Any Para riders?

henmother

henmother

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Hello all. I posted a while ago about an accident I had which has left me paralysed. I was released from hospital end of last month to come home and get my house in order- also i really really needed a break!!! One of the things on my to do list was to visit some friends and their horses , and visit my local RDA.
Got to have a scan on back , consultants orders, and my ot,and physiotherapist want to see me using hoist but looks like i'll be getting back into the saddle and i can not wait!:)
Two potential problems, one being I can't get my feet in any of my riding boots , not zip up jod boots, not Velcro tall winter boots or even my lace up muckers.
Para riders, what do you do? Can't force my foot in , it doesn't move like I want it, and my toes curl under. Help please.
Second, it was suggested that i'll be walking for the first three months , yikes!!! Para riders, how do you settle for go slow at first?
Thank you, and sorry for yarking on.
 
Hi there. Sorry I have no advice but just wanted to say I have a massive amount of admiration for your get out there attitude! :-) x
 
What she said. I'm seriously impressed by your determination.
Would velcro muckers be a possibility? Mine open pretty wide with all the straps undone and doing them back up is a fairly quick operation.
 
Truly, thankyou for your very kind words. I've battled with family and friends over it but I've told them if I can't ride again, I may as well have been left where I landed.
My lace up muckers , the tongue comes out pretty far but the plastic moulding bit stops me putting my hand under my foot and toes to keep them flat.
i'm going to take my boots to hospital when i'm back in and get the physio to help me with them. Determined, stubborn or silly, all three apply. Thank you.
 
Well you definitely sound determined and stubborn, but not at all silly. Good luck with getting your boots sorted and i look forward to hearing about your return to riding x
 
I ended up having to have two operations to sort my toes out (the first op was only a partial success), as like yours they were bending down and I couldn't straighten them.

You need to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon and see what they can do to help.
 
YorksG I have an appointment with orthotics next month, maybe they could transform the god awful splints they gave me into something with a toe cap, I like it! Thankyou.
Custom made boots, oo that sounds like the kind of thing I'd ask for a Xmas present, nobody would buy them for me now, I could pretend they are a pair of 'sturdy winter boots.' recently returned my lovely new limited edition Charles Owen skull so they could use it for research purposes, only had it 8 months.
 
My friend has these konigs http://instagram.com/p/aKySucJDdx/ (sorry for instagram link! you should be able to see) could you get a cobbler (or get a pair custom made) to put in a zip like those but that extends all the way along the boot? It runs down the back of the leg and then around the side to the front

You sound very determined, I wish you all the best!
 
Oh my god, they should have been £500, yikes, they do look very nice, and just the job. I do have a cobbler friend, I will have to call into his shop, I may have to show him the pic of your friends boots, hope she won't mind! Think i'll do some googling too.thankyou.
 
Well done on your plan to get back in the saddle :)

I was going to suggest you go to a cobbler with some existing cheapy boots and get them modified, it might be a lot of trial and error first though! Also the shoe horn is a good idea.

Please forgive me if I'm wrong but I think EbonyAllen on here rides with one leg? She might have some tips for you.

Good luck with it all!
 
henmother said:
Hello all. I posted a while ago about an accident I had which has left me paralysed. I was released from hospital end of last month to come home and get my house in order- also i really really needed a break!!! One of the things on my to do list was to visit some friends and their horses , and visit my local RDA.
Got to have a scan on back , consultants orders, and my ot,and physiotherapist want to see me using hoist but looks like i'll be getting back into the saddle and i can not wait!:)
Two potential problems, one being I can't get my feet in any of my riding boots , not zip up jod boots, not Velcro tall winter boots or even my lace up muckers.
Para riders, what do you do? Can't force my foot in , it doesn't move like I want it, and my toes curl under. Help please.
Second, it was suggested that i'll be walking for the first three months , yikes!!! Para riders, how do you settle for go slow at first?
Thank you, and sorry for yarking on.
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Well done you! No where near as severe as you but I broke both ankles badly and it has caused a few problems - you will find a way around them.
To start you could try some light walking boots or trainers - don't stress about being proper boots, what ever you can get on and provides a bit of protection. I would highly recommend getting some toe cups for your stirrups as I would be surprised if your feet don't slide through stirrups even with heeled boots. The toe cups take that danger out of it completly, or ride without stirrups as I believe some para riders find that easier. The RDA guys are great and used to working out a way around problems. Also any adaptations such as toe cups can be allowed in compition. Get graded by paradressage and part of that is that they state what adaptations you're allowed.
 
The RDA said I could ride in trainers, I have a big chunky wide pair that I can get on. They also said they use toecups. I've also been recommend some symmetry straps. They've suggested a seat saver, but had one of those on when the accident happened, so just going to see how my bot fares. I can manage being sore, but certainly not pressure sores as they'd mean bed rest.
Mynutmeg, I hope to do dressage for RDA, I wanted to do jumping with them but they don't do it much at my local centre. It is all very very exciting for me.
 
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Equitector-S...ds_Athletic_Shoes_ET&var=&hash=item3375bdf577

henmother said:
The RDA said I could ride in trainers, I have a big chunky wide pair that I can get on. They also said they use toecups. I've also been recommend some symmetry straps. They've suggested a seat saver, but had one of those on when the accident happened, so just going to see how my bot fares. I can manage being sore, but certainly not pressure sores as they'd mean bed rest.
Mynutmeg, I hope to do dressage for RDA, I wanted to do jumping with them but they don't do it much at my local centre. It is all very very exciting for me.
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Not a para rider but my long riding boots zip up all the way from below my heel, so I just slide my foot in and zip up, they're leather inside so socked feet just slide in.

I hope this helps. Reading this really is an inspiration.
 
Showpony , thankyou very much for posting the link, at that price I'd be daft not to give them a go. They'd be good for winter fullstop.
Thankyou, I too have been scouring fleabay for the konigs mentioned earlier and have come across a handsome pair of mountain horse active rider boots, the zip kinda goes round the ankle. I am very tempted to go for both pairs. I could justify by saying they'd last forever, or at least the tread would!!!
 
I don't have any practical advice to add, I just wanted to say how much I admire your positivity! Good luck and I can't wait to hear how it all goes!
 
good luck getting back on board :D
i think you deserve a nice expensive pair of boots! with the excellent reason of finding ones you can get your feet in.
Melanie Reid has written in the Times newspaper magazine for a long time about her rehabilitation and getting back in the saddle after an accident paralyzed her. they probably have back copies to read on the website or a think she has a book. found it inspiring reading her struggles but how she kept going and is now riding again.
 
henmother said:
STC, what make are your boots? Some zips on the back of boots seem longer than others, the longer the better. Be handy to know for future, if/when i'm able to do a bit competing.
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I now have the dublin leather field boot but have previously had the Mountain horse boots - there is about a cm above the heel of both boots to the start of the zip so your foot just slides right in. However the mountain horse boots do have a fabric cushiony lining so not sure it would be quite as easy to slide your foot as it would in the dublin ones with the leather lining.
 
Henmother, you truly are inspiring and I wish you the most brilliant enjoyment and success with your return to the saddle. No practical help except - on seat saver - not sure what kind you were using, but I wonder if you would find the Acavallo Gel Out seat saver suitable? They are thinner than a lot of seat savers and sticky, and amazingly comfortable. You sound so determined I am sure you will get things organised brilliantly. good luck! :)
 
no ideas at all, but WOW, what an inspiration you are, puts everything into perspective! Go girl! Please keep us up to date on your progress. Would you do a blog or something for regular updates?
 
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