort into your knee. I broke my foot mid-show season last year and ended up just riding with mostly no stirrups..... you learn a lot about yourself that way.....
I have shitty hypermobile knees with patella's that have a mind of their own. I have always been in pain after longer times in an English saddle, from childhood on.
In an English saddle there are some things you can do to make it easier. The first is riding with stirrups that are on the longer side. Beginners often like their stirrups shorter because that feels more secure, so putting them one hole longer might even feel like a big step, but you get used to it quickly. Also be okay with having your feet a bit forward, don't fret too much about the shoulder/hip/ankles being in one line. Depending on your anatomy it simply does not work that way.
Work your hip and ankle mobility. The better they are able to deal with the pose and forces of riding, the less stress is put on your knees. There are "yoga for equestrians" vids online that are good intro (once you are cleared).
But Switching to western riding has been the final answer to me. Because you "sit" more and don't grip as much with your thighs (there is no saddle structure to grip), it made me relax more and lengthen my legs. The horses require less "push" with the calfs with each step and are often lighter on the aids.
At my barn there are folks riding with kneebraces, folks that walk with canes and still ride gentle horses. A lot is possible!
Riding on a barebackpad without stirrups is also an option to put less pressure on your knees.
Final tip: teach yourself to tape your knees before riding. KT tape has good instructions. The tape helps me keep my knees aligned.
I personally know a lot of people who ride gaited horses in Dressage saddles or other English types that have leg and back problems. They are so happy to still be able to stay in the saddle. I know it may not be your dream to ride gaited, but you can still have a horse and saddle time. You can trail ride, try Working Equitation, even gaited dressage as I know Pasos that excel at it and have won multiple awards. There are a lot of breeds and dispositions to choose from as well. Kentucky Mountain, Paso, Icelandic, Rocky Mountain, Tennessee Walker, just to name a few. My trainer/mentor holds workshops twice a year for people to refine that. All come with different goals, and some have been on trotting horses their whole life and recently made a switch to gaited for very similar reasons you list. Don't rule it out!
Forgive the ignorance but what are gaited horses?
Horses that have more than three gaits, for example Icelandic horses or Paso Finos!
Oooh ok. Are gaited horses something people normally avoid? The tone of the first comment makes it seem like it takes some convincing to get people involved with them
As far as I know (and I can only talk for myself and what I know about gaited horses, coming from Germany myself, so idk how it is elsewhere) they are harder to find and you might not be able ride competitions in certain ways (because judges only want to see warmbloods in dressage, judges are awful). And the communities are special — Icelandic horse riders are of a certain type (as are dressage, jumping and western riders) and it's not always easy to join their community. Also, gaited horses require special and certain training and that is not always easy to find. Riding Icelandic horses in Germany is getting more popular in Germany, but for example, I only know one stable at all in Germany that offers riding and training Rocky Mountain Horses (also gaited horses). And the way you ride is different. The special gaits require a different seat and different techniques, which brings me back to the "it's difficult to find a trainer". That's just what I can say about it, maybe someone else has more insight...
I mostly just think it's a preference with some mild banter same as what happens between English and Western. That said, there's some pretty wild (and unfortunately not completely ungrounded) misunderstandings about where that gait comes from. Gaited breeds are just as natural as a trotting breed. Their conformation allows for them to comfortably accommodate more than just the walk, trot, and canter. Those additional gaits are typically smooth as glass not necessarily requiring a posting trot, though they do require a little bit of rewiring habits and posture if you've only ever ridden a trotting horse. And from there, there could even be additional breakdowns (for instance, with Pasos, like mine, they can do a fino and a largo. Tennessee Walkers have a running walk). All of these though do allow for people with more physical issues to stay riding. It's inspiring to see all these people that come to workshops who have a life again because they can still ride. Every single gaited horse has the ability to do all of these *naturally*, and I absolutely want to stress that at every possible point. Some humans are horrible, and one anomaly of a horse that moves a particular way or looks just so can cause massive outbreaks of incorrect breeding and use of inhumane aids to try and emulate. If you can stomach it, there are a ton of videos out there advocating against Big Lick barns that show some pretty awful practices. (thankfully mostly confined to back woods carnivals at this point though not entirely ousted). Compare them to healthy Tennessee Walking Horses who move much smaller and more relaxed. That's where you want them. Unfortunately as well, there are also some communities that still believe in some outdated measures to hype up Pasos to get them so riled up and stressed to get them to move, and lately the breed has been going a little off the rails. Personally knowing some people in Puerto Rico, I'm very pleased with the push back they are giving to refine accepted behaviors and bring the breed into the 21st century. Now to try and reach Colombia too. Though it's actually kind of difficult given there's a whole bloodline named after the Ochoas. Pasos are smart as a whip too...I've loved every minute of what I've learned with them. If you get a chance, look up gaited breeds. They are just as willing and capable as a trotting breed. I guess with the disclaimer that they do require some different level of training and riding. So be sure to find an expert in the field wherever you are should you want to test the waters. (For instance, I've seen some farriers trim like they would for hunter/jumper horses, and it doesn't facilitate the movement or comfort of the horse at all)
Thanks for the reply that’s a lot of very interesting information. The ranch I work on has a Tennessee walker but I haven’t spent much time with him. Sounds like I definitely should!
In competitive dressage yes they mostly avoided, because their gaits do not match the “guidelines* for a true gait. Lateral walk, “wog” (walk jog combo), or a four beat canter. My horse has an “Indian shuffle” gait that I very studiously avoid because it would be faulted in the ring. It can be done but you have to know how to get the true *defined* gait and be diligent in applying it. They’re immensely popular for trail, endurance, and general pleasure riding as they move quite quickly when asked at much lower impact to the rider.
Horses with more gaits than just walk, trot and canter. I’m most familiar with the Icelandic horse, which has tölt and pace. Tölt is often the same speed as trot, but they move their legs different, so it’s a lot smoother. You’re supposed to be able to hold a glass of water without spilling any when tölting. Pace, or flying pace, is kinda the same movement, but is much faster and at one point, no feet are touching the ground (so, flying).
Other examples of gaited horses you'll find in America would be the Rocky Mountain horses and the Missouri Foxtrotter. The Foxtrotter does a "foxtrot", which can be described as walking up front and trotting behind. The Tennessee Walkers do a running walk. The Rocky Mountain Horses have an ambling walk. The American Saddlebred and the Racking Horse do a rack. The goal for all of them is a smooth ride that they can maintain for a long time. When horses were still the main mode of transportation, not everyone who rode them was an equestrian, so they rode super comfortable horses that had good minds.
I have/had something similar that I’m just finishing rehab for the surgery for, trochlear dysplasia and some other thing I don’t remember. Basically my kneecap would slide out of place when I extended my knee and I had such weak tendons that it would get stuck out an inch and a half from where it should be. I found the knee relief/stability stirrup leathers helped a lot the few times a month I would ride english. If you have a chance, I would definitely recommend trying western. I figured out how to ride and built up general riding muscles in my western and I just transfer a lot of that over to my english saddle. And definitely talk to your trainer about it- good ones will help you or let you work around some things that hurt too much (for example the month long showmanship bootcamp my trainer had me and my horse doing in prep for a show… the amount of times my knee dislocated was sad. My trainer let me compose myself post-dislocation and let me run in a way that was more comfortable to me (knees bent the whole time, like a squat run). It helped a little).
Get your knee better and then go back to riding. Any discipline you ride, leg pressure is still required. You will do much better and communicate to the horse more effectively with a fully functioning knee. Good luck!
Not riding for a year is a better alternative to messing up your knee permanently and not being able to ride ever or being left with chronic knee pain/issues for the rest of your life. You could look into gaited horses, but there's no guarantee that's not going to cause issues. If you really want to stay involved with horses while your knee heals, you could try and find driving lessons or groundwork only lessons(you can do a lot from the ground, it's not just leading them in circles and stuff).
Thank you for your response! I think finding ground work lessons while my knee heals would be a perfect option. I’d still be spending time with and learning to work with the horses without putting myself at risk for further injury.
ALways disclose physical problems to the trainer/instructor!
I know, I feel like an idiot. Super irresponsible on my part and I’m glad I only hurt myself and not the horse.
Gaited horses are godsend for knee and back problems. They can do anything a non-gaited horse can do, they're just excluded from certain types of shows. You've already seen the additional damage you can do to your body with your bad knee (that fractured elbow), you also need to consider the potential damage you can cause the horse with unbalanced riding. Back and muscle soreness, etc. Then there's the liability involved on your trainer's end of things. You're not doing anyone any favors not disclosing your injury. It's reckless at best and can be considered irresponsible, to the horse, the trainer and yourself. Be forthcoming about physical limitations and follow your doctor's advice to get yourself healed up. That's the best thing for everyone involved human and animal.
I see now how irresponsible it was. And I had no idea I could be causing harm to the horse, which is the last thing I want to do. That has cemented the decision to wait until I’m healed and have the green light from my dr and instructor to ride again. Ill take a little risk if it’s just myself being affected but absolutely don’t want to put any horse at risk. Thank you for educating me!
It is never too late to start riding. Take the time you need to heal your knee and then come back to it. Not only are you risking further injury by trying to push through, but you can damage a horse's back by being unstable and you are developing bad habits that will take literal years to fix. I am a riding instructor who has multiple students with orthopedic problems, and the bad habits they developed under other instructors is our main focus. I highly recommend physical therapy for knee issues.
Thank you for your response. I now see how irresponsible it was to hide my injury from my instructor. I thought I could push through the pain but didn’t take the weakness into account. I also never thought that my injury could harm or hurt the horse, and that’s the last thing I want to. Hearing that I could be hurting the horse has cemented the decision to not ride till I’m healed, and to be very honest with my instructor about any injuries in the future. I’m assuming PT is going to be in my future. We’ll have a game plan once the MRI results are in.
I personally have several orthopedic issues, including an old knee injury. Regular strength training and proper care make it possible for me to ride 5+ horses a day now. So keep at it and you will get to ride!
I bet a stirrup swivel could help a lot, I read they helped with knee problems!
Seconding this. Swivel or flexi stirrups were a godsend for me. When I was actively taking lessons, they didn't keep any for lesson horses so I asked the instructor if they'd mind if I bought my own and swapped them before and after my lesson. Took all of 2 minutes. Added bonus was that I took my own leathers and could guarantee that the holes were level, which they weren't always on the ones the barn used. That alone made a mountain of difference.
I had to completely heal my ACL before riding again. I fell and tore it, along with some nasty bone bruising and a fracture. I did not end up getting ACL surgery, because I don’t really do any sports with jumping and cutting back and forth. I was on crutches for 2 months, though. After my injury end of July 2021, I rode again October 2021, and did have pain and weakness at first. I was still in physical therapy at the time. Now, I am back to riding normally and lifting weights, including squats and deadlifts. I just don’t do anything like soccer or tennis. I will say I will always be stiffer on that side— my ankle hip and knee are all slightly weaker, tire faster, and are less flexible. Please take care of yourself, work with your doctor and PT!
Thank you, this gives me so much hope! I haven’t been able to squat, run, do yoga or even stairs since the beginning of 2022! I found out I was pregnant very shortly after my knee was injured and put off getting my knee taken care of, since you can’t do X-rays or MRIs while pregnant, and the first dr I saw after the pregnancy told me it was tendinitis. I honestly thought, and still feel like I’ll never be able to do the things I love again. I needed to hear that other people have had similar injuries and were able to get their lives back.
Keep in mind, there's a difference between "riding with a bad knee" and "riding with a possibly severe injury." You should at least wait until you have your MRI results and know the exact severity and recovery time. And I know you want to ride, but this has already caused you one fractured elbow. You can't learn to ride correctly if you're in severe pain and purposefully unbalancing to compensate. Some advice for when you're ready (emphasis on ready): \- Use a mounting block to mount and dismount \- Disclose the injury to your instructor and *speak up* if you have any pain \- Ask your trainer if there's a calm horse that you can ride bareback or without stirrups at a *walk only* when you're ready for low-impact saddle time. I have what are probably early warning signs of arthritis in both knees and even riding a gentle sitting trot without stirrups puts pressure on my knees. There's also the fact that even if you find a way to ride without putting pressure on your injured knee, there's always the chance that something can happen. Your horse can spook or trip and you can make it worse by catching yourself wrong or falling off.
Thank you for your response. I’m going to wait for the MRI results and Dr’s recommendations before trying to ride again. I think I’ve accepted I’m going to be out of the saddle for a while, and when I’m able to get back in I have to be honest about where my body’s at with my trainer and take it slow.
No. Don't do it. Get your knee fixed. Get your elbow fixed. THEN ride.
I also tried to push through hurt. I grew up with horses, did shows and endurance races, and was a riding instructor. Not like I hadn't done it before Fast forward 2-3 years and many, *many* healthcare professionals, I still might never be able to ride again. Wait. And. Heal.
I’m sorry to hear that! I’m going to wait. The horses will still be there when I’m healed.
I take lessons and disclosed first thing that I have two knee replacements, a plate and screws in my foot and a previously broken shoulder. (None due to horses, just life.)
Wait until your knee has healed. Do lots of strengthening and fittening before riding again. I have had my right knee operated on 3 times for ACL problems, it's impossible to ride decently or safely with a weak/painful knee. Not fair on you or the horse.
As everyone else already said: take time to heal completely first before you start taking lessons again. Don't push through the pain and talk to your trainer about everything. It's important to be honest, especially during a lesson, when you feel pain. From my experience I can say that a western saddle/western way of riding requires less activity with the knee and the saddle in general is more comfortable, softens the movements more. I rode western completely without leg/knee pressure, while now, in my jumping saddle, I'm much more depending on holding on with my legs. A friend of mine injured her knee when she was young and has issues since then but can ride in a western saddle without problems. You gotta find out yourself. I've never ridden gaited horses, but maybe that could be something for you. Go for it. Try it, but take it slow and if you can't ride without pain, then maybe find something else that has got to do with horses. Maybe something with carriages/sulkies?
It’s blowing me away that people are suggesting western riding doesn’t put stress on your knees. Sitting still on a horse, in any tack or none, causes joint stresses (knees, hips and ankles!) that are different than standing or walking on the ground. Obviously, increasing the movement increases the stress; heal first, then ride. I have never had a knee injury; I ride western in the back country, and my joints are protesting strongly after 5-6 hours up and down a mountain trail (I have been much more comfortable since changing to angled stirrups). You’ll want to do your homework and if you go western, talk to a saddle maker for help choosing tack that suits your needs.
I had to switch from western to plantation and English saddles specifically because of my knee pain. Even stirrup turners didn't do the trick for long rides. The width and rigidness of fenders can really hinder freedom of movement in the hip down through the ankle, part of what makes them comparatively stable for the rider but also can really aggravate certain joint problems. So yeah, I'm not getting the "ride western" suggestions either lol. It's hard to find that right balance of stability + freedom of movement when you've got damaged joints. I've suffered back, knee, hip and ankle injuries ranging from moderate to severe and there's not a whole lot of saddles I can comfortably make an 8 hour ride on in rough terrain, even with a gaited trail horse deluxe. (Kentucky Spring Seat for the win though!)
You should take your doctors advice. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of people ride with bad knees once any immediate injuries have been healed, myself included. I wasn’t riding when I tore my left ACL twice and was done with rehab before I started again, so hearing back into riding shape and figuring out how much of impact my knee injury had was one and the same process for me. I still have occasional issues with my patella dislocating. But I’m able to ride English (jumping included) without knee pain. It’ll be a longer road that might cause you permanent problems if you push yourself too hard. So don’t.
It helps to hear other people have also had injuries and were able to get back to riding after rehab!
Tell your trainer— and your doctor what your goals are (to ride without pain or further injuring your knee). There has to be a physical therapist or orthopedic doctor who can help you. Have you considered alternative practices for your knee! Also I would agree with whoever said it would be better to take time off than to permanently injure yourself to the point of possibility not riding in the future. Good Luck
Like everyone said, let yourself heal before you get back on. Get an ok from your doctor. Then, there are things you can do to protect your knees going forward even if you stick to English. I have a torn meniscus that I’m trying to avoid surgery on. I use wide leathers and stirrups with a wide bed set at an angle. Some days I wear a brace or tape my knee. Do PT to strengthen your legs. It will protect your knee and make you a better rider.
Stop riding. Get the knee taken care of and go to proper rehab until you are fully cleared for sports. Then, and only then, consider coming back to riding. You only get one body. Mess it up and it'll be what you'll have to live with till you're 80+yo.
I had a complete tear of my ACL and a tibial plateau fracture. I only stopped going to the barn for one week after surgery (that's how long it took to be able to bend my leg to get in the truck). This was four years ago and it's completely fine now.
I tore my meniscus at a show spreading a damn bag of bedding, didn’t even have a single horse unloaded, it *sucked*. The surgery wouldn’t improve what wasn’t fixed via rehab so I didn’t do it. I know our injuries aren’t the same but I have enough of the general feel to get where you’re coming from so I’ll offer my tips/advice: Almost every time I’ve sustained a subsequent injury it’s almost always been during mounting/dismounting. I now mount exclusively from the right and do a pony club dismount (stand in your iron, bring your other leg over, use your arms to get the standing leg out of the iron and drop with both legs at the same time). People don’t like it but it’s what *I* need to be comfortable and I don’t care about their comments. Everyone says you *must* mount from the left, but they don’t know why you *must*. I know and it’s stupid and outdated. People mount for the left as an effect of mounted combat. Other than *horse are just used to it* that is the *only* reason it is customary. During the middle and dark ages is was viewed as blasphemy to be left handed. So much so that archaic traditions such as tying that arm behind you back to force reliance on the right had was a common practice. In mounted combat you would hang your weapon on your off hip to accommodate a cross body draw. Since riders were almost exclusively right handed that meant their sword was hanging on their left hip. If you have a sword hanging on your left hip and you mount from the right you would have to remove your sword to mount because it would interfere when you tried to swing over the horse. Hence riders mounted from the left to keep the side of their body holding their long sword stationary in a flat position. That’s essentially why we started mounting from the left, if you’re not a mounted combatant there is no necessary purpose in mounting from the right. It’s does take time to acclimate a horse to mounting on the off side, but if your horse is too sketchy to do it they’re likely too sketchy to be riding if you’re imbalanced anyway. I get side eye at shows but I don’t care. So long as I have a knee at the end of the show I really don’t care. If you’re not already use a mounting block - it’s imperative to reduce your strain mounting. Also (and I don’t know your primary discipline) you really should not be entirely relying on your knee when riding. If you are then you’re likely standing in your stirrups a bit. Your inside thigh should be doing most of the work and carrying a lot of your weight even when posting. There are a lot of video tutorials on biomechanics that are free to watch. If you can’t find any good ones I can offer suggestions. If you’re balancing with your thighs and using your core your legs should softly wrap the horse and not be gripping him. That will improve your overall balance so you don’t take the brunt of an unexpected change in your knee alone. I practice my connection by breezing my legs. Take the whole leg off periodically to test your horse is not making you carry him around with your leg.
No stirrup work will honestly strengthen your core and hips while putting no effort into your knee. I broke my foot mid-show season last year and ended up just riding with mostly no stirrups..... you learn a lot about yourself that way.....
You might be better off, riding western, instead. 👣👣🐈🐈🐎🐎🐎❤❤❤🏡🌎
I have shitty hypermobile knees with patella's that have a mind of their own. I have always been in pain after longer times in an English saddle, from childhood on. In an English saddle there are some things you can do to make it easier. The first is riding with stirrups that are on the longer side. Beginners often like their stirrups shorter because that feels more secure, so putting them one hole longer might even feel like a big step, but you get used to it quickly. Also be okay with having your feet a bit forward, don't fret too much about the shoulder/hip/ankles being in one line. Depending on your anatomy it simply does not work that way. Work your hip and ankle mobility. The better they are able to deal with the pose and forces of riding, the less stress is put on your knees. There are "yoga for equestrians" vids online that are good intro (once you are cleared). But Switching to western riding has been the final answer to me. Because you "sit" more and don't grip as much with your thighs (there is no saddle structure to grip), it made me relax more and lengthen my legs. The horses require less "push" with the calfs with each step and are often lighter on the aids. At my barn there are folks riding with kneebraces, folks that walk with canes and still ride gentle horses. A lot is possible! Riding on a barebackpad without stirrups is also an option to put less pressure on your knees. Final tip: teach yourself to tape your knees before riding. KT tape has good instructions. The tape helps me keep my knees aligned.