Further down the trail.

Wow Silvercreek that sounds interesting!  🤠   I don't have any experience in riding horses 🐴 Yeah it's still way to early but don't give up hope.  Just take it easy for now give yourself a chance to heal properly. Do the exercises given to you to strengthen the hip muscles. Rest when you need to, ice if you need to.   The road to recovery is different for each of us.  Just listen to your body.  I know it can be hard especially if you're used to being active.  Go and spend quality time with the horses.  That should be very therapeutic!!   Hugs 🤗 and God's blessings to you.   Linda 

Hi Silvercreek

I used to ride a lot and was seriously into hunting but as my hip deteriorated I found it more uncomfortable. After I had my hip done the hip didn't hurt walking but I never got the lateral movement back to where it was so sitting on a horse was never very comfortable so reluctantly I stopped altogether. With hindsight I wonder if, had I done more physiotherapy early on, I might have got the movement back. I know other people who have ridden post hip replacement and I imagine if you're working cows that you are  probably a bit younger (I had mine done at  60)

Strangely, having just had that hip replaced a second time, I think my leg has better movement than before so who knows, I might  jump on a horse again myself.

So my advice is to do lots of exercises, take it sklowly and maybe you will be out on the prairie before too long.

Mike

I used to ride as well. I haven't in over a year, really hoping to again. I am 3 weeks post op and following directions closely. 

I hope you are able to get back in the saddle!

I know exactly how you feel. I've ridden all my life and have my own horse and like you it was getting to a point where I couldn't ride as it was too painful.

I'm now 8 months since my RTHR and am back riding better than ever before as I'm able to sit straight and the best thing is I'm pain free. The advice given by my physio (who has horses) was to line your horse up by a mounting block, have someone hold your horse at the front and someone to hold the stirrup and be there for you. To get off because of the pain before my op I'd got onto the habit of bringing my right leg over my horses neck and jumping down. Now I line my horse up beside the mounting block and still bring my leg over horses neck but step onto mounting block. This prevents any jarring on the new hip. When I saw my physio this week she said I could try getting off the normal way bringing my leg over the back of the saddle and sliding to the ground gently, remembering to bend my knees when landing to decrease the impact on my hip. I remember getting back in the saddle the first time since my op(I did it at 7 weeks) I was nervous and had a friend with me but I was soon walking and trotting with no problem. Now I'm back riding almost every day and all is back to normal. Even thinking about competing again this winter (dressage).

We also enjoy some long and fast rides.

Good luck. I hope my experiences give you some hope.

Hi it's me again. Just remembered a very important thing for a good recovery is the exercises. Because my physio is horsey and she knew I was desperate to get back riding she gave me exercises to get the movement back. So I do the following twice a day. 1) lying on your back take your operated leg out as far to the side as you can. I usually do this about 15-20 times.2) this time standing up the same exercise. Stand on your unoperated leg and lift your operated leg out to the side as high as you can. Usually about 10 times.3) continuing from previous exercise rotate the leg backwards as if dismounting and then rotate forwards as if mounting. About 5 times each way. 4) stand with legs as wide apart as is comfortable and practice squats as if sitting on a horse. About 10 times. 5) lie on back and with operated leg and draw large circles in the air. This is great as it really rotates the new joint. I've been doing these exercises regularly since the op and when I saw my physio for my 8 week check up she was amazed at how much movement I've got. Hope this helps.