Have you ever taken a riding break before a big non-riding event? For example, something you would really like to be “whole” for (weddings, vacations, etc.)? If so, how long before the event did you start, or did you just switch to the babysitter horses for awhile?
My predicament:
At my current barn, I have become one of the bronc riders. Not breaking colts or anything, but the “hmm no one’s been on him in a few months…let’s see what he does!” or “hey he just bucked off a lessoner, could you make sure he doesn’t get away with it?” Normally I don’t mind because 1) the trainer is laid up with her own chronic injury, 2) half the time the antics are minor, and 3) as many a barn rat knows, if you’re willing to ride the naughty ones, you often get “thanked” with the nice rides too. And because the trainer usually watches for a bit and gives lots of advice, I often learn something too.
BUT…
I absolutely HAVE to be physically whole, in working order, this summer. I start the fieldwork for my graduate research project, and we may only have two summers’ worth of funding. If I have a broken bone or something, I will be of very little use and would be relying on other people to collect my data.
I’m thinking of scaling back my riding, either by sticking to the bombproof lesson horses or by taking a break from it altogether for a month or two before I leave. Basically, long enough for a hypothetical bone to heal :lol:. I understand that I could fall down the stairs at home, or get in a car crash, etc. But horseback riding is hands down the riskiest activity I do, and would be a simple way to decrease the risk (I also chose not to ride when I didn’t have health insurance).
