And that’s all compelling evidence that we should all listen to our bodies, wear helmets, age thoughtfully, and keep moving. It is not compelling evidence that the sitting trot injures one’s brain.
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If the sitting trot caused brain damage other routine activities such as jogging, climbing stairs, and driving over potholes would do the same.
Sit the trot. Don’t sit the trot. But there is no evidence that it causes brain damage.
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I believe you when you say your doctors think it’s not good for you.
I don’t believe that translates to it’s not good for everyone else.
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Goodness. If sitting trot causes brain damage, imagine what the GP height jumpers are getting on the back side of fences.
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or reiners in a spin or slide 
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It is Jackie’s real-life lived experience. Who are we to tell her she is wrong? And, who are we to jump on her bones because most disagree. I mean why pile-on. Recognize her intent. She was only trying to convey a warning. A health warning. It’s not like she was advising against a life-saving vaccine or some such idiocy. She was passing along what she felt to be a risk. Her intent was for-the-good. Don’t be so mean!!!
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Thank you. I agree. Who knows Jackie better than Jackie?
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So take the warning for what it was. A sincere concern for other’s wellbeing. Agree or not, fine. But don’t be mean. AND no reason for everyone to jump on her. That too is mean.
She was not presenting a dangerous idea. No harm could come from someone warning about sitting the trot possible being hazardous. Where, is, the, harm? You don’t want to not sit-the-trot, don’t. Keep on sitting. But for gawd’s sake…let the woman express herself.
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We removed a comment and some reactions to it. It’s fine to disagree and debate, but please avoid the personal commentary.
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As the moderator says, debate and disagreement is fine. Personal attacks are not. Such a controversial statement that is being applied to ALL Riders who sit the trot (not just one person’s personal preference for their medical issues) is going to generate a lot of reactions.
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I wonder if there has ever been any attempt to research any of this. I have seen videos of very small children riding , jumping , running barrels and all I can wonder when I see them is
" shaken baby syndrome"
for the very young, the elders and those with pre-existing brain pathologies, The question is compelling. I also wonder how some of the behaviors of older riders; usually jumpers, can be attributed to serial concussion from falls
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Controversial statements are not personal attacks unless directed at a particular individual.
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I never said they were? Eighpondfarm is trying to shut down discussion and debate about a statement someone made. That’s different than the personal attack from earlier (which the mods took care of).
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I’m not seeing that. She’s not a moderator.
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I think you’re very brave for riding with MS. It sounds like the benefits are worth it for as long as you can physically sit in the saddle.
I knew someone years ago that rode regularly despite her MS. Her family worried about her but understood. She had the best Arabian mare that was as good as gold at taking care of her. I hope you have a horse like that.
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I also have additional neurological damage on top of the neurological damage from MS.
I had Covid-“alpha” in January of 2020, months before it officially entered the USA (my husband runs a trade show, he gets people from China sitting at his table for sometimes extended periods of time, at that time several of these people were from Wuhan, China.) I got really sick “worst cold of my entire life.” I did manage to stay out of the hospital.
I have been following with great interest the mentions of neurological damage caused by Covid-19. Around 2 years after my case of Covid-19 I started noticing a gradual worsening of my neurological system. I told my neurologist and he said this was a definite possibility.
I also told him the only reason why this neurological damage did not totally upend my life is that, because of my MS, I already had the equipment I needed to keep walking (canes, wheeled walker,) and I had an idea of how to cope with my new neurological problems.
From what I understand from reading the news articles on-line this damage is not immediately apparent. It expresses similarly to many aspects of MS. As far as I know the medical community does not have a cure for the Covid-19 neurological problems.
If you, your children, and other people you know have had Covid you could well end up having to deal with people with new neurological problems, including people who previously never had neurological problems.
Personally nowadays I would avoid doing the sitting trot for many weeks after a fall from a horse if you have ever had a case of Covid-19. Your cranial and spinal nerves MIGHT already have problems arising from Covid-19.
If you have had neurological damage from Covid-19 it may take years before it seriously affects your life. If you ride get yourself a MIPS helmet and wear it always when you ride. If you start losing balance you might have to dial back on your riding or you might have to change the way you ride a horse.
Fortunately most of the lesson horses I’ve ridden with MS are very understanding about my problems. Every time I get presented with a new lesson horse I just stand in front of the horse, looking in its eyes, and I “open my heart”, then I mentally or vocally tell the horse which problems I have and how these problems affect my riding. I always end with the promise that I will do everything I can not to hurt the horse, up to falling off the horse so I do not hurt its mouth.
These lesson horses are usually extremely patient with me.
Bless all lesson horses!
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Yesterday my grand-sons were visiting me, so apparently I missed some posts on this thread which were removed.
Thank you grandsons for keeping me away from the computer.
Thank you @Moderator_1 for removing the posts before I got back on line.
And thank you all who came to my defense whether you believed in what I said or did not agree with me. I appreciate you all.
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I know I’ve told you before, @Jackie_Cochran, but you really are one of my favourite people on this board.
You are so kind and thoughtful and such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your experience and your thoughts.
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Thank you for relaying your experiences. I have a Jr. high and HS friend that had MS. She passed in her 40s. I’m glad you are doing well!!
Typically, and you may not be typical, everyone’s brains shrink with age. People who drink much or have other neurological conditions have brains that shrink faster. Typically, no matter the size of the brain, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) fills the space and acts as a cushion between the brain and the skull. It is an ultrafiltrate from plasma, and as long as you have blood, you’ll have enough CSF.
While I haven’t had MS or a car accident, I have had a TBI from when my horse fell with me in the arena. I spent the night there. I didn’t ride for 3 months and was cleared to ride. I personally do not have problems sitting the trot at all these days But my balance has never been as good.
No matter if it is the way you are sitting or not, something is not working for your cerebral spinal system when you sit the trot. You have very real and very serious issues when you do. 100% please post as much as you can and maybe even ride the canter in a 1/2 or 1/4 seat.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Undoubtedly, there are others that have neurological issues who find that for whatever reason, balancing on horseback is very helpful for them to work through things but sitting the trot exacerbates neurological issues. Or running/jogging again. Or mountain biking again.
Thanks for sharing.
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