After five years

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I got back on a horse on Saturday. What a bunch of emotions going on now!

Quick background - disabled for 16 years after RTA, rode quite extensively pre RTA, and for 11 years post RTA. I've done nothing for the last five years due to not finding a suitable stable. However, joined HHO a couple of weeks ago to ask if anyone knew of anywhere that'd take me and Happihorse recommended Talland.

So, my legs are killing me, my seat bones still ache (not enough padding due to incomplete paraplegia) and I'm all over the place emotionally. Talland is very good, Brian (instructor) was so kind and a brilliant teacher, however - my riding position is utterly, utterly crap. My lower legs are horrendous - not just the dodgy left one, my seat was so rubbish I'm surprised I managed to stay on at walk and I've forgotten everything. Only wonderful thing was the horse - Slick - what a patient, kind, gentle soul.

So, many thanks Happihorse and all those that offered encouragement
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Thank you all so much.
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Yes, LZT, I'm going to keep it up as I know, if nothing else, it's great physio for me. I'll try to get to Talland once a month, and I'm also going to try to find somewhere I can ride three or four times a week in a school without instruction, per se, to improve physically.
 
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Thank you all so much.
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Yes, LZT, I'm going to keep it up as I know, if nothing else, it's great physio for me. I'll try to get to Talland once a month, and I'm also going to try to find somewhere I can ride three or four times a week in a school without instruction, per se, to improve physically.

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My seatbones hurt after riding too...and I've more than enough padding
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Have you tried taking arnica pills to reduce the muscle stiffness/achiness? Seems to work well for me...otherwise I look like rigour mortis has set in after a riding lesson....
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Would you recommend Talland, then? I've never been...
S
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I used to use an Arnica rub, I didn't know Arnica pills were available! Thank you for that.

Yes, I'd heartily recommend Talland, especially for someone like yourself. It's far too advanced for me, especially in my current state. It's a great facility, as well as having pretty darn good instructors, very friendly too!
 
The arnica pills come in a strange long tube...from Boots, etc...and they're tiny so if you choke on pills...you'll be able to knock them back more easily
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I'd love to go to Talland....but my car's just died so bankruptcy beckons...I tried whipping it (a la Basil Fawlty) but it still refused to move without huge amounts of care/cash.
Grrrrrrrr
Glad you had a good time...sure you'll be competing in the para-olympics (sp?) in no time
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S
 
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sure you'll be competing in the para-olympics (sp?) in no time
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S

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Har de har.
 
Ok, so it may take a couple of weeks practice
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The Paralympic people do seem like good fun...my employers used to be a venue...and there was a really nice atmosphere at their events...and some seriously nice horseflesh.
S
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I have a friend who is paralised from the waist down. She has been back ridding for over a year now, accident was two and a half years ago. Her horse evented so he is no plod, but her desire to get back on him is what kept her going.
She rode him again this september !! She is doing briliantly well with him and he has picked up the way she has to use Schooling sticks as her leg aids with no problems at all. She is still in walk and trot, but she is doing basic lateral work on him.
Don't put yourself down for wanting to ride again, and don't allow others to tell you your limited, you can achieve anything if you want it enough...she taught me that.
 
I could kinda do without jokes like that. Yeah, it's damn funny, until you're sat the other side of the fence. In a wheelchair. I know how crap I am without someone rubbing it in. Knock it off, yeah?
 
Wasn't joking....
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and was serious about the Paralympic folk being a really nice lot too...which is more than I could say for some of the other disciplines...but I'd best not mention them
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If you think I'm teasing because you don't have your own horse (at least I assume you don't?) then I should say that many of the riders are loaned high level horses....for the competitions.
S
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Hi ripples - glad to hear you are getting back in the saddle. Personally I think shilasdair had some good suggestions - I'd never thought of preventive arnica. I use a sheepskin seat saver (known as "the fannywarmer") because not only is it softer for my poor old unfit bones but it NEVER feels cold, and the cold would make me ache.

FWIW I came back to riding after 25 years out - due to disapproving OH I'm afraid. I knew what I wanted my limbs to do but they just couldn't manage it. I found that not having regular lessons allowed my body to dictate what it thought was "correct". When I did have lessons I then had to unlearn all that my body now felt was right and natural. If you can I'd have a very high proportion of rides with "eyes on the ground" to make sure that you are getting the best out of it. At least I wish that's what I had done.

Wishing you the best of luck with it!
 
No, I think you're taking the p*ss because my riding is crap.

I remember a previous post to me (that has now been deleted) in which you wrote that you were trying to offend me, of course I bear that in mind whenever reading anything else you may write to me.

Remember you told me:

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Ripple,
No offence intended - I'm just insatiably curious about things.
You must tell me to s** off if I offend you...everyone else does
S


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Found here

I'm taking your advice.
 
Don't be too down hearted, I'm sure your position isn't half as bad as you think it is, we're usually our own worst critics. Keep at it I'm sure you'll improve quickly with good tution and a suitable horse and you'll ache less the more you ride
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Glad to hear you're back in the saddle and hope you can find somewhere to let you ride more often during the week.

I had a quick look at Tallands website, looks a fantastic place.

I went back to riding last year after 5/6 years of not riding. It was a shock to the system to say the least!
 
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No, I think you're taking the p*ss because my riding is crap.
<font color="blue"> No, not my style. </font>
I remember a previous post to me (that has now been deleted) in which you wrote that you were trying to offend me, of course I bear that in mind whenever reading anything else you may write to me.
<font color="blue">Again, incorrect. If you read the post you'll notice that I say I was trying not to offend you, but to understand you </font>
Remember you told me:

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Ripple,
No offence intended - I'm just insatiably curious about things.
You must tell me to s** off if I offend you...everyone else does
S


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Found here

I'm taking your advice.

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<font color="blue"> I'm beginning to wonder if you're a troll.
S
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Ripples, you will find that a good many of us on this forum would consider our riding to be pretty poor, and many of us have injuries that at least limit our mobility (although not to the same extent as yours, I accept that)
Of course you are not as good as you used to be, and probably never will be, welcome to the club.

Do keep going though, even numpty riders like me enjoy it - and in the long run I'm sure you will see an improvement as you adapt to what you CAN acheive, which is far more important than what you can no longer acheive
 
Fantastic - you really are a very courageous person! May I suggest a few extra mince pies and the odd Mars bar may help pad you out a bit...
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I have a jar of Nutella bought in a moment of madness if that would help? I hope you are on cloud nine this morning - you deserve to be.
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ETS: After replying I read the whole of the thread, and think you may have misconstrued Shilasdair's remarks, both on this thread and the other. Some people like to talk openly about all aspects of their lives; others don't. I think she was saying 'tell me to shut up if I'm too nosey', not 'I'm setting out to offend you'.
 
A couple of things...

1. I really don't think S was trying to wind you up. I read that post you've copied from another thread totally different to you - she never said she was trying to offend you, just joked that if she offends people then people tell her to sod off! Calm down a bit.

2. Talland is fab - I had a lesson their with Justine in the summer and rode the same horse you did, he's a superstar.
 
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Again, incorrect. If you read the post you'll notice that I say I was trying not to offend you, but to understand you


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The post in question has now been deleted along with the rest of the thread it was in. In that post you said, specifically, that you were trying to offend me and asked me "how am I doing?"

The post you are referring to was nothing more than a great example of an attempt to bully, in my opinion.

My[ self-esteem doesn't rely on being insensitive and provoking others into a negative response.

HTH.
 
the_winter, Sooty, many, many thanks
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As for Shilasdair - I am frustrated that the original post has been deleted as I'm sure you would understand my feelings with regards this person, far better.
 
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A couple of things...

1. I really don't think S was trying to wind you up. I read that post you've copied from another thread totally different to you - she never said she was trying to offend you, just joked that if she offends people then people tell her to sod off! Calm down a bit.

2. Talland is fab - I had a lesson their with Justine in the summer and rode the same horse you did, he's a superstar.

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No, I was trying to be helpful...I meant that if Ripples got in touch with the Paralympic people/RDA people, they might have contacts for her to sort out some riding (without instruction) or even a horse share, and presumably they'd be sorted in terms of insurance, equipment etc.
And my riding is pretty appalling at the moment through lack of funds for lessons and concentrating on other stuff...as I'll happily admit....and I'm just a happy hacker at the best of times....
S
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