"Seat belt" for a Hunt seat saddle

[Jackie_Cochran]

I am back to being to hobble around using just one cane.

I looked stuff up on line. Trochanteric(sp?) bursitis seems to fulfill everything, the right place, the right cause, and I do sleep a lot on my left side since my right shoulder joint starts giving me fits when I lie on it too long.

When the pharmacy opens DH is going to go get my prescriptions the doctors in the emergency room called in, including a lidocaine patch?

I am aiming to ride my HH 3x next week, and then I am eager to go back to riding MJ for my lesson the week after.

[George_T_Mule]

Jackie; I only skimmed thru, so pardon it if this is repetition.
I find a fleece Tush-cush very helpful as a grip enhancement between jeans and leather. The one I’m currently using came, I think, from Cashel.
As a bonus, they are uber-comfortable, and more than a little addictive.
Also, get yourself into an inflatable vest and wear it religiously. I really like my HitAir “Advantage”, and it has saved me a couple of times over the years, so I can offer an experience-based recommendation. But I expect any of 'em would be better than none at all. Preventing just one trip to the ER pays for the vest, not to mention it saving you from the pain associated with close encounters of the dirty kind, ER-worthy or not.
My $.02 on the subject.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Well, my husband picked up one prescription, Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel 1%. He read the provided patient information and expressed grave doubts about the suitability of the prescription for my particular problem.

So I read the information, both the information from the pharmacy and the information included with the medication.

My BIGGEST problem is that some of the side effects that merit calling my doctor also happen to be common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

I cannot take it with aspirin. Well, fine and good, but I take several herbal supplements that also help my pain some and I really do not have any confidence that doctors have enough knowledge of herbal medicine to guarantee that I would not end up with problems from using this prescribed medication.

PLUS, this medicine, according to the white sheet with the really tiny print, has never been tested for efficacy for hip problems, just fingers and knees. Yeah, I could see that problems nearer to the surface of the skin could be helped effectively, but my pain goes a good bit deeper than that.

PLUS there are warnings of the possibility of damage to major organ systems like the heart, liver, kidneys, as well as the skin, especially a warning to KEEP OUT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT. Hey I ride horses in an outside ring, that is not really very helpful for me.

Right now we have decided I am not going to take it unless my primary care physician says it is both suitable and probably won’t cause my body major problems.

Homeopathy may not work as quickly, but I am pretty confident that the homeopathic remedies I take are not going to lead to problems with major organ systems that can lead to organ failure or death (unless I ignore an active infection that really NEEDS antibiotics, I do take my antibiotics without hesitation because bacterial infections need to be treated.)

As an update just now I was able to walk carefully and gingerly to my bathroom without any canes. I am improving slowly.

[RMJacobs]

I am glad you are improving, but please don’t rush things (like i always do). I have a lot of problems now due to pushing hard to get back to “normal” (whatever that is) with my various injuries.

I’m glad @George_T_Mule mentioned getting an inflatable vest. I meant to mention that yesterday, then got distracted as always. Anyway, I think it would be a very good idea for you. I realize you use various cooling garments during the summer, but this is important.

Rebecca

[Jackie_Cochran]

@RMJacobs,

One “fortunate” side effect of the great reduction of my medicine is that there is no “normal” to get back to. My MS symptoms are getting worse, today my hand tremors have increased greatly.

I may be forced to introduce MJ to bitless riding soon as it gets hotter. My current plans for reduction in riding is first to try the Fager Bianca snaffle by itself (the snaffle version of my present bridoon), then trying to convince MJ that my leather snaffle bit is worthy of obedience, then training him to accept the bitless bridles. I will HATE losing the ability to have a “conversation” with the horse I am riding, but that is better than torturing the horse’s mouth.

I will be considering an inflatable vest when it gets cooler. My medicine does help me deal with the heat well enough so I could go on riding with a bit, but the heat still bothers me. I just do not know if I could bear the heat with a protective vest on. I have read of several people who did not realize they had MS until they just could not walk after being in a sauna, and wearing a non-breathing vest in the humidity down here would resemble being in a sauna.

I just want to be able to ride horses and be able to walk after I get off the horse. Isn’t that a lofty riding goal, get up and putter around like an absolute beginner.

I fear that my ice vest will end up causing major muscle spasms in my back, I will just have to see what will happen. Luckily for me Debbie has several ponies/small horses who are patient enough to carry beginning riders because I may no longer be able to ride at an advanced level even just at a walk.

At least I am not facing recovering from general anesthesia which does my brain no good at all.

I am so grateful my hip did not break. While my worsening MS is a major challenge for me it could be so much worse.

Thank you all for caring about me and my riding, I really appreciate it.

[NaturallyHappy]

I wonder if you could wear a regular vest if you got it wet…evaporation for cooling…

[Jackie_Cochran]

Many years ago I invested in evaporative vests.

The problem is that it is humid down here in NC in the summer time, and I also ride in the most humid part of the day, before the sunlight reduces the ambient humidity.

I ended up being HOTTER. My evaporative skull cap felt really, really hot when I took it off. My vest was not much better. I imagine that these work well where there is low humidity where the water CAN evaporate easily, but I do not live in the desert.

I really wish they did work here because they were much more comfortable to wear riding.

I just wish that someone would invent a riding air conditioner, with a face mask so I could breathe dry air too.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Many years ago when I was going through a Chinese Materia Medica book I ran into honeysuckle as a helper for the bad effects of heat. It did seem to work when I tried it before I got on the dronabinol. The last time I tried it did not seem to help but unlike the first time I tried it I was on my full Dronabinol dosage.

I will have to hunt down where I stashed it and try it again. From what I remember it seemed to make my sweat “thinner” which helped it evaporate better in the humidity. It really did help back then. One possible problem is, if I remember correctly (decades ago), that it does have a certain amount of salicylic acid in it so I might have to cut down my intake of aspirin.

[George_T_Mule]

Hi again, Jackie

I rode my XL Thoroughbred “Oily” (“An Oily Riser” on his papers. Alas, RIP now.) in a Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridle for most of the ~15 years I had him. It took almost nothing to transition him from the Kimberwicke bit he came equipped with:
“Check this out Big Boy; no bit. Pretty cool, huh? Let’s try it on. Yield left. Yield right. Good Job, let’s go for a ride . . .”
And off we went. I didn’t notice much difference, but then I’m not hypercritical. Stop, Go, Go fast (his favorite passtime), Left, Right, Back-up. Oily was a retired Dressage horse, and he would do impromptu “trail” Dressage for me at the slightest excuse; a hiker with a camera, or anyone saying “Oh what a handsome Horse”. “Yeah, and watch what else I can do . . .” He was an absolute hoot to ride; made me look like I knew what I was doing: “Go, Oily, Go.” :-D.
Georgie will go in the bitless bridle, but he prefers his mechanical hackamore, and truthfully, we can go all day long w/o me even picking up contact on his reins, but they are comforting to have if we are riding in an area with lotsa distractions, like in traffic, or if encountering a herd of Deer or Bovines.
An Equilosophical question: We use a one-piece yacht-rope thingie, with scissor-snaps at either end. Rein, or still Reins?

[Jackie_Cochran]

Around 15 years ago I experimented with bitless bridles. I was riding a mare who absolutely LOVED having contact with a bit, and when she started cussing me out about my contact when summer came I knew it was time to go back to bitless riding.

I will have to dig mine out. I started riding bitless at time around 45 years ago with a “jumping cavesson” bridle. I still have it but the horses seem to prefer the Nurtural bitless bridles around 15 years ago, then the horses told me that they really, really preferred the Light Rider bitless bridle, a modified scawbrig bitless system.

As I told my riding teacher when I first introduced bitless systems to Glow, the Arabian hellion lesson horse who took excellent care of me so long as I did not hurt his sensitive mouth, it is not the bit that ensures obedience, it is the training in the language of the aids.

My MS improved enough when I got the right dose of dronabinol so I no longer had to go bitless in the summertime, even with the horses who used to cuss me out about my contact when the summer heat came on.

The only problem is that MJ is OLD, 30+ years old, and he is not quite as quick to pick things up though I had absolutely no problems introducing him to the double bridle. I expect the reaction of “what in Hades are you doing, do you mean you expect me to actually OBEY your rein aids?” like I got when I used just my new leather snaffle on him.

Planned progression, Fager Bianca, Fager Adam (leather), the Lite Rider, then the Nurtural bitless bridle if needed to get obedience to my hand aids. I have been planning for this for years.

If all else fails I will dig out my LG bridle, the flower wheel bitless system is a variety of this.

[2DogsFarm]

If you didn’t know already, diclofenac is Voltaren. Which is now available OTC. IIRC, same strength (or nearly) as the prescription.
We’ve been using it on horses under the name Surpass for decades.
FWIW, my orthopod prescribed it for my bone-on-bone knees, first in pills, then the topical gel.
Neither did much for me, YMMV.

JINGLING for your return to riding!
_____’< Bitless Jingle

[Jackie_Cochran]

I just remembered this morning about the Transcend bitless double bridle.

At least it would be a new challenge trying a bitless double bridle, therefore probably less boring.

[Jackie_Cochran]

My son, who has a Paypal account, is in the slow process of trying to order a full size and a cob size biothane bitless double bridle from the Transcend people. It will probably take a month and a half or so to get them.

That is fine. I now have a Fager Adam leather snaffle for each stable (2), and if I deteriorate a lot quicker I do have my older bitless bridles.

So now, for MJ, first the Fager Bianca titanium three piece w/ a roller snaffle, then when he starts cussing me out, then the leather snaffle, and when he starts cussing me out about that I hope to have the Transcend bitless double bridle to keep me from falling asleep through boredom.

For the other stable, the Fager Adam leather snaffle, then when the cussing starts I sure hope the Transcend bridle comes but the mare I’d be riding already has bitless experience.

I am still walking, slowly, carefully, and planning out each step, with the 2 canes–the one with the side feet and the other a regular cane.

[DeeDeeDee]

Double Neck Strap

This is a “double” neck strap. They also have an extra large double loop - it is a longer/higher top or second loop. The double neck strap has 2 side pieces that attach to the D rings. It’s better than a regular grab strap - the rider does not have to lean forward to hold it. And the D ring straps keep it in place.

Very best wishes to you, OP!

[George_T_Mule]

@DeeDeeDee

This is a “double” neck strap.

For years I have been using English breast collars, just to have that strap across the neck for a grab-handle. This is even mo-betta.
I want one . . .

[Jackie_Cochran]

Thank you @DeeDeeDee,

It sure looks like a really good idea.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I woke up this morning with my now “normal” level of pain walking.

Then it got worse, a lot worse.

I can make it to the bathroom, very, very slowly. I can get on and off the toilet. Every weight bearing movement is an exercise in learning how to cope with pain. Aspirin helps some. I managed to feed myself lunch, my DH had gotten stuff ready, I put some of it into a bowl, and spent several painful minutes walking back to my bed.

I hurt.

Meanwhile, I have been looking for stirrup irons and stirrups leathers for it I do get the colt breaking saddle. I could not find the Tech Venice stirrups like I have on my jumping saddle (my stirrups have a slight side-to-side slope), bummer. I did find MUCH cheaper alternative safety stirrups at the handicapped riding site, the ones with the sort of S shaped sides (like the ones shown with Queen Elizabeth riding,) one with a regular eye for the stirrup leather and one with an eye that means I don’t have to twist my foot around to pick up my stirrups. I found the TSF Stability stirrup leathers-slim–that has a loop at the top, with the holes to change the length at the bottom. With these stirrup leathers I would be able to easily change my stirrup irons and change their length.

Getting a pair of the leathers and these stirrups will be cheaper than the Tech stirrups alone.

This injury is a total bummer, especially since I only got to ride for 5 minutes before I fell off.

I think that if I were a horse the vet might recommend a steroid injection where it hurts.

I wish my update was better. Even if I wanted to have my lesson tomorrow I would not be able to use my left leg to mount even using my 3-step mounting block.

There is some benefit to all of this. To walk I have to put a lot of my weight on my canes so my arms should be getting stronger. At least I have my canes and at least I can walk with both canes however slowly.

I think a 3 Toed Sloth could beat me in a race. Sometimes I feel like I am as slow or slower than an inch worm.

[NaturallyHappy]

I have a friend who used to say he’d have to speed up to stop😀! In all seriousness, if your pain is worse, I wonder if you should go back for another set of radiographs…green stick fractures and all that…

[RMJacobs]

I hope this doesn’t mean something was missed when you were evaluated.

My husband says I’m so slow on my bike that babies pass me. I had a guy who was much older than me, riding a trike, pass me a while back, but he was cheating as he has a motor on his trike, and I don’t have one on mine.

Rebecca

[Jackie_Cochran]

Yeah, I told my husband that if I am as bad tomorrow morning we are calling for an appointment with my primary care physician.