Ill health and trying to keep a horse (abit long)

XxHorses4LifeXx

XxHorses4LifeXx

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Hello everybody.

I have owned ponies/horses from the age of 11, i am now nearly 23yrs old.

I was diagnosed with Scoliosis at 12yrs old, i kept telling them that i kept getting pain in my back and my knee but they didnt listen. When i was 15 they said if i had the operation it would be for cosmetic reasons so i decided not to have it. The pain in my back got worse and i started to get pain down my legs.

When i was 18yrs old i decided to go and see a consultant about having the operation to straighten my spine, i had mri's etc, i was planning to have the op so we put my lil pony who i had owned from when i was 11yrs old out on full loan. My consultant was very worried about the amount of pain i was in all over my body so he sent me for more tests, i then found out that ive got Fibromyalgia so my consultant refused to operate on me as the risks were to high. Whislt my pony was out on full loan an accident happend (they left it 3 weeks before they told us, i still dont really know what happend) my lil lad had suffered a fractured pelvis and had to be pts, it was the worst decision i had to make but im glad i was there to hold him in my arms.

I then tried to help my mum look after her really sweet tb, i was finding mucking out etc really hard. I was having alot of trouble with the bottom of my back and my hips would lock, i did try to ride him now and then but the last time i rode him when i was 19 my body locked and i couldnt get off. I was so glad that he just stood there, i had to sit on him for about 20min and wait for it to pass. I decided not to ride after that. I was happy just being around the horses, they really cheered me up but i did miss riding. My mum sold her tb about 5/6 months after i had last rode him due to other reasons.


My chronic pain had got worse and i started to find walking difficult. I missed being around horses and riding.

In 2008 my mum bought me a lil 6month old colt to cheer me up and for something to live for. He lived out 24:7 and my mum would feed, water etc. I loved going to see him and have cuddles.

He is now nearly 3yrs old and we have been on a yard for a month now. He had always lived out up until moving to the yard. I am very worried about the future and my mum has to help with the jobs as i find them to difficult, i try to groom him on my good days. I dont work because of my chronic pain. I dont even know if i will be able to ride him, im trying not to look to far ahead as it upsets me. I just love being around him and he helps to lift my mood. I never thought i could love another horse as much as i loved my lil pony that had to be pts.

I dont know what i would do if i didnt have the help and support from my mum and friends. Horses are my passion and it scares me to imagine life without him.

Thankyou for reading this xx
 
I'm not quite sure what sort of replies you were looking for in response to your post but these thoughts occurred to me...

- you don't have to ride to enjoy being around horses, e.g.
-- showing in-hand
-- driving (voice control might suit if that is less likely to lock up than legs?)

- you don't have to own to enjoy being around horses, e.g.
-- sharing
-- RDA (assuming you're unwell enough if you see what I mean, I'm afraid the medical terms didn't mean much to me)

With RDA you can ride/drive/do chores when you can. It can be very social with trips to Olympia etc too :-)
 
Hi
I have recently been diagnosed with a condition which means I am often in pain and suffer fatigue. My mare had just had a colt that I decided to keep, I try hard to stay as positive as possible. I only do the bare minimum when I am in agony (hubby will help if I am that bad).It has taken a lot getting use to doing things in a different way, using a wheel barrow to carry haynets/ water etc.

I also try not to do to much when I am feeling good as this can exhaust me and make things worse. My physio/consultant would like me to ride as much as poss to help strengthen my back. I have had a number of people telling me to sell my colt but I refuse however I have said I may need to break him to ride and drive. I have spent a lot of time just grooming and spending time with them.

I can not imagine being without my horses and they are the reason I keep going, try hard to keep fighting( remember winter is always tricky and hopefully with the better weather it will help things)
Good Luck
Gill
 
We have a lady on our yard who has fibremyalga and she has her horse out 24:7 and we all help her out. She can ride periodically but has days when she just can't, and she has to accept that. Have you considered trying to find a sharer for you lad - maybe not yet - but someone who would be capable in perhaps backing your lad when the time comes, and perhaps teaching him to drive. That way you would have the involvement and hopefully the pleasure in seeing him doing things. The sharer could help with jobs etc. I'm sure that there is someone out there. What I'm trying to say is don't give up! Life might seem like shite but your lad will make the bad days good.
 
sorry you are having a hard time. i would ask your gp to refer you to a consultant re your scoliosis. you are now 23 so should have finished growing and maturing and an op now may be possible to help with the curvature, and the pain issues. you could also ask for a referral to a pain management clinic who can review any meds you are on. acupuncture may be of help too. Good luck please explore new avenues of help, and revisit the old avenues. your gp should be your first call, be persistant and ask for referrals.
 
i know where your at, im unable to ride due to damage to my hips & struggle to muck out ect....
my kids sec A is learning to drive so i can pootle about with him, have got my stable chores down to a fine art too now, shavings means i can just poo pick the top daily & weekends i have help to lift the wet stuff out & move it to the muck heap.
SWA also has learned to tell when its a bad day & lets me use him as a leaning post to walk out to field. he lives out most of the year though.
 
Thankyou for writing back to me, it means alot to have help, support and understanding.

My mum is a big help, she helps with jobs etc, even though my mum bought him for me i told her that he can be our horse. My mum does so much for me. She will be backing him etc. Ive also got a cousin who rides horses so ive told her that in the future i might need her help with him and she always helps me with jobs.

If i find that in the future im not riding him as much as im hoping to then ive always got my mum, cousin and i would be willing to pay a good experienced rider to ride him take him shows etc. I am very grateful for all the support from my family and friends. Sometimes it just upsets me that i need so much help coz i used to be able to muck out etc without a single thought of hows best to go about it.

He keeps me going and on my good days i love to groom him and on my bad days when i think nothing can make me smile, my mum takes me to see him and he just nuzzles me and makes me smile :))

I went to a pain clinic last year it was very interesting and i felt positive but then i ended up in a bad flare up which has lasted for about 6 months. I just have to remember to pace myself.

The risks are to high because of my fibromyalgia so the operation cant go ahead. I also found out last year that ive got degenerative disk. I am on the waiting list for physio.

Im trying to stay positive and to stop worrying about the future but i just keep thinking that if i didnt have people to help me with him then what would i do. I worry about people thinking how come shes got a horse but yet she doesnt work, well me n my mum split the rent etc, i have to have help and hes the only thing that cheers me up. I cant really do much with him but im trying to keep faith that maybe one day my health might improve.

xxxx
 
Aww thankyou so much. Hugs to you to :)

Thankyou for the suggestion. Ive not really thought about driving or carriage driving as i am worried about the impact of going over bumps on the roads as it hurts me when im in a car but i might try it in the future.

xxxx
 
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I was also diagnosed with Scoliosis at the age of twelve, some 40 odd years later I am still caring for and riding my horse. I'm also very excited at the prospect of a new youngster in the very near future, my friends' mare is due to foal in the next few weeks and it has my name on it.

I have been in the very dark place you are finding yourself in now and I have managed to pull myself out of it, admittedly with help from both family and the wonders of medical science, but I'm in a much better place now and feeling much more positive about the future.

Please feel free to PM me if you would like to talk ..
 
XxHorses4LifeXx said:
Aww thankyou so much. Hugs to you to :)

Thankyou for the suggestion. Ive not really thought about driving or carriage driving as i am worried about the impact of going over bumps on the roads as it hurts me when im in a car but i might try it in the future.

xxxx
Click to expand...

you can get adapted carriages, so i wouldnt rule it out, havea google of carriage driving in your area explain your situation and see if you can go for some taster sessions.
 
I can quite understand how you're feeling at the moment, but your horse is doing a very important job already, he's helping you cope with the grotty bits of disability. What can be more worthwhile than that ?
Your mum is a wise woman, I guess she is more than glad to help because she sees how good having your youngster is for you. In turn, you're a lovely daughter because you appreciate the help that is given to you.
When I was unable to walk for several months, I found the hardest part was allowing people to help me, but really, being gracious about accepting help was a skill I had to learn in order for those offering the help to feel comfortable about giving it, and so they could realise what good people they were
For me, at that time, I didn't know if I would be able to keep my leg, the future was very uncertain, but being taken to the yard was wonderful, had a strong need to smell the horses just to get that scent in my head again, and just hang around being with them.
With summer coming, you'll be able to spend time at the yard just enjoying being out. How much of an artist are you ? Sketch pad in the sunshine watching the horses doesn't sound so bad.

I really hope things improve for you healthwise. In the meantime, you have a fab mum and cousin.
 
I know who you are ;-) (One word-Glantraeth Special trooper:D!) And I know how well looked after your boy is so keep your chin up and keep going as you are with him he's doing really well!xx
 
Aww thankyou so much for your replies, you have really touched my heart. I really appreciate you all writing to me, your help, advice and understanding :)

I would just like to say to all of you who know how hard it can be living with a health issue and trying to look after our horses. You all are an inspiration to me and youve all helped me to try and stay positive. I am very lucky to have family and friends who want to help me. It is sometimes hard to ask for it though lol. I might find things hard and get down but Harley (my horse) makes all my troubles disappear for awhile. Im not gonna give up, i love watching him in the field, grooming him, trying to take him for a lil inhand walk, showing him new things like umbrella's which he loves to try and eat lol and watching him eat his hay whilst im sat down lol. I am determined to be able to get on him in the future and go for a nice lil hack :)

Horsesatemymoney - Aww thankyou hunni, that really means alot. Hope you and the horses are ok.

Thankyou again everyone, you have cheered me up, im glad ive read this today im in alot of pain and deffo needed cheering up :)

xxxx
 
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I have back and hip pains for similar but far milder reasons. I manage my 4 quite nicely but at 1 point I really struggled. I could barely get to the loo. My youngster learnt to stand by the mounting block before anything else. Even now I can stand on the block and she will walk up to it and position herself. It's my party piece! Insist on a pain relief consultation through ur doctor and get in touch with rda. Find something u can do. Or, catch up with the recession u will not need to pay someone to ride him. look for a sharer to ride him. There are lots of people out there with the skills and time but not the money for a horse who would chip in on cost and work in exchange for riding. U just need to find the right person. Or just enjoy him and let him be a horse. Sorry so long and good luck.
 
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