Disabled riders board board

Would you like to see a disabled riders board?

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henmother said:
Thankyou for replying mynutmeg. I bet it was much easier having the foot plates off. I know what you mean about the fear that you can't get out of the way quick enough, if you need to. I think I'd end up on the floor, and with a injured horse. What bedding were you mucking out, shavings? My girl to be is on straw which I think is lighter and probably a bit easier to muck out, although emptying the barrow is impossible . Leading with rope under leg is a good idea, it's super frustrating not being able to move and use your hands, you know what I mean.
I'm currently going through the formal complaint process with my local wheelchair services who think a 14 kg chair with swing plates is suitable. Got an "independent assessor " coming on Friday , hopefully she'll agree that I need the lightweight chair. It makes such a difference, I can't even cross roads safely in my current chair. I have to go down kerbs backwards as chair is too heavy to back wheel balance.
As for the Ot, useless, I've had to self fund all the adaptions, all I got was a shower chair/commode, all because I work and so does my partner.
I think slowly slowly is going to be the way forward, and lots of carrots, and a big fat Haynet too.
What does cross tie mean? She's just a little one, I'm strictly sticking to pony squishing, that way there's les distance to fall ;)
I do hope you get better soon, will you get full mobility back after your operations are finished?
Yes, we broken riders have needs too. Thankyou mynutmeg.
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thats mental about your chair etc. I had tp find my own even when both legs were in casts as it wasnt permentant! Luckily my mom had an old chair of hers in the garage that I was able to nick.
They're on hemp which is small particles almost like easibed. Very easy to muck out generally.

Cross tienis more common in america - its where the pony/horse is stood between two tie points with two ropes, one on either side of tje headcollar. It helps to keep them in a more central place for doing things with them.

I'm hopefully.finoshed with surgeries now for a fair few years - had my most recent almosy a year ago now where they fused my ankle joint (the other one was fused 3 years ago) as a result I have very little movement in my ankles however they dont give way on me constantly now so a big improvement there. I developed severe arthritis following the original injuries and ended up with no joint left. I also have a lot.of soft tissue injury/scarring which causes problems. Unfortunately they will never be pain free or 'normal' function but I can walk and I can ride and given the accident and original injury im very lucky - I came off a tb at full gallop (so probably at about 30miles an hour type speed) and landed on my feet however at that speed I could easily have broken ny back or neck (this happened about 6 months post spine surgery for a slipped disc as well!!!) so feel like I got off pretty lightly.
 
I voted yes, I am not a "disabled" rider but I do think that if I suddenly found myself classified as such, due to either accident or illness, I would be drawn to a section like this for various reasons. Initially perhaps to look for inspiration to continue to ride, and gain tips and advice. I can take on board some of the comments made by people who are not sure that it's such a good idea, in particular the view that it might not be visited very regularly by as many members, as I do think that it would be a shame if the postings were limited to just a small section of the community as I feel that both able bodied and disabled riders could have a lot to offer each other in terms of support and advice, so perhaps the title could be a little more "open ended" somehow. (Not sure what it could be though)
 
mynutmeg said:
thats mental about your chair etc. I had tp find my own even when both legs were in casts as it wasnt permentant! Luckily my mom had an old chair of hers in the garage that I was able to nick.
They're on hemp which is small particles almost like easibed. Very easy to muck out generally.

Cross tienis more common in america - its where the pony/horse is stood between two tie points with two ropes, one on either side of tje headcollar. It helps to keep them in a more central place for doing things with them.

I'm hopefully.finoshed with surgeries now for a fair few years - had my most recent almosy a year ago now where they fused my ankle joint (the other one was fused 3 years ago) as a result I have very little movement in my ankles however they dont give way on me constantly now so a big improvement there. I developed severe arthritis following the original injuries and ended up with no joint left. I also have a lot.of soft tissue injury/scarring which causes problems. Unfortunately they will never be pain free or 'normal' function but I can walk and I can ride and given the accident and original injury im very lucky - I came off a tb at full gallop (so probably at about 30miles an hour type speed) and landed on my feet however at that speed I could easily have broken ny back or neck (this happened about 6 months post spine surgery for a slipped disc as well!!!) so feel like I got off pretty lightly.
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I know, re chair and so on, I've had to fight for everything, because I work, the irony of it is, had I been on benefit with a couple of brats I'd have qualified for everything. You get very little help if you're a worker, not fair, but hey ho. I had to adapt my house or I'd have had to go live in a home, no thanks. Sounds like you were lucky to have mams chair to use, how did they expect you to mobilise with two casts on?!
Ah yes, I know easibed, I like it too, my hens were on that.
God it sounds like you've gone through it mynutmeg, landing on your feet, ouch. Do you take painkillers to cope with the pains? You must be in a lot of pain a lot if the time. I'm glad you're done with your surgeries for a bit. How have you adapted the way you ride ? Do you use flexi stirrups for example? They might help you, I was recommended them as they help to cushion the impact on your joints. I'm glad you can walk & ride again, you have your new normal.
One thing I've noticed with all us injured riders is we come back stronger, and always get back into the saddle. Did your family /friends want you to stop riding after your accident? Sorry for bombarding you with questions but you really are inspiring and I think you could help me, and others with your experience. Thankyou.
 
Tern said:
I'm gonna get shot for my own opinion, But why should disabled people get their own board? I have a lot of back pain but there isn't a back pain board?? It's very easy to just bump your post up, so hardly going to get lost..
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That's why I mentioned the "title" of the board in my post. Surely people who are living with relatively minor physical problems could also benefit from a board that other people with physical problems ranging from "slightly debilitating, but still needs careful management" to "more severe physical disability, that needs considerable assistance". I know riders who would not class themselves as disabled, but they may have a hip replacement, knee replacement, be recovering from major abdominal surgery, or be dealing with an on going problem as a result of an old injury which makes some aspects of riding and keeping horses more difficult, if a board was created which could encompass some of these riders too I think it would be a good idea.
 
maresmaid said:
That's why I mentioned the "title" of the board in my post. Surely people who are living with relatively minor physical problems could also benefit from a board that other people with physical problems ranging from "slightly debilitating, but still needs careful management" to "more severe physical disability, that needs considerable assistance". I know riders who would not class themselves as disabled, but they may have a hip replacement, knee replacement, be recovering from major abdominal surgery, or be dealing with an on going problem as a result of an old injury which makes some aspects of riding and keeping horses more difficult, if a board was created which could encompass some of these riders too I think it would be a good idea.
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Nicely put maresmaid. I wish we could come up with a name that would encompass the above..
 
Personally I don't care about the label, if it gives me access to support & help from people who know where you are coming from & how desperate you are to keep going with your horses. After 3 surgeries last year, I'm struggling getting going again as tendonitis an issue. Only advice I'm getting from the physio is to sell the horses. Not an option. How to do things differently, to reduce the joint aggrevation would be very useful advice. Some people on the main board are fine, but most are very quick to judge, & if you don't agree with them can get very aggressive. I'm not after judgement, but open discussion helpful suggestions offered with genuine intentions.

You don't have to be disabled to find this kind of board useful. Anyone, especially around horses, can get injured & need to find out how to manage, even in the short term.
 
pip6 said:
Personally I don't care about the label, if it gives me access to support & help from people who know where you are coming from & how desperate you are to keep going with your horses. After 3 surgeries last year, I'm struggling getting going again as tendonitis an issue. Only advice I'm getting from the physio is to sell the horses. Not an option. How to do things differently, to reduce the joint aggrevation would be very useful advice. Some people on the main board are fine, but most are very quick to judge, & if you don't agree with them can get very aggressive. I'm not after judgement, but open discussion helpful suggestions offered with genuine intentions.

You don't have to be disabled to find this kind of board useful. Anyone, especially around horses, can get injured & need to find out how to manage, even in the short term.
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I completely agree pip6. The name seems to be peoples main area of concern. Physios can be brutal and totally miss the point.
 
maresmaid said:
... perhaps the title could be a little more "open ended" somehow. (Not sure what it could be though)
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Broken and battered riders board?

For Frail Fillies?

Injured or incapacitated but inspiring riders board?

The board for the buted up?

I love Crocks Corner, full marks to who ever though that up.
 
Buted up board is good. Reminds me of the Dr on the air ambulance, he said, we're just going to give you some ketamine to get you on your way, that's what you'd use for the horses isn't it, think I managed a smile :)
 
henmother said:
I know, re chair and so on, I've had to fight for everything, because I work, the irony of it is, had I been on benefit with a couple of brats I'd have qualified for everything. You get very little help if you're a worker, not fair, but hey ho. I had to adapt my house or I'd have had to go live in a home, no thanks. Sounds like you were lucky to have mams chair to use, how did they expect you to mobilise with two casts on?!
Ah yes, I know easibed, I like it too, my hens were on that.
God it sounds like you've gone through it mynutmeg, landing on your feet, ouch. Do you take painkillers to cope with the pains? You must be in a lot of pain a lot if the time. I'm glad you're done with your surgeries for a bit. How have you adapted the way you ride ? Do you use flexi stirrups for example? They might help you, I was recommended them as they help to cushion the impact on your joints. I'm glad you can walk & ride again, you have your new normal.
One thing I've noticed with all us injured riders is we come back stronger, and always get back into the saddle. Did your family /friends want you to stop riding after your accident? Sorry for bombarding you with questions but you really are inspiring and I think you could help me, and others with your experience. Thankyou.
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It's mental - I've been very lucky in that the house is adapted for my mom with converted bathroom/stair lift/hand rails every where etc. Apparently you can hire them but it's not exactly cheap.

I have no idea how I managed to do it - I remember hanging onto the pommel (no stirrups) and thinking 'I need to bail' (horse was not going to get round many more corners - flat out gallop in a 20x40 sand school is a bit wall of death-esq) and 'this is going to hurt' - ironically I was worried about my back - I'd had slipped disc surgery around 6 months earlier! We were supposed to be walking and a little trot. The next thing I remember I was flat on my back making quite a lot of noise. According to my friend who was there I apparently tried to stand up afterwards - I looked at one leg and my foot was at right angles to the side of my leg (sorry if tmi) so quite how that would have worked I don't know!
I was more fussed about them cutting my boots and chaps off (ariats - those are expensive!!) and they managed to get them off without cutting them - typically I can't use them anymore as there's too much heel on them - I have to have flat shoes. The thing that annoyed me most at the time was the ambulance crew didn't have morphine - only entinox gas (on a side note if you breath hard and fast on that stuff you will pass out!! :D) I think that thye only sent a tech crew but given the message my mom got from my friend was 'I'd hurt my ankle and was going to hopsital' so not sure what she told the 999 operator - the crew did offer to get a doctor to come out with morphine/more pain killers but I just wanted to get going.
Apparently no-one else has ever done what I did before, to the extent the doctors wrote a paper about one of my ankles (appologies if this is tmi - if squemish skip to next paragraph) but my right ankle I tore all the tendons and ligaments down the outside - somehow I didn't go through the skin, if I had there's a good chance I'd have lost my foot. The ankle anatomy is tibia and fibula (leg bones) meet a pyrmaidy shaped bone called the talus which sits on top of the calcanus or heel bone. I basically squished the talus right out the front of the joint so that the tibia/fibula and calcanus were almost touching. My x-rays are awesome (unfortunately I don't have a copy at the moment) My left wasn't as badly dislocated but I managed to break the tibia through the joint surface - hence why I ended up with arthritis within about 2 years of original injury.

The one advantage of doing things to that extent is that the docs are waiting for you when you get to a&e rather than you waiting for them - the thing that made me laugh was the way they're like 'sharp scratch' for putting the cannula in, I was just 'don't care, give me morphine!!'

I've got pretty good at tuning out my ankles - the worst time is when I've been sat for a while and then go to stand, can be interesting. Yup I wouldn't move without painkillers - I use a mixture of paracetamol, high dose codiene and naproxen which is a high strenght non-steroidal but that is gentle on your stomach. I also use insoles to provide foot support and have to be careful about shoes - trying to find nice, flat shoes in a size 9 is very difficult!!
I use flexi-stirrups and toe cages, because I have very little movement I can't push down through my heels and so found my feet slipped through a lot so use those as a safety thing. I can't use normal stirrups as I get very sore very quickly. The biggest thing I struggle with is getting on and off - I have to use a mounting block, simply can't get on off the ground and to get off I have to swing over, lie over the saddle and slide down holding the far side as I can't absorb an impact from jumping down.

Oddly my accident made me more horse mental - I had sort of fallen into owning Ollie and was happy enough to be at the yard with my sister (she was more mental than me) and although I knew I wouldn't ride Ollie again (wasn't his fault, more a mis-match of abilities) I was certain I was getting something else once I could walk/afford it (Ollie went out on loan and did really well. Ironically he had an accident with a cattle grid a couple of years later and broke two legs which was the end of him - he was a sort of rescue and so I'm happy that he had a couple of years of being well looked after and loved)
My mom and sister are both horsey so there was never any quesiton of me not riding again - I was stopped until I could sort of weight bear on both legs but the day after my last cast came off they helped me get on to walk around on my sister's cob who is superb and would make an excellent rda pony.

The biggest issue I have for riding is I have very little confidence - I struggle with going fast, especially in the school, I'm better cantering on a hack than in the school and am really stuggling with that at the moment after a couple of years out of riding due to my surgery and Roo's injury/foaling.

Don't worry about questions - am happy to answer and talk about what happened.

pip6 said:
Personally I don't care about the label, if it gives me access to support & help from people who know where you are coming from & how desperate you are to keep going with your horses. After 3 surgeries last year, I'm struggling getting going again as tendonitis an issue. Only advice I'm getting from the physio is to sell the horses. Not an option. How to do things differently, to reduce the joint aggrevation would be very useful advice. Some people on the main board are fine, but most are very quick to judge, & if you don't agree with them can get very aggressive. I'm not after judgement, but open discussion helpful suggestions offered with genuine intentions.

You don't have to be disabled to find this kind of board useful. Anyone, especially around horses, can get injured & need to find out how to manage, even in the short term.
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Which joints are affected?
 
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Selecting a pc name is difficult and finding one that encompasses everything is even harder. Ill, injured and incapacitated riders? A while ago RDA groups were asked to vote on changing the name RDA as disabled was a derogatory term however this was turned down mainly because of the costs involved so if disabled is good enough for RDA why not for HHO?

I'm struggling with being viewed as disabled at present - I walk with two crutches and my balance and coordination is poor. I don't want to be like this and get frustrated but to be honest I know I can't change things and can see why people would view me as disabled, in fact when I was fit and healthy I would view the me as I am now as disabled I'm sure. So really I just have to accept it -it's only a word and doesn't alter who I really am.
 
Pip6, I hired my stairlift, £350 for year, cheaper than buying for sure. Glad you didn't have to go through the rig morale of having home adapted, although sorry your mams health is so bad that the adaptions are needed.
Oh my god, the thought of your foot pointing the wrong way is stomach churning, although you were probably in shock so won't have been that concerned about it, which is why you were probably more fussed about your boots. Your injuries sound horrendous, you have done well to come so far after them. Haha, yes, needles are no buggy when you want the pain to go away, or want to just sleep through it. Drugs are good sometimes. Ooch codeine is lethal, turned me into quite the zombie, liquid morphine and slow release morphine tablets keep me ticking over, amongst other things. That alone can be half the battle, finding a combination of meds that take the pain away but don't zombify you. Then there are the other things that come along with the meds, constipation, headaches, sickness.....
Nice flat, sturdy but light shoes are virtually non existent, and in a size 9 too, that is one tricky list of requirements.
Flexi stirrups and toe cages sound like a good combo. I may invest in some toe cages myself, going to see how I get on with the flexi stirrups and take it from there.
I agree the mount/dismount is going to be very difficult , I thing the dismount more so, as I'm guessing once you've been riding a bit your legs, ankles, will kind of get stuck? I think a lot of helpers are going to be needed. I read on another board that the cavalry dismount can be good, but then you still have the impact of two feet hitting the ground, even if it is slowly.
Oh no, sorry to read about Ollie's accident :(
Fortunate that you have a horsey family that appreciate that you not riding isn't an option. If you find the right horse, and take all the right precautions, well why not ride. As I say, I could fall onto the road and get splattered by a bus, we are only here for a holiday and have to do what makes us happy otherwise what is the point of all the rest of the crappy stuff.
As for confidence, I feel the same, I worry about things that never bothered me pre injury. I'm not surprised you're nervous of being in school either, as that's where it happened. I have a book, perfect confidence, by Kelly marks, what I've read of it so far is good, makes sense. I think slow and steady wins the race. Hopefully it will come back.
You are an inspiration.
 
henmother said:
Pip6, I hired my stairlift, £350 for year, cheaper than buying for sure. Glad you didn't have to go through the rig morale of having home adapted, although sorry your mams health is so bad that the adaptions are needed.
Oh my god, the thought of your foot pointing the wrong way is stomach churning, although you were probably in shock so won't have been that concerned about it, which is why you were probably more fussed about your boots. Your injuries sound horrendous, you have done well to come so far after them. Haha, yes, needles are no buggy when you want the pain to go away, or want to just sleep through it. Drugs are good sometimes. Ooch codeine is lethal, turned me into quite the zombie, liquid morphine and slow release morphine tablets keep me ticking over, amongst other things. That alone can be half the battle, finding a combination of meds that take the pain away but don't zombify you. Then there are the other things that come along with the meds, constipation, headaches, sickness.....
Nice flat, sturdy but light shoes are virtually non existent, and in a size 9 too, that is one tricky list of requirements.
Flexi stirrups and toe cages sound like a good combo. I may invest in some toe cages myself, going to see how I get on with the flexi stirrups and take it from there.
I agree the mount/dismount is going to be very difficult , I thing the dismount more so, as I'm guessing once you've been riding a bit your legs, ankles, will kind of get stuck? I think a lot of helpers are going to be needed. I read on another board that the cavalry dismount can be good, but then you still have the impact of two feet hitting the ground, even if it is slowly.
Oh no, sorry to read about Ollie's accident :(
Fortunate that you have a horsey family that appreciate that you not riding isn't an option. If you find the right horse, and take all the right precautions, well why not ride. As I say, I could fall onto the road and get splattered by a bus, we are only here for a holiday and have to do what makes us happy otherwise what is the point of all the rest of the crappy stuff.
As for confidence, I feel the same, I worry about things that never bothered me pre injury. I'm not surprised you're nervous of being in school either, as that's where it happened. I have a book, perfect confidence, by Kelly marks, what I've read of it so far is good, makes sense. I think slow and steady wins the race. Hopefully it will come back.
You are an inspiration.
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My mom's used a wheelchair outside the house for as long as I can remember so it's pretty normal for me as is finding a way around things.
My foot wasn't a nice sight - I think one thing that helped in the early days was that I didn't understand how severe the injuries were or the long term impact. It became apparent gradually so was less of a shock and I've always been a 'well get on with it then' type person.

Have you tried patches - very effective and you don't get the up/down lull of oral meds. I'm very lucky in that very few meds make me sleepy.

Shoes wise, brantanos are usually quite a good hunt - they go up to size 10 girls!!

I don't really have any movement in my ankles anyway so riding doesn't make much difference from a stiffness point of view, it's more the landing impact thats not very good - Roo's good tho, she'll stand at the small wall we use for a mounting block for me to get off as well as on and the lady who backed her taught her to stand very well.

With Ollie I kinda look at it like he had a couple of years of being well loved and looked after. It didn't hit me as hard as my friend who had him on loan as he'd been out on loan for over a year before his accident so it didn't make a day-to-day difference to me the way it did to Stef.

Kelly's book is really good and definatley helped me - when I'm riding regularly I'm better so it does improce, am struggling at the moment as Roo's coming back into work after foaly and I've not really ridden for over a year so confidence is non-existant and not helped by her being very naughty. (We've found out why she's been naughty - sore back - and are working on that so it doesn't re-occur but I think I will have someone else sit on her the first few times once she's progressed from long lines to ridden)
 
I know what you mean about early injury days. It is hard to get your head round and your body has suffered such a massive trauma that you kind of don't focus on it? As for being a get on with it type of person, it's the only way. Dark days are inevitable I think, but as long as you have more good than bad, you're winning.
Glad that you have the ability to get found things, it's an ability that is lacked by so many, I saw it myself in my spinal unit. People that just gave up and couldn't get past the position they'd found themselves in, they'd spend their days mourning their old life and draining the life out of their visitors, it was sad to watch someone that could help themself but didn't want to.
I've not tried patches but a girl in my bay had them, she still had to take all the other drugs too, and didn't rate them, not yo say they wouldn't work , had forgotten about them.
It's good that your girl stands still well, it's what all horses should do, but some do get fidgety. Guess that goes back to finding the right horse to suit your needs.
Your poor friend, and boy, at least the time he had here he was treasured and loved as every horse should be.
I have Kelly's book perfect partners too, hope to progress onto that once I've finished perfect confidence, I think both books could probably be referred back to in times of need. We shouldn't beat ourselves up too much though, it's hardly surprising we're a bit shaky considering.
Excellent idea to let someone else sit on your girl once she's brought back into work. Safety first, and watching can be a pleasure too.
 
My mom uses patches and finds they work well - I found them good for pain but made me throw up (I'm fairly sensitive to morphine that way).

I figure that if I see her behaving for someone else under saddle then I'll be a bit better when I get on her - she was getting pretty scary (for me at least). I know why now so once she's sorted I should get my nice pony back :p
 
Magnetic Sparrow said:
How about calling it 'The Hurt Locker'?
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Absolutely brilliant,gets my vote!I got a bit dented about 18 months ago and can say first hand that often the only diference betwean "Disabled " and crocked up is wishfull thinking.I have gone from drag hunting to just about being able to complete a prelim dressage test without turning blue and falling off.:o. The worst part of being stuck in hospital is that it gives you too much time to think.If having such a forum helps people to discuss and face what they are experiencing ,that alone is enough reason for its existance.
 
Mike007 said:
Absolutely brilliant,gets my vote!I got a bit dented about 18 months ago and can say first hand that often the only diference betwean "Disabled " and crocked up is wishfull thinking.I have gone from drag hunting to just about being able to complete a prelim dressage test without turning blue and falling off.:o. The worst part of being stuck in hospital is that it gives you too much time to think.If having such a forum helps people to discuss and face what they are experiencing ,that alone is enough reason for its existance.
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Exactly
 
EventingMum said:
Selecting a pc name is difficult and finding one that encompasses everything is even harder. Ill, injured and incapacitated riders? A while ago RDA groups were asked to vote on changing the name RDA as disabled was a derogatory term however this was turned down mainly because of the costs involved so if disabled is good enough for RDA why not for HHO?

I'm struggling with being viewed as disabled at present - I walk with two crutches and my balance and coordination is poor. I don't want to be like this and get frustrated but to be honest I know I can't change things and can see why people would view me as disabled, in fact when I was fit and healthy I would view the me as I am now as disabled I'm sure. So really I just have to accept it -it's only a word and doesn't alter who I really am.
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I didn't know that but you rarely hear it called 'riding for the disabled', RDA is so much easier to say. Their slogan though is very clever 'it's about what you CAN do'
 
I have a very good friend who would be classified as a disabled rider I guess. I just never really thought of her like that in all the years I have known her-- she has a weakened leg from polio so she rides sidesaddle. She was just the person who rode sidesaddle-- and had the most amazing horse-- and knew more about horses than the rest of us in the yard combined a few times over. I guess I never thought of her as disabled, on or off her horse. Yes, she had some limitations, on how fast she could move, or how far she could walk. But that was just part of "her". I suppose that she developed a great deal of intimate knowledge about horses-- what kind to deal with a sidesaddle, how to deal with things on the ground ( her horse had PERFECT stable manners!) to adjust where she had to. In some ways, it might be said her "disability" made her the superb horsewoman that she is.

There would be potentially so much all of us could learn from a board like this-- whatever it might end up being named.
 
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