Riding with arthritic wrists

[gillsuttle]

I have suffered virtual disintegration of my wrists this year due to galloping Rheumatoid Arthritis. I should be most grateful to hear from anybody else with this sort of problem. I can manage quite well with a straight wrist and using my fingers in a straight line - the first requirement for a rider, so I am lucky in that! - but any sideways pressure is weak and painful, and even direct straight line pressure feels as if my hands are about to get pulled off!

I should be particularly grateful to hear from anyone who has had the operation to fuse he wrist bones, and then carried on riding. Or even the full wrist replacement job!

Thank you,

Gill

 

[touchstone]

Sorry to hear that you are suffering with RA, my mother has it badly and is just recovering from a nasty flare, not a pleasant thing!

As to the riding aspect, we found that my friend who had RA in her hands managed better with a Myler combination bit, it meant that she could use less pressure to get the response from the horse and if the horse took a pull he was easily brought back. It also acted on the nose before the mouth, so although it looked severe it was actually fairly kind. It made riding much easier for her.

I hope someone comes along to answer your question more fully, but the change in bit worked for my friend so thought I would just mention it.