Competing with limited peripheral vision?

[frugalannie]

Tests show that I’m down to 15 degrees peripheral vision. I have all but given up night driving and drive in daylight constantly turning my head to check around me. When I get down to 10 degrees they’ll declare me legally blind and take my license away. A “wicked pissah” as they say because I don’t even wear glasses for reading or normal activities.

There seems to be no impact on riding on the flat at home. I am hesitant to jump because I’d be turning my head so much to keep track of what’s around me that my horse is going to wonder where the heck we’re actually going. But I’m really worried about the warm up areas for shows, whether on the flat or jumping, as I truly won’t see someone approaching unless I look directly at them.

Has anyone had any experience with this and any hints as to how to cope?

[beowulf]

I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. My PV is slowly declining too.

I have no solutions but I think in a showing atmosphere, you could tie a red ribbon around the horse’s tail. In show-world that means “kicker”, but I’ve noticed people give those horses a tremendous berth. It might be useful for your situation. I can’t see any other way you could notify everyone – and that would take up time and a lot of people aren’t really in their best or most emphatic moods when in the show ring.

You’re an eventer, right? At a lot of events in your area (A1) there are warm-ups that tend to have congestion areas and then not-congestion areas. For example Stoneleigh has a lot of grass areas for warm-up and it’s easy to pick a spot outside of the main fare to warm up in. I always used to warm up halfway up the hill in front of the school, about 600ft from the old bank up/down combination that used to be where they did SJ on grass. As long as you are within the bounds of their warm-up, it’s fine - SB has a huge dressage warm up in the years I have gone. Huntington is another one where it’s pretty easy to isolate yourself - lots of people like to ride in front of the GJ so I used to go off into the corner closer to the road. The only area that it might be really hard is GMHA where they have warm-ups in the dust-bowl.

I do have to say I know of a few riders that are very close to legally blind who show just fine.

The only other thing I can say is to be predictable, and call call call. Riders watch other riders to get a feel of where they are going, doing, etc - if you pick one spot that you are working around in, most riders that are not egregiously oblivious will start to ride well around you.

[Dressagelvr]

I think some of it depends on what discipline you show. The red ribbon is a good idea.

However, hunter warm-up rings are such a zoo, I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable if it were me.

I think I’d focus on shows that have several rings and low turnout, depending on how confident you are.

[frugalannie]

Beowulf, thanks for the idea about the red ribbon, and I’m sorry to read that you are experiencing a similar problem. Maybe we can start a “thing” where we wear a red ribbon on our helmets to warn other riders to be careful around us ;). In the meantime, I’ll hope that you and I aren’t in the warmup area at the same time. Bumper cars!

Dressagelvr, I’m transitioning from eventing to dressage because my current (homebred) ride hates jumping, but will play in the sandbox happily all day. What are dressage warm up areas like?

[AKB]

I think that if you start with schooling dressage shows, you should be fine. Email the organizer ahead of time. Talk with the dressage warmup steward so she warns every rider as they come into the warmup ring. Wear a distinctive helmet, so it is easy for the dressage warmup steward to tell everyone as they come in that, for example, the rider in the Charles Owen helmet with the blue stripe has limited peripheral vision, and they should not ride beside you. Many dressage schooling shows only have a couple of riders in the warmup ring. Go and have fun.

[beowulf]

@frugalannie

Beowulf, thanks for the idea about the red ribbon, and I’m sorry to read that you are experiencing a similar problem. Maybe we can start a “thing” where we wear a red ribbon on our helmets to warn other riders to be careful around us ;). In the meantime, I’ll hope that you and I aren’t in the warmup area at the same time. Bumper cars!

Dressagelvr, I’m transitioning from eventing to dressage because my current (homebred) ride hates jumping, but will play in the sandbox happily all day. What are dressage warm up areas like?

Bumper horse! There is a thing I’d play. Thankfully gelding is VERY other-horses/people conscious!

I’m both disciplines - my current gelding is more of a dressage horse. Dressage warm up is, IMHO not as hectic as H/Jland. I’d say it’s about the same as dressage warmup for eventing… except most of the riders are a little more …hmm… hard to explain… serious? I can’t find the word. I mean eventers are serious about their dressage tests too but I find dressage riders in warm up are much more intense about their ride.

[frugalannie]

Beowulf: Bumper horse = Polo. From what I’ve noticed at clinics pure dressage riders are much more…focussed, shall we say, in their warmups. In eventing, anyone who has competed more than once sort of has an idea where everyone else is and there are usually greetings and kidding around even in warmup (at least at the very low levels I’ve competed). Nonetheless, I don’t want to cause a problem for anyone else because I’m oblivious.

Some great suggestions, and I appreciate them all!

[Dramapony_misty]

I like the idea of telling the steward to give everyone a heads up. I have found dressage warmup rings to be much less crowded than hunter rings so you are probably better off there. Be predictable and clear in your path. If you have a trainer, maybe use a rider headset so he/she can give you a heads up as to where the other riders are if you need to deviate from you current path of travel (to say, make a circle or cut across the diagonal).
I once judged a local open 4-H show’s Trail Class where a young rider was legally blind to the point she could only see pinpoints in front of her. She wore a headset and her father directed her through the course (ie. turn left in 2 strides, trot poles are 3 strides in front of you, etc). They did amazing well and if I didn’t know of her disability (and her father wasn’t standing right next to me so I could hear that he wasn’t actually coaching her through the course), I probably wouldn’t have known there were issues.

[Grace67]

I’m following this thread with great interest. I have had poor vision all my life (+14.50 prescription) yet managed to live a relatively normal life (working, driving and towing a trailer, showing, family, etc.) however last April I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and declared legally blind. I voluntarily quit driving a vehicle and because my employer could not accommodate me (I was a payroll specialist in government accounting) I now work from home as a self employed administrative consultant who works with clients all over the country.

That being said my biggest worry has to do with my horses. Several years ago I scaled down from riding full sized horses to driving and showing minis. They are great fun and wonderful therapy for me as well. I keep my herd at my home and care for them on my own (my husband and teenaged son do assist with anything heavy like stacking hay, moving heavy mats or hauling gravel, etc.). Other than occasionally missing a pile of manure that is not within my scope of vision or tripping over something that is not where it should be I do just fine. However I was just starting to become involved in HDTs with an eventual goal of doing a CDE or two in the next few years. I also was beginning to enjoy some success in breed shows but had only driven in a rail class or two before my vision started to diminish and I was given my diagnosis. I’m now hesitant to get out around other drivers as I don’t want to cause an accident so I’m really appreciating the suggestions here. I think in controlled circumstances I will still be able to occasionally compete, especially if I have a well thought out plan of action and a few folks to keep watch over me. I’m also fortunate to have two very solid driving geldings, I would not attempt any of this with a young, green, skittish horse.

There is no cure or treatment for what I have and the prognosis is that I may lose my sight entirely at some point. Trying not to let that get me down as I’d always intended to have horses in my life as long as I was able to care for them in the manner I’ve been accustomed to. I hope that is long time off but honestly I can already notice changes. I have no night vision, peripheral is toast and unless the lighting is “just right” even some of my central vision isn’t what it was even a year ago. I’m doing my best to adapt and will trudge on, there is no other alternative. Life is meant to be lived, sometimes you just gotta find a different way to do things. Again thanks so much for this thread, much much appreciated!

[frugalannie]

Grace67, while I am saddened by your situation, I am in awe of your courage and fortitude. And of your graciousness in handling your circumstances.

My only suggestions at this point are to “see what you want to see” before things progress, and to enjoy your minis. The driving boys sound delightful and they are learning to be your guides at the right time.

I chuckled a bit at your comment about tripping over things. I just came back from a bucket list trip with 4 other women during which I realized that not everyone has shins that look like they’ve been through a war!

[frugalannie]

NatalieA, good on you for finding ways to ride and go to shows. I’m so sorry for your situation.

It seems to me that as riders “mature” or as the sport attracts people like you and Grace67, the USDA and other organizations might think of how they could help us in warmup areas and such. I’m by no means a para rider, and it doesn’t sound like either of you consider yourselves that either at this point. But maybe allowing/ encouraging a colored band around the helmet or something would let other riders know that they should be aware. Just my two cents.

[Bluey]

I too have vision problems, Drs are still trying to figure why.
Special and $ prism glasses only work for a few months and then vision changes yet again.
Last ones have only lasted barely 2 months.
Right now I have to close one or the other eye to read or type and still miss letters or double type, everything is canted to more than one side and mixed with each other, a real nuisance.

In the Europe I learned to drive in, we had one portable decal sign that indicated to all that vehicle was driven by someone just learning to drive.
That helped warn others and they didn’t get mad when you didn’t just hustle around.

Expanding on that, I have suggested before, we need a special round/oval/square decal with a big S on vehicles, indicating either a student driver, somehow impaired driver or senior driver.
Could also indicate stupid driver (joke!).

The gist is, a driver other able whippersnapper race car drivers wannabes out there may just beware of and kindly give us a break.

I wish someone would make something as already suggested, an arm or head band, maybe a neon pea green/bright orange/pink/yellow or such, easy to notice colored ribbon on rider, horse or saddle, as a way to warn others that a rider needs some consideration, not to just run over them.

[necryptonix]

I’m completely blind in my right eye, so I can’t see anything on my right side past my nose making my vision spotty and my depth perception a total hit and miss, so I completely understand where you’re coming from. I learned to jump with my eye issues, and I’ve found that jumping is still possible but the problem is finding a horse that is trained enough that he can help you out when you can’t see a distance quite right. It has certainly taken me longer to learn to jump because of it, but I wouldn’t say that it’s any more dangerous for me than for other people (excepting solid jumps with higher risk factors for someone who can’t see distances).

On the other note, I’ve had a big issue riding in large classes of horses or large lessons, because people forget I’m half blind and they’ll get too close. I completely agree with @Bluey, I wish they would make an arm band or something so that people would remember not to approach to close on my blind side.

Long story short, I’ve ridden some high caliber event horses and it takes a month or so of adjustment riding time for them, but once your horse is used to you they definitely seem to understand and take up the slack for you, no big issues with turning your head all the time.

[frugalannie]

Good idea, necryptonix. Problem is that I’ve been riding OTTBs and home breds for the last 20 years or so. I may have to rethink that and go with a “been there, done that” type. And I’m impressed that you have mede the adjustment to ride with monocular vision. Good on you!