I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder and Lupus, both are degenerative disorders for me and are very extreme in their natures and the combination is potentially lethal. I am constantly in “flares”…there are sometimes weeks or even months I cannot ride…plus I live in a hot, sunny climate and with what the sun can do to trigger Lupus, well…:no::(
SO, when I’m feeling reasonably ok to ride and it’s “too hot and sunny” out, I ride at dawn, or dusk and at night (have lights at my barn/arena). Doing these adjustments means I ride alone most of the time, but at least I ride!
When I am feeling “so-so” and can at least be out and about but know it’s not safe to ride, I groom, teach my horse tricks, handwalk and my newest and most wonderful discovery: do At Liberty training with my horse…it’s SO fun and she adores doing it.
If one day I know that I NEVER AGAIN can ride, I may or may not look into driving…I’m unsure in my situation that would be a solution. But, I can usually groom and handwalk and do the At Liberty work. My sweet mare just wants to be doing things together, doesn’t have to always be riding (although she loves that, too).
If necessary I’d also get a mini for myself…my neighbor boards his mini with me right now and I find him adorable and lots of fun…taught him to jump on hand commands…would love to have my own as well.
I suppose one day I’ll not have horses at all, but I hope that is many years from now and my secret wish is that at “worst” I get a mini (although honestly my mare is so sweet and attached to me I can likely just do “ground” things with her forever and she’ll still be happy).
It’s a tough subject. I’ve got instructions in my Living Will and my Last Will that my horse(s) will go to a therapy riding group if I am unable to have them at all or I pass on. Knowing they can give joy and further love to others later on gives me some peace about my own situation.
The one thing I keep remembering: my deepest passion in general is animals, and specifically in horses…and I have been LUCKY enough to have had some sort of contact with horses most of my life to one degree or another, and later in life I’ve actually gotten to own my OWN! What a joy! MANY lovely memories and I will take them right to the end…if I find I feel sad about my health issues and how it might limit me (currently or in the future) I just remember that it could have been that I’d never have had this wonderful experience of horses in my life! I’m VERY grateful to have had anything at all! :winkgrin: