Riding and Epilepsy

B

bikina

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Joined
3 November 2006
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298
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London
www.expeditionequus.com
Hi all,
just been diagnosed with Epilepsy and wondered:
- do any of you have similar things which could be dangerous if riding, and if so, how do you manage it?
- what can I do to make riding safer?
Am on tablets but on a trial by error at the mo - so have to be cautious, but not going to give up riding!
 
Ride in company to begin with and always carry a mobile with credit and battery! im not epileptic but the advice seemed logical lol
 
My nephew has this condition. They were very quick to get the dosage right. If you feel at all strange make sure you tell the Docs as my Nephew ignored a fluttery heady feeling and it turns out those were mild attacks.

Just go steady and stay with company and let someone know as soon as poss if you feel at all strange.
smile.gif
 
I suppose riding with a medical card arm band would be a good idea if you pass out and seisure so if you are at a comp or out riding and something happens people know whats wrong/best way to help you?
 
I work as a volunteer with a riding for the disabled group and we are very very cautious about riding clients with epilepsy unless their medication has it under control.

I know your first reaction is to fight it and say you are not going to not ride but please think very carefully about it. I would suggest you possibly put off riding in the short term until the medication has got any fits under resonable control - this may only take a matter of weeks. You must consider your safety, if you fall while riding and fit you are in danger of being stepped on by your horse as you will not be in a contious state to avoid it. You also have to think about other people who are riding with you and accidents it may cause to them if you fit and fall and also it could cause great upset to your horse if you fit and fall from him as he will believe he has caused you to fall and I have known a pony at our yard to become very depressed after having a client fit and fall from him, he was very distressed as he thought he had made it happen and you can't explain the problem to a horse!

It is your decision but whatever you decide please be very careful ! Don't dispear, I know lots of people with epilepsy who ride like normal - once their medication is sorted ......
 
Because of the nature of epilepsy, you are more likely to suffer from fits whilst relaxed &/or asleep, in which case there obviously wouldn't be a problem.

If however, you suffer from waking fits (either full-blown grand mal seizures or stopping-&-staring-into-space petit mal seizures), then you would have more of a problem.

If the fits are of the waking kind, you will presumably have had your driving licence suspended? You have to wait a number of years proving to be 'waking fit free' before getting it back I think?

Riding in a school would be OK but preferably under some sort of supervision, at least to start with but hacking may well prove not to be safe at all, as even with a 'warning' that you are on the verge of a fit, those hacking with you may not be in a position to help you instantly & in the case of a petit mal seizure may not even realise something is even wrong immediately!

Sorry to be pessimistic. I don't have epilepsy myself but have a close relative who does, so have still lived with it all my life.
She would usually say she didn't 'feel well' just prior to an attack but hers was quite severe & fits were extremely frequent.

You may need to discuss this with your doctor & of course there may turn out to be insurance complications should anything, god forbid, ever happen to you whilst riding, whether epilepsy related or not!

Chin up anyway! xx
 
Don't despair and don't give up riding! I reckon he advice from TheaanAlice is right, you can be cautious and ride in company. Let someone know where you're going if you are going alone.

I appreciate it's a whole different kettle of fish, but i have quite bad rheumatoid arthritis and while now it's virtually controlled with drugs, the drugs i take can make me feel like a real space cadet!

I found a gorgeous calm and level headed horse to ride when my joints were so awful i couldn't hold the reins properly, and that i could ride without stirrups because i couldn't flex my ankles or knees. I got some very nice people to tack my horse up and lift me on and off the horse and despite paying for riding the day after in pain, it was worth every bit of effort.

I am now greatful that my physical condition has improved no end, but am still realistic with how far i push myself, if i feel dopey one day because of the drugs i won't go far from the yard, but i will stick by my word that if you want to do something that badly, you can and you will.

Hope that helps. Riding with illness as a burden requires a bit more planning, but it's so do-able and there is ALWAYS someone who will help you out. My situation had taught me to forget about pride and get on with it.

What situation are you in with driving a car?
 
Oops, i realise my post probably sounds really ignorant about epilepsy and talking about something totally different. What i was trying say was not to give up and that whatever obstacle you are faced with, my own personal trip to hell and back being all i know, there is a way forward. And that's absolutely right, chin up.
 
Not allowed to drive, boo! There are always people around where I ride, may invest in one of those medic alert bracelets. I suppose my major worry is fitting and getting caught in a stirrup! Hopefully the drugs will do the trick. Thanks for all the advice x
 
I know it isnt the same but i am an insulin dependent diabetic so have to be careful when riding. It is best never to ride alone, make sure the people about know the signs ( ie if you do anything in particular before you feel a fit coming on ) and make sure people know exactly what to do if you do have a fit. I always wear a medic alert bracelet and carry a card.
If my diabetes is ever unstable i dont ride as it really is nt worth the risk.
Just be realistic with yourself while you are getting your medication sorted i would hold off the riding once that is sorted give it a go and take things very slowly and steadily with plenty of people about that know what to do should something happen.
Just cause you have a medical condition it doesnt have to stop you doing things you just have to work out safe and sensible ways around doing things.
good luck xx
 
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