Has anoyone given up horses for health reasons?

Just to say, driving is great fun and some very physically challenged people do it. Just make sure the training is thorough. I gave up riding but love driving my home bred pony. I did all his initial training myself then he went to a very experienced person to be put to and got going. I also had lessons and this good start gave us both real confidence, very important if you are going to enjoy it all. I hope it works out for you.
 
We, the crocked ,smashed up and decrepit are backing you all the way frankie cob.Its not a race ,there is no pressure just hug your horse and be happy for the day.You will feel down at times .Focuss on the good times.
 
Borderreiver said:
Just to say, driving is great fun and some very physically challenged people do it. Just make sure the training is thorough. I gave up riding but love driving my home bred pony. I did all his initial training myself then he went to a very experienced person to be put to and got going. I also had lessons and this good start gave us both real confidence, very important if you are going to enjoy it all. I hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

Thats where we are at :) I bought the harness, chucked it on, blinkers and all and got my lovely friend to long rein him. I had long reined him a lot as a 3yr old, but even I didnt expect him to be so awesome! He was a little bit "WTF is this new nonsense" then just cracked on. We took him back to his box and dragged the whip over the corrugated iron walls and the noise was horrific. He didnt bat an eyelid! He really loves it :) My current yard has done lots of driving previously and they take a lot of breaking and schooling liveries so I think they will be fine to put him too considering how well he has taken to it . They have a carriage that is suitable for him, but probably not so much for me as I need it to be smooth, and thats what is stopping us getting on with it.

I'll catch up with them next week for a chat and see what they think. I do have a back up plan for him to go away if needs be. Then I just need to learn to drive myself and sort out a carriage :)
 
FrankieCob said:
Thank you for all your comments, every single one of them has helped me. Sometimes I get so inside my own head I dont know whether I am coming or going, and it wouldnt be unheard of me to have a huge dramatic meltdown when that happens :lol: I do have VERY valid reasons to sell him but I have always had those and I have always carried on regardless. Its the thought of it being like that forever thats bothering me I think, but I havent totally exhausted all the options yet. I'm very down, but I'm not quite out yet :)
Click to expand...

Sometimes we forget others are going through a similar situation, I really think you are depressed and depression is very isolating. Regarding painkillers, my GP has me on slow release tramadol twice a day, since getting my combination of meds right I have felt loads better, not physically per say, but mentally. I also know my limits now and know when I am pushing myself and try to give myself some time off afterwards, for example I'm supposed to be driving from Cornwall to Worthing, going to an engagement party and then driving home, so I have cleared the following week to recover. Learning to manage your condition(s) is a big part of keeping on top of things, if you can speak to Occupational health at your work so they can see what they can do to help.
 
Mince Pie said:
Sometimes we forget others are going through a similar situation, I really think you are depressed and depression is very isolating. Regarding painkillers, my GP has me on slow release tramadol twice a day, since getting my combination of meds right I have felt loads better, not physically per say, but mentally. I also know my limits now and know when I am pushing myself and try to give myself some time off afterwards, for example I'm supposed to be driving from Cornwall to Worthing, going to an engagement party and then driving home, so I have cleared the following week to recover. Learning to manage your condition(s) is a big part of keeping on top of things, if you can speak to Occupational health at your work so they can see what they can do to help.
Click to expand...

I'm not depressed as I do have things I enjoy etc, I'm just miserable with an actual cause and having to have my dog PTS along with the new job and everything hurting more is just massively impacting on me.

I have to be very, very careful with the opiates. I have a massively addictive personality at the best of times. I dont really like morphine at ALL but I could genuinely take tramadol as a recreational activity! I love how it makes me feel, all warm and fuzzy and like i'm floating on a cloud, and I could happily spend the rest of my life like that, and that is not a path I want to be walking! But I can take it for reasonable periods with no addiction issues and it does really help :) But I do need to be careful so its only a shirt term thing for me.

I'm very lucky in that I work for a huge employer who has been amazing! I have a £1300 chair and all sorts of adjustments. I also work compressed hours so do 8.75 hours a day and have Wednesday off and that helps me so very much! No matter how tired or fed up I am I know its only 2 days max so I can deal with it. The new job has been messing with my hours and making me work 5 days etc. I think that has contributed massively and I'm going to ring my new boss for a chat as I dont think they have any idea about how much I struggle as on the surface I seem totally fine. So thats another thing that will help
 
Last edited:
FrankieCob said:
Its hard because I have almost no pain when I sit or lay down. Standing is painful quickly and walking cripples me. I can only manage a few hundred yards before I have to stop. So my life is much less painful the less I do.
Click to expand...

FrankieCob..........just for a moment disregarding the fact that you feel you are too heavy to ride, does the above quote mean that it is comfortable for you when sat on a horse or not?

If the answer is yes, obviously you need to try and get to the bottom of your metabolic issues in order to aid weight loss and what I am about to suggest should only come as a last resort, but it is something you may care to ponder, and please do not take offence. As your weight has such a detrimental effect on you psychologically I am just wondering if you would qualify for gastric band surgery - or something similar. As I said, a last resort but if it did help you to lose weight and enabled you to ride/be more active it may just also help on the pain side of things too.

Breaking your boy to harness sounds like a good plan regardless - don't be in too much of a hurry to make decisions re selling, good horses are hard to find. :)
 
Well fc, after many years chasing the hoys/rihs tickets in the showing world, ...I was buying not.quiet good enough horses competing to.county level and getting placed but knowing they were not good enough so selling them on to up my budget...I.found the horse advertised at a daft amount one drunken night I rang and offered a daft amount for him and bought him,
I went through a divorce where the x hubby tried to ensure I lost the horse, I battled hard and horse stayed, then I had a car accident, then finally I.got said horse to a comp and the sod broke me in an epic way, (I wasn't even on.him)
Through a year of injuries I learnt I have a knackered neck, and have lost full use of my left hand...just shortly after all of this I got myself into an abusive relationship which after being laid out on a floor has left me.with a bit of brain damage (I have damage to the pons area) resulting in migraine where my balance goes. I.sold my horse of a life time as it was what was best for him and financially I just couldn't cope (back to the bad relationship there..)
I have to be so careful what I ride these days the risks don't make it worth it.

I'm not Sorry I sold the horse pictures of him eventing on fb remind me I done what was best for.him, and a bit like you I have an on going battle with weight.

Whilst driving is an option I have to say not having the financial drain of a.horse is amazing I've.been able to go abroad, I have a nice car and if I.want horse time or to ride I borrow a mates I've even helped out a friend financially...we went up last week and were riding her 17.2 bareback teaching him to neck rein all in the sun..it's a nice feeling coming into winter that I.don't have to deal with mud/rain/wind lol...

I.guess what I'm trying to say is I understand all of what you said, and I personally don't think that choosing to loan/sell your lad would actually be such a bad move perhaps actually it would take a massive weight off your shoulders.
 
gunnergundog said:
FrankieCob..........just for a moment disregarding the fact that you feel you are too heavy to ride, does the above quote mean that it is comfortable for you when sat on a horse or not?

If the answer is yes, obviously you need to try and get to the bottom of your metabolic issues in order to aid weight loss and what I am about to suggest should only come as a last resort, but it is something you may care to ponder, and please do not take offence. As your weight has such a detrimental effect on you psychologically I am just wondering if you would qualify for gastric band surgery - or something similar. As I said, a last resort but if it did help you to lose weight and enabled you to ride/be more active it may just also help on the pain side of things too.

Breaking your boy to harness sounds like a good plan regardless - don't be in too much of a hurry to make decisions re selling, good horses are hard to find. :)
Click to expand...

When I first sit on him I get horrific pain in one hip, but it only lasts seconds and then its fine. Riding actually helps me massively as it keeps everything mobile and helps with core strength. I am pretty sure I would qualify for a gastric band but a huge part of my issues are that I am Type 1 diabetic and I almost certainly have an issue with the nerves in my stomach that cause delayed emptying of it. Totally screws the diabetes control as it hold food in my stomach then releases it randomly and causes insane blood sugar spikes, so not sure if they would consider me based on that.

I know overweight people go on about how little they eat, but I genuinely dont overeat, its just that insulin converts food to fat really quickly and I am caught in a cycle of needing more insulin so then I get fat then I need more insulin, then I get fatter and need yet more insulin, over and over. Being this fat I should be able to eat 3 or 4 times what I consume and just maintain it, but I've gained 5 stone in 3 years and the fatter I get the more weight I gain and quicker :(

Ironically if I let the diabetes control slip then weight would literally melt off me without any effort at all, but the side effects are horrific and terrifying! Diabetes is the main cause of blindness and the thought of that terrifies me! I'm trapped in an horrific downwards cycle sadly. I have taken some steps to stop if and I am no longer gaining weight at an horrific rate, but now I need to lose it and its almost impossible when I am barely maintaining being so fat and I am so inactive :(
 
jhoward said:
I.guess what I'm trying to say is I understand all of what you said, and I personally don't think that choosing to loan/sell your lad would actually be such a bad move perhaps actually it would take a massive weight off your shoulders.
Click to expand...

Thats how I feel, it would be a relief, until the point I went a bit mental without a horse. But I'm pretty sure I could adjust. But I'm not quite there yet. But this really is last chance saloon for me! There is a point where its just too much input for limited output!
 
On the issue of diabetes, my female farrier is type 1 and has struggled with it (although looks picture of health) has what looks like bottle top on upper arm. Can take a reading from it whenever wants, did have to buy it as nhs wouldn't fund it.
 
Last edited:
Its a Libre and its amazing! Costs £100 a month to fund it and I found no matter what I did they fell off all the time. Not sure if I'm just really sweaty and clumsy :lol: I did use it for a couple of months and it helped a lot. Once they have improved the stick ability then I'll start using them again :)
 
FC, you need to talk about 'reasonable adjustments' to your employer. If you are working for the same employer as the one who agreed to your changed hours, they should not have been changed without a meeting to discuss this. Ask for another OH referral and talk to them about what they recommend as reasonable adjustments. Remember that these may change, as your condition progresses.
 
I overdid it massively a couple of weeks ago and booked to do two intro tests two days on the run. Day one I was pretty good, and foolishly went careering into day two with the same enthusiasm.

Before the judge had even beeped the horn, I was in an absolute state. My pain levels had rocketed, I could barely breathe, I honestly have no idea how I got through the test because I felt every single second of it and it was agony.
My mare sensed it, and at two points, when I was honestly doubting I would actually be alive by the end of it, she backed off and her ears flicked back as if she was asking me if I needed to stop. Interestingly, the judge picked up on those two moments (but obviously had no idea why the pony had done it). It made me realise that my mare is so in tune with me and knew I wasn't right. At the end, I practically collapsed on her, but I was so overwhelmed by her intuition.

We came 3rd out of a large class, I don't think I've ever loved her more.
 
You must get yourself referred to a pain clinic. There is so much they can do to help the pain! I have had facet joint injections and epidural which transformed my pain levels. Also you need help to avoid insulin chasing! I eventually gave up on my diabetic consultant and insisted on seeing the specialist nurses who have been far more helpful! I am still riding but set myself lower targets now. I competed in a prel yesterday so know I won't be up to much today. Keep looking forwards! One of my friends many years ago said you never know what's round the corner so stop driving on straight roads!
 
My farrier uses vet wrap to keep her libre (bottle top) on, she thought it was cos she was sweaty too but they obviously just don't stick!! Vet wrap does the job though!
 
I've got Stevens Johnson Syndrome and have been unwell for 14yrs varying from life threatening to sometimes being able to ride but with constant pain. I've had to stop work and significantly reduce my social life and have had long periods of not riding. I cannot manage without the horses and more recently I've found I have to ride or as I've got to the point where I feel there's no point in living if I don't. I have a long period with my two elderly horses living out at home with my friends helping but it broke my heart to look at them but not be able to go outside and care for them. I asked my husband if we could have them PTS and move but he said no. I ended up buying another at that point as I needed a reason to live. I bought a lovely little warmblood who is forward but comfortable enough for me to ride as movement is my pain increaser. I'm in pain all the time, have trouble sleeping and lying down is as painful as moving. Exercise knocks me out so a short ride puts me in bed for a couple of hours. When I started riding last year it was every third day as it took me two days to recover. I've been on high doses of opiates for 8 years and have been reducing them over the last year so I have some brain function back and my speech and concentration is improving. I totally understand where you are coming from and if you have something else that gives you the same joy as horses then sell but if not then fight for it. I take breaks, usually enforced over winter as I get pneumonia. One of the hardest things to learn was that resting and letting others help isn't a bad thing. I used to not ride or do too much over winter as my health is so much worse then and enjoy every minute of the summer no matter how much it hurt. The winter before last nearly finished me off so last winter I didn't stop and mentally felt much better for it.
I would suggest chasing the pain clinic as they can really help, even if as in my case it was to tell me to stop the pain meds as I was still in a huge amount of pain on a ton of morphine. Also ask for a referral to a dietitian, I have had problems with weight gain from steroids so was given an appropriate diet. I was also put on a strict 6 month exclusion diet which is the best thing I've ever done as I found foods that make my pain worse. I've also found that giving up all processed foods made a big difference. If you can get help and have a goal of riding it will be easier than trying to do it alone. If you are getting pain meds BD a puppy then use that opportunity to increase your exercise as movement does help just make sure it's the right movement and don't overdo it.
I've found with chronic pain that diet, the correct meds and exercise has made a huge difference to my abilities and my mental wellbeing. I'm about to do my first BD test in years. I'm riding better than I ever expected although I still struggle to do much else and it takes everything I have to get on when I know it'll hurt more at the time but it the long run it's going in the right direction and I have a reason to live again. Some days/weeks I can't get out of bed at all but I'm getting better at not feeling like a failure when that happens.
https://www.facebook.com/SJSDressage/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top