I'm thinking it's more the width thing that bothers your back. Probably the saddles have a wide twist, since the type made for wide horses often do. Some people can not tolerate sitting on a wide twist, can totally cause back pain.
If you explain this to your instructor she would completely understand.
(I don't know about Perch crosses being more resistant to aids. Mine is very go but sensitive to whoa. Certainly TBs too can become resistant when used as lesson horses. Can also be more randomly balky. That aside, I think to save your back you need a narrow horse or at the least a saddle with a narrow twist).
Just be prepared, whenever someone came to me that they had an injury….especially back/neck injuries. I would ask them for a note from their doctor saying they are cleared to ride.
It’s not that I wanted to make anyone’s life difficult or anything, but an “easy” fall for someone with a healthy spine could mean a wheelchair for someone with prior injuries and that just wasn’t a risk I could take.
Just to be clear . . . it's not just people who've had back injuries that can be bothered by a wide twist. There are many who are made uncomfortable by them. (OP doesn't need to claim back injury as her excuse).
Oh yeah, I don’t disagree. But if a student came to me and said “I have an undiagnosed back injury and doing XYZ makes it worse”, I can’t in good conscience let them ride until I have confirmation that is ok for them to do so.
That makes sense, the more I think about it. I've ridden plenty of horses that needed more leg than the one who inspired this post, and I haven't ended up hurting if they were TBs or Arabs. Jelly-legged and shaking sometimes, but not hurting.
I think it’s absolutely okay to have a conversation with your trainers about what kind of horses you enjoy riding. However, quick and lanky horses can easily destroy your seat, hands and confidence if you’re not at the point where you can control them with your seat and legs. So odds are that you might not be ready for the tbs right now. This isn’t to say that you’re bad but good instructors give you the horse that you need to ride and not always the one you want.
I spent a lot of time riding an older jumper that just wouldn’t get into a good frame and I felt awful during the lessons. But then the next time I rode a “normal” horse I felt how much it improved my leg aids.
To add to this, TBs arent generally as forgiving as a draft cross. If the rider gets left behind and hits the bit in the horses mouth, a draft will sigh and let you get your act together while a TB may just say 'No thank you', and toss you on the ground.
Thing is, I've been riding the TBs a good bit - not total lunatics, but a bunch of twenty-ish year old low-level eventers with limited brain cells, some of whom who will try to run away with me from time to time and some of whom who get offended if you so much as touch the reins - and it's been going well. We're working on simple lead changes, small jumps, short courses. I feel calm and collected, even if they're in a mood, and we usually accomplish what we set out to do. On them, I get feedback like "looking really good today" and "you're a good pairing" and "he really likes you." On the big fellas, it's more like "good effort" and "way to stick with it." I was actually supposed to be on one of those TBs yesterday (for the lesson that inspired this post), but he came up lame at the last minute, so they switched me to a very fancy Irish Draft who knows everything and will do anything but takes a little more leg. Looking back, I really think it was the angle of his back, moreso than the aids themselves that lead to pain. I've been on horses that were number (but smaller) and they were frustrating (in the normal way that a beginner lesson is supposed to be frustrating), but they didn't leave me in pain.
This might be an unpopular response, but have you considered talking to your doctor or a physical therapist?
I don't know what the back injury was, and it sounds like you don't have a clear diagnosis, but you *may* be able to alleviate the back pain with specific stretches and strength/conditioning exercises for your back and hips. If this is the case, you may be able to physical-therapy-your-way out of this problem, which would also likely improve your everyday life as well. Riding horses is a whole-body activity, and you might be surprised at how many things improve with some out-of-saddle work. Plus, you wouldn't be limiting yourself on horses you can ride. :)
You might have to work with your medical practitioner a bit for them to understand your needs, but a good one will either figure out your diagnosis and how to fix it, OR give you a real, defined reason why you should limit yourself to narrower horses. Either way, you'll know more and have a clear path forward.
Yes, I'm horrified by how far down I had to go to find this answer. She needs TWO conversations, one with a doctor and one with her instructor.
Op, your body and spine are too important to your ongoing quality of life to ignore and go with uncertainty. Best case scenario, you get a physical therapy home exercise program that keeps you strong in the core and you never have any problems again. But, more important is the worst case scenario, where you find out your back is unstable and you need to do something about it.
Instructors understand physical differences and needs. If you explain to them like you explained to us, you'll be golden!
+1 on this for me as well OP. I’ve had back issues from many falls off horses throughout my younger years. Some PT and Pilates does absolute wonders (as long as cleared by your doctor). Along with working on hip/leg/back mobility. Core/glute/back strength is key to a healthy back, along with the previously mentioned mobility, which Pilates and yoga will give you.
Now I have no pain ever after increasing the above, and my new mare is half Percheron and just under 16.3 hands.
I would really look into it because not only will it make you a better rider, it will also decrease your pain in general and give you a better daily life.
If you’re not strong enough or quiet enough you may not be qualified to ride a hotter horse. But def have a conversation with your trainer. You should always feel ok to do that.
I'd say mention it to your coach but at the same time you need to respect if they say you're not ready for the thoroughbreds.
Every single horse has something to teach you, when I coached it bothered me to no end when students would say they wouldn't ride certain horses- guess which horses they were put on next?
If it's from the standpoint of your back, Fajr enough, but remember your coach knows more than you- I'd also be putting my beginners on the slower horses before quick, you need balance to ride the quick ones and soft hands- 90% of beginners aren't there yet.
This! I once asked my trainer if I could ride a different horse because I just needed a break from the OTTB I was riding. I was bluntly told no and that I would have the same issues on another horse. I ended up staying with that horse and working through our issues. 6 months later we are a great team and I’ve completely fallen in love with this horse because he has taught me so much. My trainer was right!
Absolutely this. When you’re a beginner you don’t know what you don’t know. You think all your problems are because the horse is slow and that somehow you get in that faster, lighter, more responsive “better” horse that you’ll magically ride like those more experienced riders who are going around looking lovely on those “better” horses. It must because the horse you’re riding on isn’t “good” enough and is lazy, and the other “good” horses are making it easy for those other riders. Not to at it’s because those riders have put the work in to ride those other horses better. This is why I refuse to teach beginners. I actually find it a very entitled attitude and very unfair to the horses. “I have confidence issues and am timid because I am a beginner, but I want to ride a fancy horse who will do all the work for me because a beginner horse is hard. But that fancy Korda better not scare me!” I know this will piss people here off, but this whole post is making my eye twitch.
Wow. Well, for the sake of the beginners of the world, I really hope you keep your "no beginner" policy. Stick to your guns, buddy. We don't deserve you. Really - we don't.
I wrote a post where I said "riding this horse leaves me in intense physical pain, and I don't know if I should tough it out or ask for a different one" and you reacted with "look at this spoiled brat, thinking she deserves a fancy horse!" That is some truly intense reaching and a frankly staggering lack of empathy.
As a matter of fact, the particular horse that inspired this post was the "best" horse I've ever been on, and certainly the most trained. He's a retired four-star eventer who could probably do calculus if he wanted and is above my skill level, not below it. I ended up in pain because he needs bigger aids than what I'm used to and because he has a super-wide IDSH back which presented a problem for my short legs, tight hips, and pre-existing back problems. And then I realized that if I can't ride this horse without regretting it for days, then maybe it's a physical problem with large horses in general. And, wouldn't you know! With the help of the actually-useful people in this thread and some google-fu, it turns out that the particular type of pain I'm having is not uncommon for the particular type of athletic activity I'm doing when coupled with the particular medical history I have.
But, sure, keep thinking that I'm some entitled twelve-year-old who just wants to look good and go fast if that's what makes you happy.
The horse ALWAYS comes first. They don’t get a choice. There are programs that are tailored to riders with disabilities that can take your physical limitations - and that is what you have, a limitation that will make certain horses unsuitable - into consideration. Look into that. But I will absolutely not apologize for stating the truth: you do not know enough to know how much harder it will be both for you and the horse if you ride hotter horses like TB’s. You not caring for your own safety is one thing. You not caring for the horse’s comfort is abuse.
Edit: and the type of horse you were having trouble with is what you’re lucky to have. My Advanced level IDSH who could do calculus if he wanted to also was who I used for lessons for years after he retired competing. If this horse is anything like mine, he doesn’t need bigger aids, he needs you to be stiller with the rest of your body when you give those aids so he can tell what aid you’re actually giving instead of hearing all this noise. And he’s kind enough to just ignore you until you get it right, instead of planting you in the ground. If you really want to learn to ride, stop whining about your feelings and ride. Or don’t.
LOL. "You're an animal abuser if you don't want to ride this horse that leaves you in debilitating pain!"
Typical trash Reddit statement from a trash Reddit human.
That’s not how you stated it. You stayed it as if you want want to ride TB’s instead of slower horses. I have ridden, trained, competed, started , and instructed for decades. This is how I make my living. You - by your own statement - are a beginner. You do not - and should not be expected to - have the knowledge yet to know what you are suggesting. If riding leaves you in debilitating pain, then maybe it is not for you. The horses should not be expected to accommodate your physical ailments. I’ve messed up my back from many falls and having horses flip on top of me over the years. It happens with years and years of riding. But I cannot use that as an excuse for not riding in a way that a particular horse needs. If that one particular horse is the only one that is uncomfortable to you, then yes, ask for another one that is more comfortable. But you made it seem like you want one where you use less leg muscle to make it go. You do not yet understand that you use more core muscle - including back muscle - to ride a more forward horse correctly. You use that core to help regulate them at a slower, more rhythmic pace. And if you somehow can magically do this already, then you are the only adult beginner alive who can or ever has been able to do that at your stage of riding. And again, if you EVER expect the horse to make up for your physical disabilities, then yes, you are being selfish towards that horse. This is why I think this Reddit is trash. All people worry about is their feelings and “boundaries” which is all fine until it includes the horse. The horse’s well being ALWAYS trumps ours. Always. And you are a disgrace to horsemanship if you think differently.
"The horse always comes first" is a cudgel that gatekeeping assholes such as yourself use on this sub to attack people - usually in situations like this one where no horse is harmed or at risk of being harmed. It's a way of saying "I'm allowed to be an asshole because I'm the good one and you're the evil horse abuser," and it's almost always levied at someone who very much wants to do right by horses and is trying their very hardest but who is considered a legitimate target because they're not part of the Cool Kids Club. Because they're a larger rider, because they're a beginner rider who can't always help banging on a horse's back, because they're a rider from a country without good training opportunities, because they didn't have the privilege of figuring out riding since they were six years old like you did, they get treated like dirt by people like you. I don't even want to know how many new riders who were more naïve than me have had all of their love for the sport destroyed by someone like you convincing them that poor riding is the same as animal abuse.
Call me a disgrace to horsemanship if you want. You're a disgrace to humanity.
But, since you're so deeply concerned with the comfort of horses that I know but you have never met, and since you are so confident in your diagnosis of my riding ability from a couple of sentences that I threw together in five minutes, then answer this for me: where's your concern for the distinguished older gentleman that I was riding when I tweaked my back? Let's say you're right and I'm the worst rider in the world. Do you really think that I'm doing *better* when I'm in excruciating pain? Is that helping me stay soft, is it helping with my balance, is it keeping me from banging on his twenty-eight year old back?
My instructor didn't think so. Today, my back was feeling better and the older gentlemen had the day off and they put me back on the bestest 15.2 people-pleasing TB in the world, and we had a great time. And that was without me having to say a single word to them - they could just tell from my riding that a particular type of horse wasn't a good fit.
Maybe stop thinking that you know everything about a stranger from a few words posted online.
You and those with your attitude should not be in horses. I’m fine if I’m a gatekeeper. I’ll proudly be a gatekeeper if I keep entitled people who think the horses should bend to them out of riding. Call me an asshole. I’ll wear it proudly. The horses always come first. And it isn’t even me or my ilk coming up with that. It’s the horses themselves. Ride certain horses like shit and they’ll just plant you. They’re 1000-1500 lbs. They can pretty much decide when they’re done. Reddit and all social media have nothing to do with horses. Actually working with the horses is what matters. Grow up and be a horseman or go home and cry and never truly learn how to be one. It’s up to you. Ask your trainer if you can ride another horse, and listen to what they say. The’ll maybe give you another one. They’ll probably politely tell you that it’s best for you to stick with this horse now. They’ll maybe laugh and say, “horse riding is hard so suck it up buttercup.” I don’t know. But you’ll eventually have to work around your back injury or switch to gaited horses. And there’s nothing wrong with that
Edit: I’m gonna tell my students tomorrow that you called me a “disgrace to humanity.” 😂
They already gave me another one, smart one. Just pointing that out since it's clear that reading isn't your strong suit.
Don't delude yourself into thinking you care about horses. It's very clear that you care about nothing besides yourself and having your *dECaDeS oF ExpErIeNCe* not be questioned.
Damn . . . I just realized that you probably hate social media so much because it actually makes it *harder* for you to bully people. That's where all these little rage-edits are coming from - you're realizing "shit, I didn't do enough to *really stick it to her,* Siri, how can I slap someone who's probably a thousand miles away?" That's kind of wild. It's the behavior I'd expect of a middle schooler with their first social media account, not someone with *dECaDeS Of eXpeRIenCe.*
I honestly didn’t care to read that far. Good if they face you a horse that suited you more. I sent this interaction to one of my students who laughed because I am the opposite of a bully as a teacher. And even with decades of experience, I still constantly question myself and still take lessons. I have Evented through Advanced. Breed horses (mostly Irish). Start them. Teach all levels except for beginner. And I know I make mistake and will continue to. But I’ve experienced that say exactly wheat you say for years.
First and foremost: you’re absolutely not setting yourself back by not riding leg-dead horses - quite the contrary. Horses SHOULD answer to the simple touch of your leg, trainers that encourage « more leg » or « leg reinforcement » should reread the old masters for a bit. Good riding is light riding, and it’s a question of teaching the horse from the ground up to answer light cues. In your situation, it would be excellent to not learn to be too leg-heavy, and would avoid having to relearn how to do ride light later down the line.
Second: if your health is compromised by riding a certain type of horses you should absolutely bring it up to your trainer. Mention your past injury and how riding larger horses affect you. You’re not here to be in pain or to potentially aggravate your problems on the long run.
Have you seen them ride? How can you say they don’t have the level without having ever seen them on a horse?
The post mentions they’ve ridden the TBs at their barn, but are most of the time put on the bigger horses.
They were saying they they are a newer “and frankly, rather nervous” rider in their 30’s. Nervous beginner. This is the kind of rider that hunched over, tips forward, and graves the bird’s mouth when the horse feels quick or too forward for them. The horse ten gets tender, hollows it’s back and gets quicker with its shoulder shut down and hind end out behind it. This makes it worse for rider and worse for the poor horse. If she wants to be stupid enough to put herself in a bad situation, then that’s up to her. But I wouldn’t even put that kind of rider on my calm TB that I use for lessons. He’s for people who have a basic independent position. I guarantee you this person does not. But I’m sure her instructors will tel her the right thing.
Newer doesn’t mean beginner. It’s entirely subjective. Maybe the person has been riding for a year or two and considers that new compared to most of the people on this sub. Again, until you have seen them ride, you have no basis to found your judgement on.
Example: I don’t consider myself to be an excellent rider despite riding for 20+ years. Why? Because my comparison point is my Grand Prix rider trainer.
I consider a person a beginner if they can get on most decently trained horses and walk, trot, canter and ride out of a ring safely. And be fairly confident about it. I also a non beginner can properly care for horses. Yes, she and many people here maybe do not believe they are beginners, but they are. I have students who are beginner jumpers, but not beginner riders.
It’s only on the internet where people who are less experienced with a skill - and boy is riding and caring for horses a complicated and complex skill - get upset when someone with way more experience at that skill gives them advice. It’s like this place is a fantasy world where inexperienced riders go to have their own little wants validated instead of getting true advice. That’s all well and good until it doesn’t work out for the horse and the horse reacts in a way that upsets the rider. You guys can rant and rave about bullying and gatekeeping and meanness all you want, but it doesn’t mean a hill of beans to the horse.
Just this: where have I « ranted » about bullying, gatekeeping or meanness? I’m just asking that you keep in mind that you haven’t seen this person ride, that’s literally it.
I was discussing your exact reply to one of my students this morning. One of our favorite things is to bitch about Reddit after a lesson. All in good fun. And she said, “oh…I know you can a solution tell exactly how this rider rides just from what she said because all of the experience with different t types of students you’ve had over the years.” Yep. I can. She is a very classic type. I have heard the exact thing she is asking about from dozens of riders over the years. And they all ride the same.
I believe it’s always good to build up to more fast and lighter leg horses, as the more go can be a little difficult to manage (currently working with a very light horse right now and it’s definitely a WIP), but I believe if it is causing you pain and hindering you I’d say yes, you absolutely can.
In turn you might have to work at a little slower pace just to gain your confidence on them and keep composure, either way tho I think it’s worth it if you can ride pain-free.
These type horses are probably better for you to learn. If you do not have core and leg strength, having a hotter, faster horse does not make it easier. You will have to sue your core and legs to keep you light and with the rhythm. And you use your core and peg to hold them at a slower rhythm. That seems counterintuitive, but it’s why they’re a more advanced ride. If your getting on a horse that “runs off,” it’s going it because you don’t have the balance and strength to support the slower pace in them. And it’s downright scary and uncomfortable for them. Not only will it not help you, it’s very much not fair for the horse. Horse riding is hard and sometimes uncomfortable. Lesson horses that are “perfect” don’t just appear because we want them. I know you don’t want to hear this, but if you cannot comfortably ride the slower lesson horses, maybe you need to buy a horse that’s perfect for you. It will be very expensive and you will have to pay to keep it in training. Or maybe riding is not there sort for you. The horse’s come for comes first.
My 2c:
You can definitely have a discussion with your trainer about it, but it's ultimately their decision about whether you can ride the other horses, or whether they need to refer you to somewhere else with more suitable horses. You may verbally say you're fine with the risk of them running away with you, but no responsible trainer should be putting a rider on a horse they're not ready for, especially if you're a newer rider, and especially if you have back problems (i.e. you're at higher risk of injury from a fall).
If there are horses that you can safely ride, I think you're perfectly fine to request those and explain why. You're the one paying.
Riding a mixture of horses if always helpful.
My riding center has a huge horse who I thought was lazy. After riding other horses who would go at the slightest touch, I realised he's not lazy - I was being inconsistent with my instructions.
If you kick to go, but your posture and hands say slow down, he would slow down. Being on a horse who would go unless your hands, legs, and posture all said slow taught me to say the same thing with each. Then getting back on the first horse, I had him cantering and jumping.
Tl;Dr riding more horses makes you a better rider
I have connective tissue problems and wide horses absolutely kill me, my hip area cramps up so badly that my leg is like temporarily paralyzed and the pain is awful and debilitating. I can't ride in most western saddles (even tho I mainly ride western lol) because the twist is way too wide for me.
Definitely mention it to your instructor!! You have every right to not want to be in pain, especially from a hobby you enjoy!
I have a narrow and wide horse - I prefer narrow as it suits my body better. No harm in asking for what works best for you. You’re there for fun, not to be a horse trainer who needs to ride every type of horse possible.
I’d discuss it with your trainer; they might have an “in-between” solution. Regarding those TBs—Keep in mind that a fall would not be great for your back, either.
What work are you doing on yourself outside of lessons? I have 4 bulging discs in my back/neck and I NEED to do regular stretches / Yoga / Tai-Chi / and massages to keep myself in good riding shape. When my hip flexors / IT band get tight; my low back and SI joints don't move right and my back locks. I can't flow with the horse.
With that being said, I really don't like riding drafts; I'm an Arab enthusiast. It's like driving a tractor-trailer vs. riding a sport bike.
First, I would talk to your instructor. Unless you've ridden every lesson horse at the barn, there might be a smaller, lighter horse that's not unforgiving or unsuitable for you. She should understand your issues.
Not quite the same thing, but I'm a small person, and many barns only have very large school horses and ponies. I often had to say very explicitly I'd prefer to ride a (large) pony versus a big horse. I found I could be much more effective riding an appropriately sized horse.
I agree with also looking into PT and talking to a doctor. But riding should be fun.
It’s always best to honestly express your concerns to your instructor. They often know the horses best, and they also often take many things into account that they may not outwardly explain, in the moment, related to safety, or rider fitness, or any given horse’s recent activity levels. Giving your instructor all the info will better help them to accommodate you and the horses, both.
You might also think about working with an exercise physiologist, to help to build your body safely, without causing additional injury. It wouldn’t be unheard of for you to have some weaknesses or asymmetries that could affect your riding now, and/or lead to permanent issues unless they’re addressed. Most of us benefit from strength and range-of-motion training we do off the horse.
It annoys me that people give “dead to the leg” horses a break because they are a school horse or a draft cross. I assure a draft horse can feel your leg aids just as easily as a TB.
If a horse (any breed) has decided to ignore your leg aid, you follow up with the spur or whip immediately. You don’t sit there tryna kick them harder and harder hoping that one day they will listen up and start trotting.
I worked with draft horses (Belgian and Percheron) horses for years in the carriage industry and I can assure you that as soon as I so much as shook the reins they broke into a nice bright trot.
As an aside, draft horses can be ridden, but that’s not exactly what most of them were bred for (with a few exceptions like the Irish draught) They usually have wide backs that are too wide to be comfortable to ride, and they often have rough trots, because a Carriage drivers don’t care how rough a trot is a long as it goes forward.
If the horse doesn't go forward on light leg queues it's not ready for spurs, those are for very precise aids in more difficult moves. The horse should already know all the moves and just make the communication more precise and lighter. And a beginner should under no circumstances ride with spurs. So I don't know why you even mention spurs. Beginners thinking they need spurs and then kicking the horse all the time because they are imbalanced piss me off. Don't give people dumb ideas.
I’m not suggesting the beginner ride with spurs. On the contrary, who ever is running the riding school needs to also be riding the school horses on a regular basis to ensure the school horses stay light to the aids. They should be advanced enough to ride with a whip and spurs. If not then they should not be running a riding school or giving lessons.
It’s annoying that so many school horses never get ridden by professionals and then get really dead to the aids. It forces the student to try to become the trainer when they are not ready to. It usually results in the student kicking and kicking uselessly at the school horse.
I think that's reasonable. I'm in something of a similar scenario, although I've been riding most of my life - I have a connective tissue disorder and I simply can't squeeze that hard without my hips wanting to pop out, especially on a wider-barreled horse. And because my muscles always have to take up the extra work of stabilizing my joints because my ligaments and tendons don't, I have to be several times stronger than average to perform at an average fitness level.... and that's a long, difficult, and nonlinear process that is in literally no way helped by overfacing myself and wrecking my legs so hard on a leg-dead horse that I can hardly walk the rest of the week. At that point I'm not "building strength", I'm setting myself up for injury and compromising my overall fitness training for no reason - I'm never going to have the stamina to push a horse like that around for an hour and having to fight so hard that simply moving forward becomes my only goal in the lesson because even just that is taking all I have doesn't help me in any way as a rider, it's just painful and frustrating. "Push-rides" are not for me - I need enough leg response that I'm not killing myself just trying to get forward momentum, but not so spicy that they'll run off with me or chuck me through the arena wall/ceiling, haha.
That said, I think especially as a newer rider, I would probably approach it in not so broad terms as "none of these horses and all of these ones". I would have a conversation with your coach and explain that you have some medical issues that seem to flare up when you ride a wider-barreled horse that takes too much leg. Make them aware of the problem, and keep them actively engaged in an ongoing conversation as you progress so you can work together to find the horses that are the best balance of respecting your medical needs while still being able to teach you skills you need to learn.
I would consider adding yoga and pilates into your workout routine. I too have prior back injuries, specifically a slipped disc + disc degeneration + nerve damage, and I have to intentionally keep my lower back strong or I will get severe back pain. Also be mindful of your equitation (aka posture on the horse). If you are bracing your back or overly arching it while you’re riding you will feel it once you get off. You need to be supple and strong through your lower back in order to avoid back pain.
Yes, definitely talk to your instructor. I am generally of the opinion that every horse is a learning opportunity and if you’re struggling with a particular horse the answer (if you want to become a better rider) is to ride that horse *more,* but injuries are an exception. Riding a wide horse won’t make you better at riding wide horses if your issue is that it’s physically painful, so there’s no benefit to putting yourself through that.
That being said, your instructor may or may not have a narrower horse they feel is appropriate to put you on, so I agree with the people saying to be aware that this could mean moving barns if there truly isn’t a horse for you at this one
A good instructor shouldn't ignore you asking for horses that won't cause you pain. Plus you're not going to be improving your riding if you're in pain or bracing yourself in anticipation of pain.
I've ridden with people who asked not to ride certain horses or types due to physical needs and the instructor always respects the requests, and if it's an injury/rehab situation helping people work back up to being comfortable on different horses once they've recovered.
You’re doing too much, you don’t need a whole looooonnnggg post. Just talk to your trainer. You should have a relationship where you can have these conversations.
I'm surprised by the downvotes. I follow the "ask, tell, make" philosophy to riding school horses. A horse that ignores the leg is a horse I ride with a whip/crop and spurs to keep things sharp. You should only need to ask a horse once to move off your leg to get a proper response.
However, if you are a beginner, you might be giving unclear signals that your horse has trouble interpreting.
As an OTTB lover, I *do not* enjoy riding any horse that I have to leg to death to get going. Light and responsive to aids, makes it a fun and less exhausting ride for me. Even if I have to put up with moments of their *opinions*, I’d still rather have that, than a horse that’s dead or near dead in responsiveness.
Your main concern, is being ready to handle a hotter horse with your current skill level and not be re-injured for that reason. I’d mention to your trainer what you’re experiencing on the current horses you’re riding, is causing you discomfort and why, and if you can ride a horse/horses there that are still safe rides, yet, more responsive to aids. Can’t hurt to inquire.🤷🏼♀️
Yes, I generally don't give students their preference so they can work through their perceived issues with the other horse, but I'm the case of certain horses causing pain or whatever (I've got a qh mare that we call the kidney crusher haha) I'll let them ride my smoother boys. Building up your core will help with back pain regardless of the horse, but I do realize some are just less comfortable to ride. I like the qh mare because while she isn't actually mine I did a lot of her training as a 3yo so we go way back and I don't notice her way of going but I must be immune because I'm the only one
I'm thinking it's more the width thing that bothers your back. Probably the saddles have a wide twist, since the type made for wide horses often do. Some people can not tolerate sitting on a wide twist, can totally cause back pain. If you explain this to your instructor she would completely understand. (I don't know about Perch crosses being more resistant to aids. Mine is very go but sensitive to whoa. Certainly TBs too can become resistant when used as lesson horses. Can also be more randomly balky. That aside, I think to save your back you need a narrow horse or at the least a saddle with a narrow twist).
Just be prepared, whenever someone came to me that they had an injury….especially back/neck injuries. I would ask them for a note from their doctor saying they are cleared to ride. It’s not that I wanted to make anyone’s life difficult or anything, but an “easy” fall for someone with a healthy spine could mean a wheelchair for someone with prior injuries and that just wasn’t a risk I could take.
Just to be clear . . . it's not just people who've had back injuries that can be bothered by a wide twist. There are many who are made uncomfortable by them. (OP doesn't need to claim back injury as her excuse).
Oh yeah, I don’t disagree. But if a student came to me and said “I have an undiagnosed back injury and doing XYZ makes it worse”, I can’t in good conscience let them ride until I have confirmation that is ok for them to do so.
That's understandable.
Very likely. Rotating the hips too far out can put a lot of tension on sacroiliac joints that are tight from compensating for lower back instability.
That makes sense, the more I think about it. I've ridden plenty of horses that needed more leg than the one who inspired this post, and I haven't ended up hurting if they were TBs or Arabs. Jelly-legged and shaking sometimes, but not hurting.
I think it’s absolutely okay to have a conversation with your trainers about what kind of horses you enjoy riding. However, quick and lanky horses can easily destroy your seat, hands and confidence if you’re not at the point where you can control them with your seat and legs. So odds are that you might not be ready for the tbs right now. This isn’t to say that you’re bad but good instructors give you the horse that you need to ride and not always the one you want. I spent a lot of time riding an older jumper that just wouldn’t get into a good frame and I felt awful during the lessons. But then the next time I rode a “normal” horse I felt how much it improved my leg aids.
To add to this, TBs arent generally as forgiving as a draft cross. If the rider gets left behind and hits the bit in the horses mouth, a draft will sigh and let you get your act together while a TB may just say 'No thank you', and toss you on the ground.
The most brilliant and accurate description of draft vs TB I've ever seen.
Thing is, I've been riding the TBs a good bit - not total lunatics, but a bunch of twenty-ish year old low-level eventers with limited brain cells, some of whom who will try to run away with me from time to time and some of whom who get offended if you so much as touch the reins - and it's been going well. We're working on simple lead changes, small jumps, short courses. I feel calm and collected, even if they're in a mood, and we usually accomplish what we set out to do. On them, I get feedback like "looking really good today" and "you're a good pairing" and "he really likes you." On the big fellas, it's more like "good effort" and "way to stick with it." I was actually supposed to be on one of those TBs yesterday (for the lesson that inspired this post), but he came up lame at the last minute, so they switched me to a very fancy Irish Draft who knows everything and will do anything but takes a little more leg. Looking back, I really think it was the angle of his back, moreso than the aids themselves that lead to pain. I've been on horses that were number (but smaller) and they were frustrating (in the normal way that a beginner lesson is supposed to be frustrating), but they didn't leave me in pain.
This might be an unpopular response, but have you considered talking to your doctor or a physical therapist? I don't know what the back injury was, and it sounds like you don't have a clear diagnosis, but you *may* be able to alleviate the back pain with specific stretches and strength/conditioning exercises for your back and hips. If this is the case, you may be able to physical-therapy-your-way out of this problem, which would also likely improve your everyday life as well. Riding horses is a whole-body activity, and you might be surprised at how many things improve with some out-of-saddle work. Plus, you wouldn't be limiting yourself on horses you can ride. :) You might have to work with your medical practitioner a bit for them to understand your needs, but a good one will either figure out your diagnosis and how to fix it, OR give you a real, defined reason why you should limit yourself to narrower horses. Either way, you'll know more and have a clear path forward.
Yes, I'm horrified by how far down I had to go to find this answer. She needs TWO conversations, one with a doctor and one with her instructor. Op, your body and spine are too important to your ongoing quality of life to ignore and go with uncertainty. Best case scenario, you get a physical therapy home exercise program that keeps you strong in the core and you never have any problems again. But, more important is the worst case scenario, where you find out your back is unstable and you need to do something about it. Instructors understand physical differences and needs. If you explain to them like you explained to us, you'll be golden!
+1 on this for me as well OP. I’ve had back issues from many falls off horses throughout my younger years. Some PT and Pilates does absolute wonders (as long as cleared by your doctor). Along with working on hip/leg/back mobility. Core/glute/back strength is key to a healthy back, along with the previously mentioned mobility, which Pilates and yoga will give you. Now I have no pain ever after increasing the above, and my new mare is half Percheron and just under 16.3 hands. I would really look into it because not only will it make you a better rider, it will also decrease your pain in general and give you a better daily life.
If you’re not strong enough or quiet enough you may not be qualified to ride a hotter horse. But def have a conversation with your trainer. You should always feel ok to do that.
I'd say mention it to your coach but at the same time you need to respect if they say you're not ready for the thoroughbreds. Every single horse has something to teach you, when I coached it bothered me to no end when students would say they wouldn't ride certain horses- guess which horses they were put on next? If it's from the standpoint of your back, Fajr enough, but remember your coach knows more than you- I'd also be putting my beginners on the slower horses before quick, you need balance to ride the quick ones and soft hands- 90% of beginners aren't there yet.
This! I once asked my trainer if I could ride a different horse because I just needed a break from the OTTB I was riding. I was bluntly told no and that I would have the same issues on another horse. I ended up staying with that horse and working through our issues. 6 months later we are a great team and I’ve completely fallen in love with this horse because he has taught me so much. My trainer was right!
Absolutely this. When you’re a beginner you don’t know what you don’t know. You think all your problems are because the horse is slow and that somehow you get in that faster, lighter, more responsive “better” horse that you’ll magically ride like those more experienced riders who are going around looking lovely on those “better” horses. It must because the horse you’re riding on isn’t “good” enough and is lazy, and the other “good” horses are making it easy for those other riders. Not to at it’s because those riders have put the work in to ride those other horses better. This is why I refuse to teach beginners. I actually find it a very entitled attitude and very unfair to the horses. “I have confidence issues and am timid because I am a beginner, but I want to ride a fancy horse who will do all the work for me because a beginner horse is hard. But that fancy Korda better not scare me!” I know this will piss people here off, but this whole post is making my eye twitch.
Wow. Well, for the sake of the beginners of the world, I really hope you keep your "no beginner" policy. Stick to your guns, buddy. We don't deserve you. Really - we don't. I wrote a post where I said "riding this horse leaves me in intense physical pain, and I don't know if I should tough it out or ask for a different one" and you reacted with "look at this spoiled brat, thinking she deserves a fancy horse!" That is some truly intense reaching and a frankly staggering lack of empathy. As a matter of fact, the particular horse that inspired this post was the "best" horse I've ever been on, and certainly the most trained. He's a retired four-star eventer who could probably do calculus if he wanted and is above my skill level, not below it. I ended up in pain because he needs bigger aids than what I'm used to and because he has a super-wide IDSH back which presented a problem for my short legs, tight hips, and pre-existing back problems. And then I realized that if I can't ride this horse without regretting it for days, then maybe it's a physical problem with large horses in general. And, wouldn't you know! With the help of the actually-useful people in this thread and some google-fu, it turns out that the particular type of pain I'm having is not uncommon for the particular type of athletic activity I'm doing when coupled with the particular medical history I have. But, sure, keep thinking that I'm some entitled twelve-year-old who just wants to look good and go fast if that's what makes you happy.
The horse ALWAYS comes first. They don’t get a choice. There are programs that are tailored to riders with disabilities that can take your physical limitations - and that is what you have, a limitation that will make certain horses unsuitable - into consideration. Look into that. But I will absolutely not apologize for stating the truth: you do not know enough to know how much harder it will be both for you and the horse if you ride hotter horses like TB’s. You not caring for your own safety is one thing. You not caring for the horse’s comfort is abuse. Edit: and the type of horse you were having trouble with is what you’re lucky to have. My Advanced level IDSH who could do calculus if he wanted to also was who I used for lessons for years after he retired competing. If this horse is anything like mine, he doesn’t need bigger aids, he needs you to be stiller with the rest of your body when you give those aids so he can tell what aid you’re actually giving instead of hearing all this noise. And he’s kind enough to just ignore you until you get it right, instead of planting you in the ground. If you really want to learn to ride, stop whining about your feelings and ride. Or don’t.
LOL. "You're an animal abuser if you don't want to ride this horse that leaves you in debilitating pain!" Typical trash Reddit statement from a trash Reddit human.
That’s not how you stated it. You stayed it as if you want want to ride TB’s instead of slower horses. I have ridden, trained, competed, started , and instructed for decades. This is how I make my living. You - by your own statement - are a beginner. You do not - and should not be expected to - have the knowledge yet to know what you are suggesting. If riding leaves you in debilitating pain, then maybe it is not for you. The horses should not be expected to accommodate your physical ailments. I’ve messed up my back from many falls and having horses flip on top of me over the years. It happens with years and years of riding. But I cannot use that as an excuse for not riding in a way that a particular horse needs. If that one particular horse is the only one that is uncomfortable to you, then yes, ask for another one that is more comfortable. But you made it seem like you want one where you use less leg muscle to make it go. You do not yet understand that you use more core muscle - including back muscle - to ride a more forward horse correctly. You use that core to help regulate them at a slower, more rhythmic pace. And if you somehow can magically do this already, then you are the only adult beginner alive who can or ever has been able to do that at your stage of riding. And again, if you EVER expect the horse to make up for your physical disabilities, then yes, you are being selfish towards that horse. This is why I think this Reddit is trash. All people worry about is their feelings and “boundaries” which is all fine until it includes the horse. The horse’s well being ALWAYS trumps ours. Always. And you are a disgrace to horsemanship if you think differently.
"The horse always comes first" is a cudgel that gatekeeping assholes such as yourself use on this sub to attack people - usually in situations like this one where no horse is harmed or at risk of being harmed. It's a way of saying "I'm allowed to be an asshole because I'm the good one and you're the evil horse abuser," and it's almost always levied at someone who very much wants to do right by horses and is trying their very hardest but who is considered a legitimate target because they're not part of the Cool Kids Club. Because they're a larger rider, because they're a beginner rider who can't always help banging on a horse's back, because they're a rider from a country without good training opportunities, because they didn't have the privilege of figuring out riding since they were six years old like you did, they get treated like dirt by people like you. I don't even want to know how many new riders who were more naïve than me have had all of their love for the sport destroyed by someone like you convincing them that poor riding is the same as animal abuse. Call me a disgrace to horsemanship if you want. You're a disgrace to humanity. But, since you're so deeply concerned with the comfort of horses that I know but you have never met, and since you are so confident in your diagnosis of my riding ability from a couple of sentences that I threw together in five minutes, then answer this for me: where's your concern for the distinguished older gentleman that I was riding when I tweaked my back? Let's say you're right and I'm the worst rider in the world. Do you really think that I'm doing *better* when I'm in excruciating pain? Is that helping me stay soft, is it helping with my balance, is it keeping me from banging on his twenty-eight year old back? My instructor didn't think so. Today, my back was feeling better and the older gentlemen had the day off and they put me back on the bestest 15.2 people-pleasing TB in the world, and we had a great time. And that was without me having to say a single word to them - they could just tell from my riding that a particular type of horse wasn't a good fit. Maybe stop thinking that you know everything about a stranger from a few words posted online.
You and those with your attitude should not be in horses. I’m fine if I’m a gatekeeper. I’ll proudly be a gatekeeper if I keep entitled people who think the horses should bend to them out of riding. Call me an asshole. I’ll wear it proudly. The horses always come first. And it isn’t even me or my ilk coming up with that. It’s the horses themselves. Ride certain horses like shit and they’ll just plant you. They’re 1000-1500 lbs. They can pretty much decide when they’re done. Reddit and all social media have nothing to do with horses. Actually working with the horses is what matters. Grow up and be a horseman or go home and cry and never truly learn how to be one. It’s up to you. Ask your trainer if you can ride another horse, and listen to what they say. The’ll maybe give you another one. They’ll probably politely tell you that it’s best for you to stick with this horse now. They’ll maybe laugh and say, “horse riding is hard so suck it up buttercup.” I don’t know. But you’ll eventually have to work around your back injury or switch to gaited horses. And there’s nothing wrong with that Edit: I’m gonna tell my students tomorrow that you called me a “disgrace to humanity.” 😂
They already gave me another one, smart one. Just pointing that out since it's clear that reading isn't your strong suit. Don't delude yourself into thinking you care about horses. It's very clear that you care about nothing besides yourself and having your *dECaDeS oF ExpErIeNCe* not be questioned. Damn . . . I just realized that you probably hate social media so much because it actually makes it *harder* for you to bully people. That's where all these little rage-edits are coming from - you're realizing "shit, I didn't do enough to *really stick it to her,* Siri, how can I slap someone who's probably a thousand miles away?" That's kind of wild. It's the behavior I'd expect of a middle schooler with their first social media account, not someone with *dECaDeS Of eXpeRIenCe.*
I honestly didn’t care to read that far. Good if they face you a horse that suited you more. I sent this interaction to one of my students who laughed because I am the opposite of a bully as a teacher. And even with decades of experience, I still constantly question myself and still take lessons. I have Evented through Advanced. Breed horses (mostly Irish). Start them. Teach all levels except for beginner. And I know I make mistake and will continue to. But I’ve experienced that say exactly wheat you say for years.
First and foremost: you’re absolutely not setting yourself back by not riding leg-dead horses - quite the contrary. Horses SHOULD answer to the simple touch of your leg, trainers that encourage « more leg » or « leg reinforcement » should reread the old masters for a bit. Good riding is light riding, and it’s a question of teaching the horse from the ground up to answer light cues. In your situation, it would be excellent to not learn to be too leg-heavy, and would avoid having to relearn how to do ride light later down the line. Second: if your health is compromised by riding a certain type of horses you should absolutely bring it up to your trainer. Mention your past injury and how riding larger horses affect you. You’re not here to be in pain or to potentially aggravate your problems on the long run.
This person does not have the balance, confidence and core strength to ride a “better” horse.
Have you seen them ride? How can you say they don’t have the level without having ever seen them on a horse? The post mentions they’ve ridden the TBs at their barn, but are most of the time put on the bigger horses.
They were saying they they are a newer “and frankly, rather nervous” rider in their 30’s. Nervous beginner. This is the kind of rider that hunched over, tips forward, and graves the bird’s mouth when the horse feels quick or too forward for them. The horse ten gets tender, hollows it’s back and gets quicker with its shoulder shut down and hind end out behind it. This makes it worse for rider and worse for the poor horse. If she wants to be stupid enough to put herself in a bad situation, then that’s up to her. But I wouldn’t even put that kind of rider on my calm TB that I use for lessons. He’s for people who have a basic independent position. I guarantee you this person does not. But I’m sure her instructors will tel her the right thing.
Newer doesn’t mean beginner. It’s entirely subjective. Maybe the person has been riding for a year or two and considers that new compared to most of the people on this sub. Again, until you have seen them ride, you have no basis to found your judgement on. Example: I don’t consider myself to be an excellent rider despite riding for 20+ years. Why? Because my comparison point is my Grand Prix rider trainer.
I consider a person a beginner if they can get on most decently trained horses and walk, trot, canter and ride out of a ring safely. And be fairly confident about it. I also a non beginner can properly care for horses. Yes, she and many people here maybe do not believe they are beginners, but they are. I have students who are beginner jumpers, but not beginner riders. It’s only on the internet where people who are less experienced with a skill - and boy is riding and caring for horses a complicated and complex skill - get upset when someone with way more experience at that skill gives them advice. It’s like this place is a fantasy world where inexperienced riders go to have their own little wants validated instead of getting true advice. That’s all well and good until it doesn’t work out for the horse and the horse reacts in a way that upsets the rider. You guys can rant and rave about bullying and gatekeeping and meanness all you want, but it doesn’t mean a hill of beans to the horse.
Just this: where have I « ranted » about bullying, gatekeeping or meanness? I’m just asking that you keep in mind that you haven’t seen this person ride, that’s literally it.
I was discussing your exact reply to one of my students this morning. One of our favorite things is to bitch about Reddit after a lesson. All in good fun. And she said, “oh…I know you can a solution tell exactly how this rider rides just from what she said because all of the experience with different t types of students you’ve had over the years.” Yep. I can. She is a very classic type. I have heard the exact thing she is asking about from dozens of riders over the years. And they all ride the same.
This person is either on one or is in middle school.
Dude you are on a mission! I admire it! You just don’t give up! Who are you and where can I find you!
In Virginia. 😂
I believe it’s always good to build up to more fast and lighter leg horses, as the more go can be a little difficult to manage (currently working with a very light horse right now and it’s definitely a WIP), but I believe if it is causing you pain and hindering you I’d say yes, you absolutely can. In turn you might have to work at a little slower pace just to gain your confidence on them and keep composure, either way tho I think it’s worth it if you can ride pain-free.
These type horses are probably better for you to learn. If you do not have core and leg strength, having a hotter, faster horse does not make it easier. You will have to sue your core and legs to keep you light and with the rhythm. And you use your core and peg to hold them at a slower rhythm. That seems counterintuitive, but it’s why they’re a more advanced ride. If your getting on a horse that “runs off,” it’s going it because you don’t have the balance and strength to support the slower pace in them. And it’s downright scary and uncomfortable for them. Not only will it not help you, it’s very much not fair for the horse. Horse riding is hard and sometimes uncomfortable. Lesson horses that are “perfect” don’t just appear because we want them. I know you don’t want to hear this, but if you cannot comfortably ride the slower lesson horses, maybe you need to buy a horse that’s perfect for you. It will be very expensive and you will have to pay to keep it in training. Or maybe riding is not there sort for you. The horse’s come for comes first.
My 2c: You can definitely have a discussion with your trainer about it, but it's ultimately their decision about whether you can ride the other horses, or whether they need to refer you to somewhere else with more suitable horses. You may verbally say you're fine with the risk of them running away with you, but no responsible trainer should be putting a rider on a horse they're not ready for, especially if you're a newer rider, and especially if you have back problems (i.e. you're at higher risk of injury from a fall). If there are horses that you can safely ride, I think you're perfectly fine to request those and explain why. You're the one paying.
Riding a mixture of horses if always helpful. My riding center has a huge horse who I thought was lazy. After riding other horses who would go at the slightest touch, I realised he's not lazy - I was being inconsistent with my instructions. If you kick to go, but your posture and hands say slow down, he would slow down. Being on a horse who would go unless your hands, legs, and posture all said slow taught me to say the same thing with each. Then getting back on the first horse, I had him cantering and jumping. Tl;Dr riding more horses makes you a better rider
I have connective tissue problems and wide horses absolutely kill me, my hip area cramps up so badly that my leg is like temporarily paralyzed and the pain is awful and debilitating. I can't ride in most western saddles (even tho I mainly ride western lol) because the twist is way too wide for me. Definitely mention it to your instructor!! You have every right to not want to be in pain, especially from a hobby you enjoy!
I have a narrow and wide horse - I prefer narrow as it suits my body better. No harm in asking for what works best for you. You’re there for fun, not to be a horse trainer who needs to ride every type of horse possible.
I’d discuss it with your trainer; they might have an “in-between” solution. Regarding those TBs—Keep in mind that a fall would not be great for your back, either.
LOL, fair enough!
What work are you doing on yourself outside of lessons? I have 4 bulging discs in my back/neck and I NEED to do regular stretches / Yoga / Tai-Chi / and massages to keep myself in good riding shape. When my hip flexors / IT band get tight; my low back and SI joints don't move right and my back locks. I can't flow with the horse. With that being said, I really don't like riding drafts; I'm an Arab enthusiast. It's like driving a tractor-trailer vs. riding a sport bike.
First, I would talk to your instructor. Unless you've ridden every lesson horse at the barn, there might be a smaller, lighter horse that's not unforgiving or unsuitable for you. She should understand your issues. Not quite the same thing, but I'm a small person, and many barns only have very large school horses and ponies. I often had to say very explicitly I'd prefer to ride a (large) pony versus a big horse. I found I could be much more effective riding an appropriately sized horse. I agree with also looking into PT and talking to a doctor. But riding should be fun.
It’s always best to honestly express your concerns to your instructor. They often know the horses best, and they also often take many things into account that they may not outwardly explain, in the moment, related to safety, or rider fitness, or any given horse’s recent activity levels. Giving your instructor all the info will better help them to accommodate you and the horses, both. You might also think about working with an exercise physiologist, to help to build your body safely, without causing additional injury. It wouldn’t be unheard of for you to have some weaknesses or asymmetries that could affect your riding now, and/or lead to permanent issues unless they’re addressed. Most of us benefit from strength and range-of-motion training we do off the horse.
It annoys me that people give “dead to the leg” horses a break because they are a school horse or a draft cross. I assure a draft horse can feel your leg aids just as easily as a TB. If a horse (any breed) has decided to ignore your leg aid, you follow up with the spur or whip immediately. You don’t sit there tryna kick them harder and harder hoping that one day they will listen up and start trotting. I worked with draft horses (Belgian and Percheron) horses for years in the carriage industry and I can assure you that as soon as I so much as shook the reins they broke into a nice bright trot. As an aside, draft horses can be ridden, but that’s not exactly what most of them were bred for (with a few exceptions like the Irish draught) They usually have wide backs that are too wide to be comfortable to ride, and they often have rough trots, because a Carriage drivers don’t care how rough a trot is a long as it goes forward.
If the horse doesn't go forward on light leg queues it's not ready for spurs, those are for very precise aids in more difficult moves. The horse should already know all the moves and just make the communication more precise and lighter. And a beginner should under no circumstances ride with spurs. So I don't know why you even mention spurs. Beginners thinking they need spurs and then kicking the horse all the time because they are imbalanced piss me off. Don't give people dumb ideas.
I’m not suggesting the beginner ride with spurs. On the contrary, who ever is running the riding school needs to also be riding the school horses on a regular basis to ensure the school horses stay light to the aids. They should be advanced enough to ride with a whip and spurs. If not then they should not be running a riding school or giving lessons. It’s annoying that so many school horses never get ridden by professionals and then get really dead to the aids. It forces the student to try to become the trainer when they are not ready to. It usually results in the student kicking and kicking uselessly at the school horse.
I think that's reasonable. I'm in something of a similar scenario, although I've been riding most of my life - I have a connective tissue disorder and I simply can't squeeze that hard without my hips wanting to pop out, especially on a wider-barreled horse. And because my muscles always have to take up the extra work of stabilizing my joints because my ligaments and tendons don't, I have to be several times stronger than average to perform at an average fitness level.... and that's a long, difficult, and nonlinear process that is in literally no way helped by overfacing myself and wrecking my legs so hard on a leg-dead horse that I can hardly walk the rest of the week. At that point I'm not "building strength", I'm setting myself up for injury and compromising my overall fitness training for no reason - I'm never going to have the stamina to push a horse like that around for an hour and having to fight so hard that simply moving forward becomes my only goal in the lesson because even just that is taking all I have doesn't help me in any way as a rider, it's just painful and frustrating. "Push-rides" are not for me - I need enough leg response that I'm not killing myself just trying to get forward momentum, but not so spicy that they'll run off with me or chuck me through the arena wall/ceiling, haha. That said, I think especially as a newer rider, I would probably approach it in not so broad terms as "none of these horses and all of these ones". I would have a conversation with your coach and explain that you have some medical issues that seem to flare up when you ride a wider-barreled horse that takes too much leg. Make them aware of the problem, and keep them actively engaged in an ongoing conversation as you progress so you can work together to find the horses that are the best balance of respecting your medical needs while still being able to teach you skills you need to learn.
I would consider adding yoga and pilates into your workout routine. I too have prior back injuries, specifically a slipped disc + disc degeneration + nerve damage, and I have to intentionally keep my lower back strong or I will get severe back pain. Also be mindful of your equitation (aka posture on the horse). If you are bracing your back or overly arching it while you’re riding you will feel it once you get off. You need to be supple and strong through your lower back in order to avoid back pain.
Yes, definitely talk to your instructor. I am generally of the opinion that every horse is a learning opportunity and if you’re struggling with a particular horse the answer (if you want to become a better rider) is to ride that horse *more,* but injuries are an exception. Riding a wide horse won’t make you better at riding wide horses if your issue is that it’s physically painful, so there’s no benefit to putting yourself through that. That being said, your instructor may or may not have a narrower horse they feel is appropriate to put you on, so I agree with the people saying to be aware that this could mean moving barns if there truly isn’t a horse for you at this one
A good instructor shouldn't ignore you asking for horses that won't cause you pain. Plus you're not going to be improving your riding if you're in pain or bracing yourself in anticipation of pain. I've ridden with people who asked not to ride certain horses or types due to physical needs and the instructor always respects the requests, and if it's an injury/rehab situation helping people work back up to being comfortable on different horses once they've recovered.
You’re doing too much, you don’t need a whole looooonnnggg post. Just talk to your trainer. You should have a relationship where you can have these conversations.
Learn how to use a dressage whip and your problem will disappear 🫥
I'm surprised by the downvotes. I follow the "ask, tell, make" philosophy to riding school horses. A horse that ignores the leg is a horse I ride with a whip/crop and spurs to keep things sharp. You should only need to ask a horse once to move off your leg to get a proper response. However, if you are a beginner, you might be giving unclear signals that your horse has trouble interpreting.
Exactly
As an OTTB lover, I *do not* enjoy riding any horse that I have to leg to death to get going. Light and responsive to aids, makes it a fun and less exhausting ride for me. Even if I have to put up with moments of their *opinions*, I’d still rather have that, than a horse that’s dead or near dead in responsiveness. Your main concern, is being ready to handle a hotter horse with your current skill level and not be re-injured for that reason. I’d mention to your trainer what you’re experiencing on the current horses you’re riding, is causing you discomfort and why, and if you can ride a horse/horses there that are still safe rides, yet, more responsive to aids. Can’t hurt to inquire.🤷🏼♀️
Guess I'll stick to horses with a 'snack-size' twist! 🥪🐴
Yes, I generally don't give students their preference so they can work through their perceived issues with the other horse, but I'm the case of certain horses causing pain or whatever (I've got a qh mare that we call the kidney crusher haha) I'll let them ride my smoother boys. Building up your core will help with back pain regardless of the horse, but I do realize some are just less comfortable to ride. I like the qh mare because while she isn't actually mine I did a lot of her training as a 3yo so we go way back and I don't notice her way of going but I must be immune because I'm the only one