scleroderma and riding

Hi everyone, I am new to the site and really enjoyed the information in the osteo discussion. Does anyone here have (or know about) scleroderma? I have sclero and it isn't easy to deal with when trying to work with our horse. I also damaged my rotator cuffs cleaning stalls, have carpal tunnel in both wrists and elbows and have Raynaud's.(which is connected to the sclero) Despite all this, I go to the barn everyday to work/spend time with our horse. We have a young mare that is green but is doing well with the trainer and us. Right now my main issue is not being able to hold onto the reins well. I think rope reins would help because they're thicker. Any one have any ideas that might help?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gail Morse on June 11, 2009 at 1:53pm

I do know someone who has Raynaud's syndrome and that makes her hands and feet really difficult to work outside in the cold. As a matter of fact I think she has to stay out of the cold most of the time because of it and she has a business with several ponies and does a lot of Xmas parades. Not easy for her I would think.

Permalink Reply by Mary on June 11, 2009 at 4:22pm

It is very difficult to work with your hands when you get a flare up with Raynaud's. It also affects my feet and ears. This makes it almost impossible in the winter and cold, damp days. The most frustrating for me, seems to be doing up halters, leads, water buckets, gates, etc. when my fingers are numb and painful. I rarely have a day that it doesn't affect me despite medications.

Permalink Reply by marskipp on July 21, 2009 at 4:48pm

Hello,
I am in desperate need of advise. My friend has a horse, she also has raynaud's. While riding at the canter, she lost her reins and didn't even realize it until she tried to stop. Imagine her panic! Does anyone have any suggestions. I don't want her to give up her horse. She has trouble tacking, etc...

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by Mary on July 22, 2009 at 7:35am

The first thing I would suggest is that her horse needs to be well trained with voice and seat. Our trainer has been awesome with helping me with this. Our green, young mare has an amazing whoa. I can just say it or just seat back on my pockets and she stops right away. Even on my bad days when my balance might be off or my strength is gone, whenever I slightly sit heavy and roll my hips back a little (even when I don't mean to do it) she stops.

Permalink Reply by O.T. here on August 2, 2009 at 12:03am

Greetings:
This is a little delayed response. I don't know if it will be read.
I noticed someone asking about occupational therapy - and I am an OT so to speak.
But I noticed that someone had reported having MS.
Are you aware that - it seems - that some cases of MS have been found to be Lyme Disease?
Please go and have yourself tested for Lyme.
Meanwhile, maybe someone can help on this - I have a friend, in her late 30's, overweight, diabetes, and depressed due to a death in her family. She lives in Cleveland Ohio, towards the southeast. She has had a rough time.
I am thinking of "hippotherapy" for her.
Does anyone know a really calm place where she might try riding around here? Thanks.

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on August 19, 2009 at 1:42pm

Hi, sorry to be so long in responding. I'm the lady with MS. MS has been affecting my life for at least 52 years, when my parents moved to Chile and I got exposed to TB. I don't seem to have Lyme disease symptoms, and as I said it started in Chile where I never got bitten by a tick. But thank you for the suggestion, I am sure that you are correct for a lot of people.
I am finding that riding horses is the best physical therapy I can get and that horse back riding is a WHOLE lot cheaper than going to a physical therapist. I am so much stronger and can walk so much better than I could before I started riding again. My neurologist sort of shakes his head and tells me to go on doing what I am doing because obviously I am doing something right!