Trying to Get Riding Fit with MS at the Speed of a Snail

[Jackie_Cochran]

Shannon made it over today.

I lasted 20 minutes on the Home Horse.

As long as I kept my feet forward a bit and kept the tip of my boot a little bit over the edge of the platform my balance on the HH was fine as proven by the bubble balance. My feet stayed on the platform and halfway through I picked up the reins.

Starting off with 10 repetitions or for a count of 10 in 2-point, then upping it to 20 seems to be a winning formula for me. Of course I ended up TIRED and had to take a long nap.

So with my feet on the platform I balanced (I got that right away), walked, 2-pointed, posted, and I walked in 2-point too which was very tiring for my thigh muscles. It takes me less energy to do all of this on a horse, especially on Cinnabar whose wide well sprung ribs barrel gives my legs something to rest on.

I also worked on using my upper thigh muscles just below my crotch to move the HH a little bit from side-to-side. This is to get these muscles fit enough so that I can use these muscles to straighten the horse’s spine so that I can ride in a way that the horse can go straight without me having to use the reins.

Since present day proposed changes dictated by the government my end up with my DH concluding that it would be too expensive and too much hassle to continue to doing the trade shows he could be home more weekends. I am toying with the idea of trying to do the HH twice a week as well as my single riding lesson a week since I would have a little bit more energy. When life or the weather prevents me getting my lesson I would end up riding my HH 3 times a week.

All these months using my HH once or twice a week (twice when I do not get to ride a horse) has improved my balance in the saddle and helped my seat enough so Debbie is pleased with me during my lesson.

I fear that these new policies might increase the cost of living so darn much that I would no longer be able to afford my weekly riding lesson. When I go too far down this super depressing thought road I can at least remind myself that even though I might not be able to afford riding lessons that with the Home Horse I will still be able to get into the saddle and ride something. Then, when the policies change or the government changes from the elections I would be able to get back into riding horses without too many problems because my muscles would still be fit and regularly exercised, and my body would still know what it feels like when I am in balance in the saddle.

I do not need all this change and chaos in life in my old age. I do take comfort in the fact that I no longer have to come up with infinitely increasing amounts of money to feed and take care of horses that I owned (and for which I no longer have enough energy to ride anyway) and that my Home Horse is “living” in my living room already tacked up and ready to ride.

I never though the USA would get into such a mess in my old age so I could not prepare for such a drastic change in my life. At least I have most of what I need to live comfortably and I have enough tack so I can ride most horses so I could be a lot worse off.

And I have my Home Horse so I can still get into a saddle and ride SOMETHING instead of not getting into a saddle at all. This helps me a good bit to keep my mental outlook out of total despair.

[3PonyFarm]

I hope you don’t have to stop your lessons! I am glad you have your HH to get in some saddle time.

[Moss]

I’m so glad that you’re still riding. It’s so hard with an autoimmune disease.

What saddle do you use? Do you find that specific gear (riding, wearing, anything) helps? My autoimmune disease is just wrecking my body and I can basically ride for 20-30 minutes at a walk and some light trot work. You definitely inspire me.

[Jackie_Cochran]

For the Home Horse I am using 47 year old Crosby PDN Wide Front saddle.

Since I am riding lesson horses and my lesson horse can change, sometimes without warning, I use a Pegasus Butterfly Claudia Jumping saddle. This saddle, with a 6-pocket shimmable pad, can adapt to most horses’ backs and shoulders. This saddle requires good balance, and it helps to use it with a non-slip pad (I use the no longer made Fenwick Western LT non-slip pad which uses the Far Infra-red Radiation therapy). For greater safety I have the Total Saddle Fit Slim stability stirrup leathers, Tech Venice Slope safety stirrups, an “oh shit” strap, an RS-tor Safety doodad, and the non longer made (sniff!) Rider Grip rubber stick on pads on the flaps/knee rolls (you might be able to find another type of pad on the flap/knee roll that is sticky but check for the glue’s affect on the leather of the saddle if your saddle is expensive or sort of rare,) and a Sure Grip Saddle Seat cover (made for Western saddles, I had to be a little bit creative to get it tight on my jumping saddle.)

I always wear my MIPS riding helmet. I wear an ice vest and use a neck fan when it is hot. I use the SPURSUADER spurs (my riding teacher has never taken these spurs off of me in the summer, unlike every other type of spur). I use the Kerrits Silicon Full seat winter breeches and summer tights.

When I ride I use the Far Infra-red Radiation therapy stuff on the horse (saddle pad (Fenwick), exercise sheet (BOT or the Smart Therapy one from Smart Pak), poll cap (BOT), face mask with ears (Fenwick) and sometimes leg wraps on the front legs.

I do NOT use the Far Infra-red Radiation stuff on myself because the horses tell me that it messes up my hands and balance enough so the horses no longer consent to keep contact with my hands (they suck back and if I am rude about it I get cussed out by the horse.)

I got this stuff over the years, and what I listed horse and riding instructor approved and I feel pretty secure in the saddle with all of this!

[Jackie_Cochran]

I forgot to write about what I use on the horse during the heat and fly season.

In addition to the Fenwick Face Mask with Ears I use the Amigo Fly Rider sheet and the Farnam Endure Fly Spray.

Decades ago I used a Fly Whisk during the fly season. For some reason the lesson horses I ride now do not like the fly whisk. My first horse adored it. A fly whisk could be very useful to carry if you are working the horse from the ground though you would still have to crush the huge buzz-bomber flies to keep them from coming back.

[Moss]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your answers so much! It’s hard to find people who can help since most people can ride, and I can’t even bend over anymore.

Some of the things you’ve listed sound like things I’ve done. I have the “oh shit” strap, extra grippy dressage reins, Back on Track gloves, a sheepskin dressage saddle cover (mostly for shock absorption since most movement tends to cause a flare), MDC stirrups, an eventing vest, and MIPS helmets. My AC joints are in the process of fusing so I have to use mounting blocks now.

I’m struggling with my saddles right now. I have a Germania Klasse, which I loved at first, but gradually my body has told me it hates it. I like my DP saddle for the most part. The best saddle I’ve found is my Engel soft saddle, but I’m worried about not having stirrups.

I use Amigo fly rider, too and Endure fly spray.

I just have my home horse, which is my Fjord who is, honestly, a saint. I have videos of my riding and I’m so stiff and she just plods along. She handles my stiffness so well. I got stuck on my cantle because I can’t twist anymore, and she stood like a rock while a friend helped me. It’s so mortifying until I tell people about my illness and then they’re pretty sympathetic since I walk like I’m 95 years old and I’m not even 40.

[RMJacobs]

I’m a fellow creaky–over 25 years of RA, plus a bunch of other stuff. When I got stuck on my mare because I couldn’t get my leg over her, I knew I had to stop riding. I was driving by then, so at least I wasn’t giving up horses that time. I’d given up riding previously and was horseless for quite a few years.

Rebecca

[Moss]

I’m teaching my girl to drive for this very reason (she will finish up with a driving trainer), so I appreciate your comment. My girl is an oversized, expensive pet so if she just lives with us, I don’t mind if I have to give up riding. My stiffness does scare me, and I really appreciate how safe and gentle my mare is, but I’m aware of my limitations as my AS progresses.

Again, thanks for your comment.

[RMJacobs]

My last driving pony ended up as a pet for his last several years. He had cataracts and was suddenly spooky where he’d previously been rock solid. Even with limited vision, he did fine on pasture board after I sold my horse property. I retired from work the same time he did, and I was able to spend a lot of time just hanging out with him in his retirement years until he died. By then, he was in his mid 30s probably. But dang, I thought when I retired, I’d be able to spend more time driving him.

I really miss having horses.

Rebecca

[Moss]

I’m so sorry that you don’t have horses anymore. If you want to PM me, I can send you information about the horse I got and why I chose her. She also has an instagram.

[RMJacobs]

Thanks, but I find I have to be judicious in what I look at regarding other people’s horses. It can make me jealous, and that’s an emotion I try to avoid as it’s rooted in envy.

For a while, I was taking driving lessons just to be around horses, and while my friend and I found wonderful coaches, we both found we needed to stop taking lessons. For me, even just getting myself there was becoming overwhelming, just an hour from where I live. My physical condition deteriorated to the point that I don’t drive that far any more, which just breaks my heart, losing that independence. And I found that spending limited time with the horses was just frustrating. What I miss the most is the relationship. It’s hard to have that with a horse that you interact with for one hour a week.

So I’m on here on a limited basis, and I can admire the pictures people post of their horses and keep my jealousy and envy to a reasonable limit by not spending too much time at it. I don’t know if that makes sense or not.

Rebecca

[Moss]

I completely understand that. I struggle with envy who don’t have pain or mobility issues, so I empathize with you a lot. And your feelings and comments do make sense. These types of illnesses are so, so frustrating, and I’ve noticed I struggle with depression in a new way. It’s hard to watch my body break down. My colleagues talk about all of the fun things they do, and my mom and I just stay at home a lot. We tried visiting a nearby town that wasn’t too far, and it set us back. So, I am sending you a digital hug. I understand as best as I can.

[luvmyhackney]

@RMJacobs

And I found that spending limited time with the horses was just frustrating. What I miss the most is the relationship. It’s hard to have that with a horse that you interact with for one hour a week.

I wish you were near me. I’d gladly share my sweet pony and goats with you. They would enjoy your company greatly.

[Jackie_Cochran]

There is a pretty comfortable saddle for those of us with balance and confidence problems, especially if you cannot afford to fall off your horse.

The problem!!! is that it has a rather high pommel and cantle.

However if you could get a hoist up and someone to help you it would be a real alternative to current modern saddles.

The one I have is the Talavera Potrera saddle which is made in Spain. Now if you are very overweight you might not be able to ride in it but there are other Spanish saddles that may be large enough for you.

I NEED someone to lift my right leg over the cantle both mounting and dismounting. But once I am in this saddle, enjoying the sheepskin saddle cover, I feel like the horse would have to go into a major bucking fit for me to fall off the horse. Plus it has enough rings in the right places so that I could rig up some sort of “seat-belt” too.

The pommel curves down the sides, within reach of my upper thighs if I feel like I need more security. Since this saddle was developed for colt breaking it is not that easy to fall out of! The high cantle also adds to my body feeling “cradled” in the saddle. Unfortunately in puts me in a chair seat, however the majority of horseback riders for 4 millenia or more rode in chair seats. That won’t kill you or the horse. I am way too crippled to jump any more (SNIFF!!!) and I do not ride dressage so I can lapse back into a chair seat without great harm to my riding. The broad horsehair (?) stuffed panels give this saddle a greater feeling of stability that the other treeless saddle I had (EZ-Fit) and they also seem to be comfortable to the horse’s back. This saddle does have a channel for the horse’s spine.

I am happy riding in my Pegasus Butterfly Claudia jumping saddle. The Portrera saddle I am saving for when I become even more crippled, it should enable me to ride at least another 3-4 years as I get older and older, and so much weaker and unbalanced when my lack of balance means that I can no longer ride safely in my jumping saddle.

A wonderful COTH member gave it to me after I fell off at a walk, and the horse was not really moving under me that much. Humiliation cubed.

This saddle also does not have a tree, therefore you can ride many different horses of many different builds in it.

[RMJacobs]

Digital hugs back at you!

I’ve been dealing with this since I was in my late 30s, in the prime of life with a young daughter. I’m 67 now. I feel very lucky to have had an exciting career, only possible because my husband stayed home with our daughter and took care of all the home stuff. He is the reason I could have horses; he not only did all the day to day work, he built all the fences and loafing sheds, in his spare time while he was remodeling our house. That left me free to play with them (daughter and horses) when I was home. But my body had had enough when I was 59, and I had to abruptly quit working.

So at least I have a lot of great memories to entertain me now that I’ve deteriorated a lot. I thought we’d be traveling all over the world by now, but I just can’t do it. We did get to England, Scotland and France when I was still somewhat functional and before my kidneys failed, and then we scaled down to travel all over the US and some of Canada when international travel became impossible. I am doing a med change as soon as the prior authorization is approved, and I’m hoping that gets me back to doing our epic road trips. We shall see. Unfortunately, no matter how much the med change helps, international travel (or going anywhere by plane) is just too hard due to having to haul the equipment and supplies to do dialysis every day. But I’d be happy with domestic road trips.

If you ever need an understanding ear, let me know–a PM would be fine if you want to keep it confidential.

Rebecca

[RMJacobs]

That’s very sweet. Is your current pony a Hackney? My first driving pony was, and he was the hot version. But we had loads of fun driving around my neighborhood, or just snuggling in the pasture. Somehow with all his antics (bolting being his favorite), he never got me hurt. I miss him every single day. I had to euthanize him fifteen years ago at age 29, after hoping I’d have a lot more years with him.

Rebecca

[luvmyhackney]

@RMJacobs

Is your current pony a Hackney

Of course! My favorite breed! Mines a good egg, he is a hot tamale under harness, but so kind and chill under saddle. I’ve taken him to kids birthday parties and he filled in at summer camp for a couple summers. He knows when to be sensible.

[RMJacobs]

I don’t know how my guy was under saddle as the only person who was light enough to ride him was my daughter, and I wasn’t going to risk her. I came home from work one day and found my husband had put our next door neighbor’s grandchild, a toddler, on Crackers’ back and led them around. I asked if our neighbor (a good friend) was still speaking to us after that. It turned out that Crackers was a perfect gentleman that day, which was quite a relief. Crackers was very affectionate and snuggly on the ground, and had great ground manners.

Driving, of course, was a whole other thing. I was pretty sure he’d never been driven outside an arena. The first year or so that I drove him was quite an adventure. He was afraid of mailboxes, newspapers at the foot of driveways, and black plastic trash bags (although white ones were OK). But he didn’t mind road graders, my neighbor’s 18 wheeler (and the air horn), a fire truck with lights and siren going, and trash trucks. We had a lot of fighter plane flyovers (we were between Buckley Air Force Base and the Air Force Academy), and that didn’t bother him either, which made sense because he’d lived right next to Buckley for the ten years before I bought him. However, a helicopter landing at a neighbor’s house made him lose his mind (and that was after I’d had him a few years and he’d calmed down some). He was OK with bicycles, ATVs and snowmobiles. His worst bolt was when he caught sight of a neighbor’s Morgan mare, whom he’d seen every single time we went out and never reacted to before that.

I sure miss Crackers hugging me back when I’d go out before bed to say goodnight and check on the three horses. And I hate to say, but I miss the adrenaline rush of driving him.

Rebecca

[3PonyFarm]

I hope you get your lesson in Cinnabar this week. My area is expecting a beautiful week and I hope your area is too. It makes riding outside so much easier. Indoor arenas are so nice and it is easy to get spoiled with one but a ride outside on a nice day is a wonderful thing!

[Jackie_Cochran]

Thank you.

I have only ridden in an inside riding ring (completely enclosed) for riding lessons two or three times in my life, at North Fork School of Equitation.

When I was calling around over a decade ago trying to find a stable that could help me as disabled as I am I quickly realized that I just could not afford to take lessons at a stable with an indoor arena. The lessons ALWAYS cost more (I understand, those things and their upkeep are EXPENSIVE.)

After my usual horrible night when the time changed (it took me 3 hours to fall asleep and I kept waking up) I was not in good form for my HH riding session.

Today I lasted just 18 minutes. I took it easy, just balancing while sitting and in 2-point with a few slow, mild “walks”. I was just too tired to even think of posting or trying to imitate anything besides just plodding around.