Cantering is a Pain in the.....Hip

The last time I cantered was about three months ago.  I strained a hip flexor (which are completely weakened due to a previous accident from years ago) and was on crutches for a few days and off of riding for a few weeks.  I thought that I had strained my hip flexor because I was pushing my outside leg too far back and curling it up.  This still may be the case, but after my lesson yesterday my hip flexor started aching.  This morning, it hurts to walk.  Not so bad that it will stop me but bad enough that I'm concerned about riding.  I don't want to make it worse.


I've been googling hip flexor strains and stretches and though I have a good idea of how to take care of it after I injure it, I need to figure out a game plan for strengthening it.  It seems like yoga, pilates and riding without stirrups are some of the best ways to help make my hip flexors more fit.  I have ordered the 10 minute Pilates videos from the library so I'm ready to go with that.


In the meantime, I need to decide if I'm going to go out and ride today and see if I can work through it or if I'm going to rest it and ice it.  I know the answer is probably rest and ice but I've only ridden once since Sunday!  And I had such a great lesson yesterday!  Waaaaahhhhhhhhh.  I may also call my massage therapist and see if she thinks a massage would help.  Sigh.  


But since it's still December and I said I would keep things positive - - I had a fantastic lesson yesterday!  And my hip flexor causing me distress is just a reminder that I need to strengthen my core and stretch more.  Because riding is a sport and I need to prepare my body properly before playing.  I'm grateful that I got the reminder early so I can fix it before things get out of hand.  And it might be a damn good excuse for an extra massage......