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T O P I C R E V I E W
hazelcat74
Posted - 05 Sep 2011 : 11:45:34 PM Some of you will remember my previous posts about letting my mare go on loan due to my being unable to ride because of a slipped disc, and the disaster that followed when the people said she was so spooky she was unsafe, and then were unable to box her to return her when we then found her choking having been given dry sugarbeet by the womans non horsy family to try to get her in the box. Anyway she was so upset by it all she took a month to get back to what I consider to be her normal temperament, and I wouldn't be able to loan or sell her after her ordeal as I would be too worried about her. As my back is improving steadiy I decided to try going for short hacks of about 20 mins and see how we get on, we have done this 3 times over the last week and so far she has seen roadworks, kids flying past on bikes yelling, loose spaniels racing up to us barking, and a speeding caravan and not batted an eyelid. I was worried about getting on again as I don't know how much my back can take yet,and how spooky/uptight she might be as I don't know what really went on when she was on loan, but knew I had to try, and feel great now as Tammy has been so well behaved, whereas a few months ago I felt unable to ride her, we are now taking small steps forward again together and I am really hopeful that in time we will be back to normal. So it is possible to get through problems and do things you felt unable to!
16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
hazelcat74
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 10:18:41 PM Wow Callisto I hope I am still riding at that age, your mum has the right idea!
Callisto
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 8:45:08 PM My Mum is 70, she has two eroded discs and a twisted spine, and is riddled with arthritis, but she still hacks out on her beloved fat crabbet who is 20 (and still spooky), and does the odd pleasure ride, so I'm sure if you take it gently you can achieve all sorts - good luck (She's been riding since she was 10, She's still mucking out and caring for our six as well, combined with walking her 18 month old standard poodle twice a day - it keeps her going, I think she would be worse physically if she stopped ).
Pasch
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 8:04:47 PM I remember your thread,I'm happy your girl hasn't changed and that you took riding back up again.I also think in most cases riding with the proper posture will help by strengthening the natural muscle belt.An instructor I know was bedded for a month because of a slipped disc.A couple of months later he was back to riding 8 horses a day.So good luck with your endurance rides!
hazelcat74
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 3:04:09 PM What lovely and positive comments . Glad to hear that others have overcome injuries and back problems and been able to carry on riding.I will look into some sort of back support or body protector, fortunately Quarabian she's not a bucker but she does prance and jog which is hard on my back, on the way home from a hack. Arabianrio it was the incompetent idiots who had her who created issues that had never been there before, but luckily she trusts me and seems to have got over whatever happened. I am doing back exercises at home and just riding for 20 mins every other day and will gradually build up. Great to hear that riding can actually help a bad back if posture and position are correct. It is a year since I stopped riding other than a couple of short rides which hurt, but now so far no pain. Maybe we will one day still get to do some pleasure/endurance rides which is what I would love to do.
TanyanChewy
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 11:37:04 AM Wonderful news for you both. Well done to you & Tammy.
Kes
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 10:51:05 AM I totally agree with the above comment from Quarabian re riding helping bad backs (and also the comment re back problems being numerous!!). If my back goes stiff and I feel like I can't turn properly (have something called a de-stabilised spine) half an hour of gentle walk and trot work does the job of loosening me back up. I do lots of circles work, figure of 8's, serpentines, legyield etc to get the pelvis active rather than just sitting stillish. Over the last 5 years I have met a fairly equal response (50:50) from people who say horse riding can worsen a bad back to 'go for it'. It's like most things though really, it's common sense, you know personally what you can do without having to have a duvet day the next day.
Quarabian
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 10:18:02 AM A lot of back problems on here!
I am so glad this is working out for you. This is really positive news.
Backs need looking after. I spend the odd week or so being unable to ride, but hopefully as long as your lady doesn't buck you should be okay. Do some back strengthening exercises out of the saddle and watch your posture. I firmly believe that riding can help back problems more than it harms tem. Providing you don't fall off of course.
sab2
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 10:04:57 AM Great news i slipped a disc a few years ago and i find that riding helps me now, at the min i have nothing to ride and i am suffering again i use a prolite back support which helps a lot, when i was doing endurance a few months ago my back was great, just make sure you are sitting properly in the saddle and you will hopefully be fine. Best of luck i shall keep my fingers crossed that you continue to improve
Pasha
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 09:36:11 AM Well done! Onwards and upwards
arabianrio
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 09:13:08 AM I am so pleased for you.It takes courage and determination to carry on. Your horse sounds like she has overcome whatever issues she had (if she had them which you will never really know as she was fine before) I fractured my spine in 2004 (landing very badly on the road after parting company with my husbands so called sensible cob when he spooked and spun around when we met a tractor.)
It has taken me a few years but having taken things slowly, gentle hacks, short rides in company, sponsored rides, NCRs and this year I have managed to do my first ever CR albeit only 32k but I feel so happy and pleased. At one time I never thought I would be able to get on a horse again. Yes the back does give me "Gip" but the odd Ibruprophen helps! PS I wore a body protector for quite a few years but happily my new best friend is bomproof so I now have the courage to go without.Good luck with all you do together.
pinkvboots
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 09:10:55 AM Glad to hear your back in the saddle, and at least your mare seems to be none the worse for her ordeal.
Paresh
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 08:53:42 AM good to hear your back on board and that your girl, is getting there as well.
Kes
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 08:40:08 AM Hazelcat, without taking anything away from your post which is great news , I too have a damaged back courtesy of being hit by a lorry 5 years ago. It was a very long road for me to get back to riding fit again but you can can get there as I found out. Initially I couldn't ride at all for about a year then I started doing easy hacks, within a few years I had progressed back to what I could do before. It still leaves a ? over whether my back will be strong enough to do any endurance but I will be giving it my best shot. Good luck
Suelin
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 01:34:19 AM Brilliant news. The back support belts are very useful. I recommend them as well.
Callisto
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 12:52:42 AM That's a fantastic development - well done! Do you wear a back support belt?
complete novice
Posted - 06 Sep 2011 : 12:14:05 AM I remember reading about your mare at the time and though it has taken a while it's lovely to read that she is finally back to her normal temperament and really good news you are able to ride her again, hopefully the exercise will be good for your back as well.
