Disabled horse owners?

[walkers_dream]

I'm looking for information or help on this subject, I am disabled i have alot of back issues which as a result mean i cant walk with out help, Up until now i have forced my day to day life with juggling work and horses, I've had it easy till now as come summer i am going to start long reining my youngster to break him to drive.

I am trying work out ways of which i can long rein on long walks in the summer, I thought perhaps a wheelchair (one of those ones you push along your self) Would this work?

I really want to do it all my self as i hate to admit defeat plus would be good education for him being i will eventually end up in a wheel chair most of the time. Hence why his job will be driving.

Any one else here who is in this position or has been and how did you do it, and im sure you would understand why i want to do it, ive done everything else my self. I.e from untouchable and wild 6 month old to a dope on a rope who i love more than any thing else in my life as hes got me through so much already

any ideas would be great

 

[flirtygerty]

Can't help but will bump this for you

 

[tazzle]

well I am not myself in a wheelchair but my friend who is sometimes loans one of my horses ( she rides her when she can) . She too has severe back problems and mobility is variable ...... she wants me to teach her to drive and introduce her loan horse to drive too.

Her stepson is permanantly in a wheelchair and he rides and does agility with Taz, my horse.

We dont have a funbug yet ( have you seen the adapted to wheelchair ones they do ?) but when I have been riding we have pulled him along the road with him holding the other end of a leadrope !!!

this is him at one of amandas try driving days when they had a competition

We try not to let crutches or wheelchairs be any barrier to what we want to do either




How much of the intro to driving stuff do you want / intend to do yourself or will you be sending your boy off for the actual putting to the carriage.

do you have a friend to help you because some of the intro work even is usually a two bod job .

have you driven before ?

re the long lining with a wheelchair ...... well you would have to be very competent at one handed use of the reins and steering as well as powering chairs is very hard one handed ...... actually though one handed use of the reins is a misnomer, we actually use both hands even though they appear to be held in one hand , the only time they are truly in one hand is when we are indicating to turn

I would not reccomend it with a youngster you are introducing to long lining, too many "new" things for you both perhaps .... but if someone else is pushing you I see no reason at all you can't do it. ....Matt has long lined Taz with me pushing.



You dont say but is your youngster used yet to a wheelchair / crutches yet ... and doing the most important thing for a driving horse.....standing still !

looking forward to hearing more !!!!!!!!

 

[tazzle]

forgot to ask ..... do you ride at all cos my friend with back problems finds a gentle walk gives her some passive physio that actually relieves her pain!

 

[walkers_dream]

I do try to ride but some times its unbearable, as i loan my friends ride and drive cob, who of which has bought me a new treeless sadle and has helped loads! Charlie is his name and he is wonkey too loL! (his shoulder drops which as a result straightens out my pelvic bone which relieves the pain funny enough) and according to alot of other people who have tried to ride him, hes "thrown them off", he has never done this with me lol. I was told i must be mad to be riding him knowing this and with my back issues haha! but i think its because they lean on to his dropped side which makes him drop the shoulder more so? and off they go. Doesnt cause him any discomfort though so not to worry vet gave him the all clear (never once thrown a buck in? nor anything nasty)

and i drive him on a regular basis, my younster isnt used to wheel chairs as i have tried not to result to one, but as its going on this will be the case very soon. But is used to carrages, traps, and all other kind of things as it is a driving yard.

I will be breaking him to drive my self, with help of two very experienced friends who drive, and have broken to drive so i have no need to send him away unless its fully necessary

I am mobile to an extent, Its long walks i cant do as i have to walk very slow as not to put my back out, and eventually it gives way and i collapse with the pain. Absolute night mare!

So far ground work we have just done bomb proofing stuff, walking over scary things, bags, bins, tractors, modified cars (my partner was very concerned he would kick his car, and being the star my lad is he didnt even batter an eye lid) In all honesty not alot phases the boy! the only thing that did a bit was the plastic bag on a whip going near his head, which soon went away so i have high hopes for him, and will introduce the disability stuff just as slow as i have done with everything else. I am not in any rush to get driving so its all in his time.

He is very good when i do go down how ever, he just stands there with his nose down looking at me, often joke him saying what you doing down there get up! and he's very careful as to not walk in to me. all in all a good honest horse imo! perfect for the job!

thank you for posting that picture, it put a huge smile on my face! just shows its possible to have issues and still do everything (with in reason) on your own.

 

[merrymeasure]

I'm afraid I am totally unable to help on this subject, but just want to say what lovely pictures! Its so nice to see that young lad completely enjoying himself, and not letting his disability get in his way. Really warms the heart! Thank you for posting them!

 

[tazzle]

well with all that extra info about your situation , what you do and the experience / assistance around you ......... sounds like you will be fine

on the collapsing part ..... if its literal have you ever though he might be able to be trained to be an assistance to get you up again if need be ..... if he will stand you could teach him to brace if you had a strap that could go over his back and round the shoulder , under the opposite leg etc........ you could have something to support you get up ! ( I made something like it for preventing saddle slip of my treeless saddle some years ago based on a mounting aid seen on the internet)


your youngster sounds like a star * we need a cuddles smilie

so sounds like a big YES ....... a manual wheelchair could be just the thing to do the actual longlining .... mind you if matt had his way he would be attached to Taz too

if I think on anything else will get back to you.

 

[tazzle]

thanks merrymeasure ..

this is his first go at agility

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b...action=view&current=mattfirstagility_0001.mp4



and him riding to his school prom

 

[ebonyallen]

I am and would love to try and help you, anything is poss if you set your mind to it, with a bit of thought and a bit of help most things can be worked out and are poss. It might take us a bit longer than are able bodied horsey friends but things can still be achieved. I have had horses all my life and was not going to let the loss of my leg stop me from the one thing in my life which has always been there. It has been hard but the last four years I have achieved all sorts of things that at one point I thought would never be poss, so you have just got to go for it. I have tried to pm you but the system is not playing ball, will try again, but if not please pm me so I can give you my contact details and I am sure between the two of us we should be able to come up with some ideas of how you can move forwards as I really do understand how much horses mean to us and there is no feeling on this earth like the one when you actually do something that at one tine you thought would not be poss, take care.

Chrisse x

 

[PeterNatt]

Have you contacted Driving for the disabled as they may have some tips that may help you? This is one of their groups.
http://www.eastholtondrivingcentre.co.uk/

 

[walkers_dream]

Thanks for the support guys, really appreciate it!

I like the idea of him helping me up! would be alot easier than sitting on the cold floor! lol

This is the guy im talking about i feel you should see him (more like i want to show him off hehe)

coming along leaps and bounds, And he is entire

 

[tazzle]

I dont think I have a photo of our gadget but I will try and take one in the next few days and will send it to you ..... the pic first and if it would suit you can have the gadget , I dont need it any more as got better saddle now. and I get on via gates / walls if I get off out hacking (knee to ****ered to get on from the ground )

 

[walkers_dream]

I dont think I have a photo of our gadget but I will try and take one in the next few days and will send it to you ..... the pic first and if it would suit you can have the gadget , I dont need it any more as got better saddle now. and I get on via gates / walls if I get off out hacking (knee to ****ered to get on from the ground )

whats the gadget o_0 i have tried to get on off the floor on a 14hh mare.....as painful as the landing was, My god did i laugh main reason i couldnt get up....i failed my leg gave up and i continued to fall under her.....all i saw was belly loL!

 

[tazzle]

oops pressed post too quick ........ he is a very cutsie chappie

 

[jinglejoys]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijNneK5wxQM&feature=related

 

[walkers_dream]

OMG TOO CUTE! i do love coloured cobs, i also have a welsh section c (well i think he is an a and the breeder got it wrong but eh what the heck its cute)

But coloured horses have always been a soft spot (gorgeous!)

 

[LMJ]

I have M.S and all my ned family are mobility scooter friendly even when it beeps in reverse. My lad will lead from it and walks very slowly if I am having a stick day. Love him x