Chiro comes every 5 weeks, and he doesn’t react to the back points, but it may be something to check.
It seems so out of the blue, I’d have a vet check
I think your having doubts due to being in the hospital, I think you will recover and when you get to the barn you will see you probably can not give it up, is generally in our blood, its out Passion. I agree that maybe more fitness would help your body a little. You may be better off then others since you have a safe sound horse who is not at fault.I rarely post but your situation resonates. I’m 52, had a couple of hard falls jumping in the last year, but no hospitals, thankfully. This is probably not a decision to make while you’re so banged up. Whatever you decide, you will second guess it. I’ve kept jumping but spend a lot more time wondering if I should…What a drag it is getting older. Wishing you speedy healing.
First and foremost focus on healing. As others have said this isn’t a decision to try to make now. Only you will know what is right for you and it’s hard to tell when that will come to you. I’m going through a similar questioning phase at the moment. I’m just coming up on 40, so a few years younger, but for the first time in my life I’m terrified of falling. I’m just coming back from a full year off with a herniated disk and severe sciatica. My back is doing well, but my current horse can be tough and the thought of hitting the ground and seriously injuring my back is constantly with me. I haven’t decided what to do myself, at this point I’m taking it day by day.
I’m 65, and have my horses at home. About 5 years ago, maybe more, I decided to not push myself anymore, and adopted a “sustainable riding” attitude. That means zero pressure on myself. I am very very careful what I ride, and have four saintly geldings in various stage of semi-retirement. I only jump 2’3" and that is when my horse feels quiet and focused. I rely on them a lot to take care of me, and they are they type that gets that. Those horses are out there, but you have to seek them out. I have had very good luck with the been-there done-that show hunters, who, like me, are coming down the ladder. I have thought about not riding anymore, but I voiced something to that effect to a friend last summer, she looked at me, and said, “if you quit riding, you will age 10 years in a few months”. I think she is right. I would think twice about quitting completely, if it’s really in your blood.
I also should credit my trainers. I haul in for lessons, and I tell them what I am prepared for that day. They are incredibly kind to me, and patient, and never push me past my comfort zone. Nor do they make any hint at anything that would make me feel bad for not doing more.
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I rarely post but wanted to say I totally understand. I am 67 and now ride one very special former event horse who is 16 and sensible. I showed for 17 years in jumpers and hunters and had a few injuries but nothing terrible. Still, I got to the point that I did not like even the thought of injury. I golf, have grandchildren, travel, and do so many other activities that I am fine with my one horse, riding in a safety vest, and barely jumping at all. I am in a serious program with flat work and tiny jumps in patterns as well as riding out and about. This seems to suit me fine at this age. I see people riding into their eighties and have NO desire to be doing that!
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Calvincrowe,
So sorry this happened to you. Jingles for a speedy recovery. This was my thought as well. She may be a great mare, but perhaps you could find a more suitable match with regard to jumping style, if your goal is still to continue jumping at the same level.
I hope you are back in the saddle soon.
I’m 68, ride since 15 and owned since age 18. Riding Western the first 15 years, didn’t come off much, even starting colts. Came back after an 8 year break at 43 into Hunters as it meshed well with the Western background in pattern classes and small details in controlling the horses body parts. Plus no decent trainers locally. Of course I came off more with the Jumping, especially when I got to showing 3’ and schooling higher, but nothing serious.
I noticed about age 50, my reflexes weren’t what they were, I wasn’t picking up on subtle hints from the horses something was about to happen so couldnt act fast enough, only react after the fact. Mentioned it to older friends and they shared exactly the same experience. Everything still worked fine but they just were not as sharp as they once were. That leads to coming off more often besides not bouncing as well.
At 55 had my first fracture ever, non displaced upper arm right at the shoulder, man did that ever hurt. Got bucked off but because I didn’t listen to the horse and kept on pushing when I knew it had enough, I cannot work in my career job with any physical limitations so was on disability for 4 months. That got my attention.
Two years later at 57, I was careless leading one and missed the split second hint it was going to spook. Got knocked down, hopped up, drove myself to the ER for an x ray, despite notlooking anything but swollen and not hurting that much, I shattered it. Another 3 months on disability after taking a big pay cut in the recent recession. That changed my thinking about riding completely. But no thought of quitting.
Continued riding and jumping but only at 2’6". Enjoyed a few shows, did a few clinics and had a very good time once I took the pressure off myself. But, at 61, taking a clinic doing a just a simple flat exercise, canter to the wall and execute a square, straight halt with the forehand inside a cone about 4’off the wall, all about collection, precision and impulsion. Horse was getting pissy, started sucking back, It had always dropped to the right when misbehaving, I pushed it up into the bridle blocking the right and sucker dropped left and spun out from under me, missed the signs and came off, knocked the wind out but me, no missed work But that was it.
Finally did not have a good answer to why I was still pushing. Just flatted and hacked out a few times a week the rest of that year but my lower back was starting to really object. Horse hit 21 and got a DDFT screwing around in the field so I retired both of us. It was time. If I ever get the urge and have the money at the same time, will return to my roots and get a nice, older QH in a pretty color with some chrome or a palomino. Admit it might be fun to go back to the Trail Classes in their old timers division. Nothing happens fast over the obstacles and hurrying is a fault. Saddle has a handle too.
CC, hope these geezer war stories are helping you. Your decision doesn’t have to be black or white either, lots of shades of grey allowing you to change focus and modify your riding. My last Hunter, who I still have in retirement, had what they call a " sucker jump". High, tight knees with a ftat back, loved the gap of course but that’s not at all bad in an Ammy Hunter…or an Eq horse for that matter, just in case you decide to change horses, keep that in mind.
And just because you change a few things doesn’t mean you have to be done with horses, don’t think you can ever turn that off. Take a break now, take a few trips with DH. Buy some nice non horsey things. Then see what you feel you want to do, see if you can lease that horse out for a time too so you don’t feel she’s missing conditioning. It’s a time for no worries.
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CC, I am so, so sorry this happened. I am getting older (44) and since having kids if I had a serious accident, I’d be done with the noted exception of my senior mare. I have horses at home coming in and out and my tolerance for any sort of malarkey gets lower every year. My set-up does not work if I am scared, period. Rest, recover, and know that we are all rooting for a speedy recovery. This is your decision to make, go with your gut.
CC, I’ve enjoyed your posts over the years and would hate to see you quit riding. I echo what many others have said that when you’re feeling better is when you should decide whether you want to continue, especially with this particular horse.
I love the idea of sustainable riding. I was trying to learn jumping in the last couple of years, but have settled on ground poles. I’m 61 and just retired. I don’t want to keep spending so much on training. I totally understand that point of thinking about what else you could be doing with all that money. My friend who quit riding and sold her saddle travels all the time and I get a little jealous of that lifestyle.
On the other hand, I won’t be riding much longer and my 15 year old horse is my last horse. So personally, my decision is to keep going for now, and take it month by month.
You’ll heal in no time and be back on your feet.
I just read the poster above, who said they had enjoyed your posts over the years. I concur, and this thought prompts me to add to my earlier post.
As I said, I am 65 and have my old sweet guys at home. As broke as they are, there are days when I may not be “feelin’ it” as much as others. Maybe its windy, maybe I have work deadlines, maybe I’m tired, maybe horses haven’t been ridden much due to weather, etc etc. I put on my paddock boots because I am as certain as I can be that I will feel better after some horse time. I tell myself that I’ll just get on and walk around the arena. Let me tell you something… I ALWAYS end up getting in the groove, and having fun. Usually, I find myself cantering, then doing small jumps. All those years (and $$$) of lessons kick in as does muscle memory. Although there have been a few times, if it’s really windy and they are spook-ish, I have just trotted around. And once I got off, and we did round pen work. But even after that, I was in a better mood than before my horse time. The idea is to go ahead and use a little self discipline to get on, but then let yourself fall into what you know how to do so well, but use that same knowledge to sense risk. Put even more simply, you will know what to do.
The thing is, once you are on the horse, you will have fun and get off in a better mood, I promise.
I am not sure what I would do in a boarding barn, with more structure. Given that most barns won’t let you jump out of lessons, I think I would just pay for a private, and tell Ms Trainer that she could talk on her phone, whatever, just be there for me in case I wanted to jump a bit. Or, like when I had a green horse at a boarding barn, I Ms Trainer would school him for me two or three days before, and I always went out to hack the day before a lesson, to get his jumping canter feeling right for me.
