is this the end?

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horseluver4eva

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I think the time has finally come to say goodbye to horses. I have been diagnosed with scoliosis and I cant even muck out with being in pain and as for riding thats another story! The horse ive currently got is one amazing horse ive put so much work into her and now its getting ruined because I cant ride as much as I used too. Also with these winter months my back is stiffening up a lot so most days I can hardly do anything. However this isnt the only issue ever since Zara died back in July my passion and love for horses has never ever been the same as it used to be, I felt like the day I lost her was the day my heart also got taken away. It isnt fair on my horse not getting worked and the attention she needs. So ive finally realised that I think this could be the end of my dream. I think im either selling or loaning my horse once ive finished doing my exams that im studying for at the moment. It sounds awful but although it upsets me to think im losing my horse its hurting no where near as much as it did when I lost my old horse! So this os the end, I lived my dream and honestly changed as a person:) I can never thank my horse or all of the new friends ive made enough for all the help theyve gave me and to everyone on here for their help along the way! But I cant carry on with my back, and my heart isnt in it anymore. Just needed to let it out and get it off my chest:) Bye bye everybody I loved it while I could live my dream now its time to move on.
 
what a shame, hope you find a good home for your horse...or what about finding someone to loan her who would like to compete so your hard work hasnt been in vain.....good luck with whatever you decide..
 
What a difficult decision for you, it does sounds as though you do need a break from horses.

The loan idea might really work for you if you found the right home, maybe someone who would welcome some help out at competitions would mean that you could stay involved & still enjoy being part of everything horsey!

Best wishes.
 
It's just the winter months, so dark and cold, get yourself some one that will loan her, and that now and then you can ride her, but someone else does all the hard work for you and come the summer months you could get out and about to shows with them.
 
I've got scoliosis, but I never gave up horses, I manage it with regular sessions from an alexander teacher, look up the alexander technique it's really effective
 
That is a shame. How severe is your condition and are you having treatment at the moment ? My DIL has quite pronounced scoliosis and when she was expecting her first child, the doctors were concerned, but she was absolutely fine. She doesn't have pain but is pretty good about doing her exercises.

Have you looked at Centred Riding ? It was founded by Sally Swift who had had to wear a back brace but found riding helped to strengthen her back.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best and hope you have excellent advice and support for managing your condition.
 
dogatemysalad said:
That is a shame. How severe is your condition and are you having treatment at the moment ? My DIL has quite pronounced scoliosis and when she was expecting her first child, the doctors were concerned, but she was absolutely fine. She doesn't have pain but is pretty good about doing her exercises.

Have you looked at Centred Riding ? It was founded by Sally Swift who had had to wear a back brace but found riding helped to strengthen her back.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best and hope you have excellent advice and support for managing your condition.
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Sally Swift had a lot of influence from the alexander technique too, I'm hoping to be a centered riding instructor in the future, having alexander has helped my riding so much
 
ridefast said:
Sally Swift had a lot of influence from the alexander technique too, I'm hoping to be a centered riding instructor in the future, having alexander has helped my riding so much
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Yes, she did, didn't she? I don't know too much about her but I really like the ideas behind Centred riding. Hope you do become an instructor,all that I've heard is very interesting.
 
My little girl has scoliosis too so I feel for you. Maybe loan your current horse and have a break...at least then, if you feel at a later date that you may be able to find a way to ride, you wont have cut all ties??
I wish you lots of luck in whatever you decide to do xxx
 
Oh hun please stop breath and take a little step back. you firstly are still grieving for your Zara. you are trying to cope with pain. you are trying to cope with another horse. please just stop and breath. Personally dont sell your horse now. think loan. give yourself a break. sometime to sit back and concentrate on you. then if you still think sell its a decision made not in haste but in thought. In time maybe look at having your horse back with a sharer. there are good ones out there that would take stress off you. please sit breath think . but a big )))) hug (((( and remember this forum is at its best caring. X x
 
Babymare pretty much said what I wanted to say and in such a lovely and warm way. Sounds like you've got a lot going on and it being such a depressing time of year too can't help. Take care of yourself and see how you feel after a break :) xxx
 
My daughter has scoliosis too, she does struggle with the physical work of horses these days but riding has helped to keep her upright and we were told not to stop her doing anything. She's nearly 22 now and 6ft tall, this was from 2012.......her rib cage is twisted and her hips are out but she stands tall, so far.....

hollysscanmarch2012_zpsf02dfbf0.jpg
 
I know a very well reknowned and talented surgeon who specialised in scoliosis in children but sadly he is retired. I agree that you should full loan the horse as it can be hard to really love your new horse when you need to recover from Zara's death. Having a break can do you the world of good as there's no point if your heart's not in it.

Do you need surgery for it? You could get a brace for the time being.
 
I can completely understand how you feel.

A part of me died as well when I lost my horse, I turned my back horses, gave all my horsey belongings away and have not been near one since. I cant say I dont miss riding/horses but realistically I cannot afford another one and also I cant say I want another one either. I dont miss not having any money, being constantly cold/wet or the mud. However I miss him everyday..
 
BlackVelvet said:
I can completely understand how you feel.

A part of me died as well when I lost my horse, I turned my back horses, gave all my horsey belongings away and have not been near one since. I cant say I dont miss riding/horses but realistically I cannot afford another one and also I cant say I want another one either. I dont miss not having any money, being constantly cold/wet or the mud. However I miss him everyday..
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I feel just the same on every aspect you mention. I hadn't realised how much my horse was physically taking out of me until she was gone. Obviously I knew exactly how much she was taking financially (I'm the best part of £1000 a month better off now) and can finally fork out for some much-needed work on my house. It doesn't bother me to stroke another horse or whatever, but could never consider having another. She was so unique and thus irreplaceable. I miss her smell more than anything :( No day goes by when I don't ask her forgiveness even though it was the right thing to do at the right time.

I must admit that I though severe cases of scoliosis were all treated surgically these days. Is this not the case???
 
fatpiggy said:
I feel just the same on every aspect you mention. I hadn't realised how much my horse was physically taking out of me until she was gone. Obviously I knew exactly how much she was taking financially (I'm the best part of £1000 a month better off now) and can finally fork out for some much-needed work on my house. It doesn't bother me to stroke another horse or whatever, but could never consider having another. She was so unique and thus irreplaceable. I miss her smell more than anything :( No day goes by when I don't ask her forgiveness even though it was the right thing to do at the right time.

I must admit that I though severe cases of scoliosis were all treated surgically these days. Is this not the case???
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Glad I am not the only one! Everyone has told me I would be far better getting another, but I think I would resent spending such alot of money monthly on a horse that wasnt him. I had lost my 'love for riding' a few years before I lost him but vowed he had a home for life (he came from a slaughter house abroad with a load of other horses to be sold, so the poor thing had a horrible start to his life) and I loved the bones of him. I miss his smell as well, he was like a big guinea pig and daft as a brush really. I cant say I will ever feel any differently, I miss him everyday and wish I could have been there to say the final goodbye.
 
fatpiggy said:
I must admit that I though severe cases of scoliosis were all treated surgically these days. Is this not the case???
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Doctors and surgeons will tell you (or told me) that the only way to fix it once it's gone so far is through surgery, however any other bodyworker will say only have surgery as a last resort. My back has improved loads through having regular alexander lessons, it works for me, I no longer have pain and I can do everything I want. I also find horse riding helps to keep me loose and supple so won't be giving that up. The thing with the surgery is it's treating the symptoms not the cause, and once that metal rod is in and fused it's not coming out again. Besides the risk of paralysis. I was told it's 1 in 1000 by the surgeon which to me seems too high when I have no need of an operation.
 
BlackVelvet said:
Glad I am not the only one! Everyone has told me I would be far better getting another, but I think I would resent spending such alot of money monthly on a horse that wasnt him. I had lost my 'love for riding' a few years before I lost him but vowed he had a home for life (he came from a slaughter house abroad with a load of other horses to be sold, so the poor thing had a horrible start to his life) and I loved the bones of him. I miss his smell as well, he was like a big guinea pig and daft as a brush really. I cant say I will ever feel any differently, I miss him everyday and wish I could have been there to say the final goodbye.
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Yes, I stopped riding when I retired her about 4 years before she was PTS, and politely declined all offers of a ride on other peoples' horses. To be fair I was happy to retire with her as my knees and spine are 20 years older than the rest ofme thanks to horses :) Thankfully I was there with her to her final breath and was happy to have her go gently and with dignity. It isn't nice but it wasn't awful either and I was glad to be there. I knew nothing about her past (not even her name) but it didn't take much to work out by the whip marks and headshyness that it hadn't all been good. It took the best part of 10 years for her to be openly affectionate with me and I suspect she had a great many owners as she was a bit of a handful to ride so I think she had locked her feelings about people away. At least I knew that her last 17.5 years had been mostly pleasant and she knew that she was loved and respected unconditionall.
 
Having had corrective surgery for a serious thoracic scoliosis 7 years ago at 17, I can honestly say that it was the best decision of my life. I feel great, can do everything except a forward roll (which I could never do in the first place!) and was only out of the saddle for 5 months. 6 days in hospital The fab surgeon in Scotland who carried mine out was one in a million, but his successor is proving seriously amazing too. It doesn't have to be the end of the road!!
 
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