ever since my bad fall back in grade 9, my left side has been giving me a lot of issues when it comes to riding, particularly my ankle.. i don't even know how to describe it. it "rolls" as i call it ( to the inside, so it feels like I'm riding on the side of my foot/ ankle bone) and once it rolls it starts to hurt my knee & hip; and nothing else i can do but ride threw it it won't go back to the normal position.. it is really uncomfortable. i can't wear summer boots or field boots for this reason.. year round in winter riders because it offers a bit more support in the ankle area but still, it's rolling over. it only happens when i ride English, never western. i LOVE both disciplines equally.
I'm working full time now that I'm out of school and will be till January (going to school in the new years) and am saving up to purchase my own horse again. i did the math; and i should have at least $10,000 by January. (excluding the money i have set aside for my own car)
i don't want to have to train my own horse; but i don't mind doing "finishing touches' and growing with the horse. the problem is deciding if i want a cow pony; or a hunter for myself.
i LOVE jumping, been apart of me since i was 4.. but it's causing me a lot of pain. attempted to quit the horse scene but that's definitely not an option can't see myself without horses. no where's really to take lessons unless you have your own horse. when i rode western i was really interested in reining so researched the reining lines and everything i could do, so I'm thinking on getting a performance/reining bred horse, (with maybe able to switch to cattle penning when i get over to N.S for school next September, we shall see what the future holds ;) ) but i know i don't know enough to take on a well trained reiner without ruining it, I'm well aware I'm not ready for one; I'm still really new to the western scene just wouldn't be fair to the horse.
anyone ever convert from English to western or vise versa? how did you decide what you wanted? i want to learn more about western but no one / no wheres really to ride & learn here.. gah!
I'm not rushing into anything, i rather wait till June to purchase a horse knowing exactly what i want instead of making the mistake again when I'm uncertain of what i want..
nick is FABULOUS and hope to stick with him, but i have to think about my health & future plans same time.. and if my ankle keeps bothering me i won't really have any other choice.. :/ he's an amazing hunter prospect but if my ankle keeps going the way it is i won't be able to ride at all, and that's just not an option for me in my mind, can't go a day without seeing the animals!
i just don't know what i should do or where to go .. :/