How do I find the articles on the Murdoch site?
thanks
L
There are lots of good suggestions on this thread, but you may also want to consider the possibility that your horse is simply too wide for your conformation.
I spent 5 years on a super-wide horse. I did yoga and pilates, took glucosamine and chondroitin, and underwent physical therapy every two weeks to try and increase the stretch in my hip. I stretched before and after riding, but I still judged whether I was sitting correctly by the amount of pain in my hip. If it hurt, I was sitting well. If it hurt a lot, I was sitting perfectly.
I could never get my horse properly forward because I couldn’t swing enough with him. My range of motion stopped before his stride did, and I was basically half-halting him every stride. Eventually, as my hip reached the end of its range of motion, the stretch transferred to my knee and I started to have knee problems. My knee would swell up after a ride and I had to ice it regularly.
When I retired my horse, I bought a narrower horse and my position is totally different. I have no problem aligning my heel, hip, shoulder and ear, and the hip and knee pain have vanished. I thought it might be a coincidence, but I took my retiree out on a half-hour trail ride a couple of months after getting the new horse, and by the time I got back, my knee and hip hurt so badly I had a hard time dismounting.
I don’t mean to dissuade you from trying any of the suggestions on this thread, but don’t let your determination affect your judgment and possibly cause lasting harm to your joints.
You might be interested in some of Wendy Murdoch’s articles (esp. “loose hips”) available on her website:
Her videos are very good and would be helpful. As a Feldenkrais practitioner she has a lot to offer.