riding yesterday

[quietann]

I rode with goddessfarmer yesterday. Minnie had been idle since the last time I'd ridden her about two weeks ago, and she'd managed to lose her snow tires (studded shoes), so we had to take it easy and just walk (though it was walking up and down hills, across little streams etc.) She was (mostly) very good. She was very, very good when Trumpie... lost his footing and just sort of sat down; she got her nose out of his butt and stood very still while he recovered.

I am still having ankle/foot issues when riding, and I think I just have to live with that. I've known for a while that there is scarring/nerve damage on the bottom of my left foot from the Incredibly Huge Wart I had for years, and any sort of physical activity makes it ache. Horseback riding seems to be one of the few things that is worth the pain.

It's an odd thing about Minnie; she's elderly and not very "useful" and is basically a pet. No one but me particularly likes riding her, and I am not going to jump up and say she's wonderful (although she's very cute when she's trying to find the cookies in my pocket.) But I appreciate the opportunity to ride her, especially because I am helping out a friend by doing it.

Comments

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

there's a variety of stirrup options that may help with ankle issues -- basically they change the way the stirrup hangs from the leather. googling "jahiel stirrup pain" will probably bring you to thee right thing.

that said, does riding w/o stirrups hurt your foot? if you're just walking, that's probably worth a try at your level :)

[goddessfarmer.livejournal.com]

I've already put the flex stirrups on for her, which look to help her position. but they are not the ones that hang at a right angle to horse, maybe that would be worth a try too.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's the right-angle (or adjustable-angle) ones i was thinking of.

[quietann.livejournal.com]

The stirrups J has me using do help quite a bit, but the left foot issues will arise if I put *any* pressure on the damaged part. Riding without stirrups at the walk is OK as long as I can pick them back up quickly if Minnie decides to trot (to catch up with Trump) or if we are going up or down steep hills.