Am I barmy? Horse related

merri

Short story: I had a car accident at the age of 28, which has caused traumatic arthritis according to my consultant. It effects all of my joints in my body, mostly the knees, hips, back, necks, shoulders and hands. I'm on Methotrexate, Tramadol, Cocodomol, Amitriptyline and Citalopram with some extra supplements to help my condition.

I work (mostly) full time as a teacher, and have been trying to get back into horse riding with no success, as although I have advertised, I can't find anyone with a suitable horse who is willing to help. I have a friend who is very horsey, and who has offered help if I were to get my own horse. This situation has been ongoing for the past year, I've been working on my flexibility (I do oodles of stretches and physio exercises per day) and am finally now at the point that I can consider riding again as long as it is a very gradual process. I have contacted riding schools in the area however I am over their weight limit, and the meds play havoc with my weight, so much that I am now trying just to eat healthily and not focus on what the scales say.

Today I have emailed the Blue Cross regarding a horse that they have available for loan, part of me thinks that I am utterly mad, the other part thinks that this could be a springboard for me to start moving forwards again with my life. Thinking about what I can and can't do, I could do: grooming, tacking up (with a synthetic saddle) and possibly fetching in and turning out (depending on how I am. ) I could also check on them every day as the fields are accessible by car and I would only have to get out of the car and to the horse. Summer wouldn't be so much of a problem as my joints are better, Winter and Spring would be more difficult

My friend would be OK to do the other stuff e.g mucking out, and we agreed that I would pay her for this.

Long story short, am I being totally crazy here? I've always wanted a horse since I was a child and have had a lot of experience pre accident with them. I can't help thinking that my condition might be as good as it gets, and if I don't get one now, I might never have one as my condition worsens as I get older

Rallymad

Hi Merri
I don't think you are daft!! I took up co-driving in a rally car for three/four years, it was something I wanted to do so I did it. Okay at the end of the day it probably wasn't the best of activities that I could have chosen (like knitting, writing, reading etc) but hey I am a get up and go type of person and don't think we should all sit back and let life pass us by. If you can try out riding a horse before getting too deeply involved just to see if it is going to be a goer, I know what you say about weight issues, we all have them. If you don't try you will always wonder. I now have a new hobby, I am a Falconer.....I train and fly birds of prey and have two beautiful Harris Hawks, it may not be as exciting as flying through a forest at breathtaking speeds or wondering if we really are going to make that corner......but I have a bird that loves me and does what I ask of them.
I say DO IT! As long as you are not taking a massive risk, endangering yourself or others and can find people willing to help then go for it. At least then you will know.
Hope this helps x

RosieGlow

Grab the opportunity with both hands Merri, and don`t look back! If you don`t have a go, you will always be wondering. If it doesn`t work out, at least you tried.

I truly believe that this will give a tremendous boost to your emotional health, which in turn could well help the physical side of things.

Please keep us informed, and Good Luck........Rosie....x

stickywicket

I’ve only ever ridden as a disabled rider (RDA) but I had a lot of experience with that, both from the riding and the committee side. I also had a friend with MD who had a horse she couldn’t bear to let go of though she could no longer ride him.

You asked for opinions, merri, and my opinion is you’d be crazy to buy a horse when you haven’t apparently even ridden for a long time. I know you’ve tried but have you tried RDA? Just for the experience of riding again? I rode with two different groups and both had some lovely gentle giants, not to mention ramps for easy access. All the fun and none of the hassle. How would you cope if your friend became ill? Or went on holiday?

I’m usually the have-a-go type but this would be a step too far for me.

merri

Rallymad - wow, a falconer? That's amazing!

RosieGlow - thank you

stickwicket - I really appreciate your response, thank you I've started to look outside of my immediate area for the RDA as in all honesty I would prefer to go down that route and then see how I get on, and will be emailing them to see if they can help The main issue is my weight tbh, I am losing weight but it's so slow!

stickywicket

If you go to their website, merri, you'll find they list all their groups. Facilities vary a lot but it's worth travelling a bit further for a big centre. If you decide to go down that route they will need your GP to fill in a form saying that, in his opinion, riding won't make your arthritis any worse.

I hope I didn't sound to be putting the dampener on your plans earlier but it's such a big, ongoing commitment and I know how difficult it was at times for my friend.

merri

No, not at all stickywicket, I appreciate your opinion I'm resigning myself to the fact that most RDA groups won't take me due to my weight, so maybe I just have to wait until I've lost the 3 or 4 stones that I need. It's just frustrating at times, but I guess that's what living with arthritis is all about.

resusjan

Hi there,

I can fully understand you wanting to get a horse - I have two, one is retired and the other one I still ride. I've gotta admit, I'm with Sticky on this one - really not trying to put you off but would definately suggest you go and do some riding first, or, if not riding, helping out at the local stables doing the things you mentioned in your post - grooming, tacking up etc just to find out how you manage.

I considered selling my horse a while ago (because of my RA) but couldnt bring myself to do it as (just as sticky said) its a long term commitment. I have a friend that helps me ocasionally but I still do my fair share of bringing them in and turning them out over the winter. Also, on the day you went to check the horse - if something was wrong i.e. foot caught in fence or colicking, you would need to do something straight away and not have time to wait for your friend to come and help.

You mentioned having one on loan from the Blue Cross - check with them to find out if you could have the horse on a short trial period - they may not want to do that however, as it can be unsettling for the horse but its worth asking.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck.

dachshund

Hi Merri.
i know how you feel i rode for over 30 years and i had my own horse it was hard work but i enjoyed it.
i could not do it now because of arther and my age.
i taught disabled to ride and i think if you rode there to see how you got on with it then you will decide what to do.
good luck
joan xx

skezier

Hi Merri,

The honest truth here, for me, is its a lot of very hard work and what happens if you can;t do it?

Long ago I had my own, loved them as well but as I got worse they became harder to do for. I eventually had to make the horrible decision and my little girl went into rescue... I couldn't have sold her no matter what!

Not a day goes by when I don;t regret it.... I mean real heartache thing that ever goes fully away so that's the down side.

Mine were top draw T/B's and needed a lot of doing for.... if you do decide to get your own tis an idea to go for a cob type who will do well and not need too much care in winter beyond stabling by night.

I do have liveries here and even the water if hard to do. Its not an easy derision but it is a very hard and labour intensive thing....

Only you know if your able as with help is not something that can last always so think carefully.

Sticky's RDA is a good substitute I think....

Good luck hat ever you decide flower. Cris x

marrianne

I love horses and being poorly has never stopped me helping out on good days even a gentle walk out ,So definately stick with it all horse lovers.Yesterday I had a four horses in the Grand National ,On his own his jocky was replaced after he took a tumble earlier ,a good call from Ruby Walsh ,Sea bass and Katie ran a fantastic race to ..........Then
Synchronised fell and tragicaly had to be shot so now I bitterly regret supporting the Grand/National .he was a beautiful horse he dumped his jocky Tony Maccoy and had a canter round the course in fine form ,later before the start T/M was seen rubbing his arm ..I thought then with draw give the ride to someone else well you all know what happend halfway through the race so did he put the horse wrong I dont know but I feel so sad 2 beautiful horses died and for what ?.......I dont know ? I shall never but money on this race again ,please horse lovers and anyone else am I being over sentimental here I think not Marrianne

merri

Thank you so much for your replies They really are appreciated. I have contacted the RDA and they have suggested carriage driving, so am hoping to be able to give that a go. Loaning has been put on the back burner as I allowed myself to get carried away with a friend, looking at it realistically, I'm just not up to it, even with help.

I plan to carrying on losing weight and then reapproaching the RDA with a view to riding once my weight is within their weight limit.

Thanks once more

Merri

marrianne

Good luck Merri we have lovely stables close to us they encourage people who struggle and have ablebodied and us I have been out with them gentle hack and helped on the full days for children in the school holidays good luck with looseing the wieght to Marrianne

stickywicket

Doh! Why didn't I think of carriage driving? What a plonker!

I think this is a good first move, merri. Just ease yourself in gently. You may find that you'd also be welcome as a helper. My groups were always looking for extra leaders and sidewalkers for the novices or badly disabled so you might be able to get some nice contact with the horses and also find out how easy or not it would be for you to get a bridle and saddle on and off. I hope you have a great time.