Handicapped and disabled riders

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Handicapped and disabled riders

For all handicapped and disabled riders and riders with chronic diseases.

Members: 29
Latest Activity: Feb 15, 2014

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What does having horses do for you? 1 Reply

Started by Elizabeth Starman. Last reply by Jackie Cochran Aug 10, 2011.

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Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on June 23, 2009 at 3:28pm
Me again. RE: posts from Rhonda and Jackie, I do believe that just being on a horse and walking is possibly the best therapy for anyone!!
I notice the difference, others have noticed too, physically and mentally as well. I am not an expert but I have read things that says the walking movement of a horse mimicks the movement of our hips?? I think that is what it said, and I do believe it!
BEST BEST therapy ever!!
I still have a long way to go as I am so out of shape too. I struggle when mounting and dismounting, my legs are getting stronger though. I love to do walk, jog with no stirrups, very cautiously at the jog!! Panic when instructor says ok, now lope!
Comment by Coopersmom_1958 on June 23, 2009 at 3:18pm
Hi all! I feel the same way as Jackie the night before my lesson and on the same day. Once I get there and around the horses I am so happy I showed up. I will have aches and pains all over and I know the movement of the horse will make me feel better. I was born with spina meningocele and now have a lower left leg prosthesis. I also get very excited and joyful being up on my lesson horse. He is fabulous, after being with him for just over a year he is very intune with my feelings and my disability too, I think. I tried to change horses several times and none of the others behave the way he does, I guess they just don't understand the pressure on the one side from the prosthesis and probably my crooked seat LOL
Go to your lesson, don't liste to the voices, you know you will feel better once you are riding.
Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 21, 2009 at 12:08pm
I have been noticing that on the night before I'm supposed to ride, my mind compulsively comes up with reasons not to ride--It will be too hot, or it will be too cold. I hurt. I'm tired. I'm not walking well. Anything that could be an excuse not to ride. Then, when I finally call my teacher, and she says I can ride, I am overcome by joy and I get excited--I'm going to ride a horse! And the next morning--I'm going riding and everything is wonderful and fine.
Does anyone else have this problem? I would really like to shut up that voice in my head that tries to discourage me from riding.
Comment by Shirley on June 19, 2009 at 10:36am
Great thoughts in my opinion, Jackie!
I think there are many gentle natured horses out there that would love to partner with a good natured human friend that just wanted to be with the horse at a walk on a nice little ride. If all I could do was sit on my horse it would be very therapeutic. But just BEING with horses brings a peace over me like no other.
I have seen a blind lady ride in dressage shows in my local area . There are paraplegics riding in the Olympics doing upper level dressage.
And no one says you have to ride a horse to enjoy it if you don't want to.
I have seen videos of a lady on a motorized golf cart type thing do all kinds of neat things with her horses It is absolutely fascinating!!
I'd say decide what you want to do and go for it! Using safety measures and caution of course.
Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 19, 2009 at 10:11am
Rhonda--forget the trot. One time, reading about endurance riders, I ran into the phrase "the six month walk". This was considered by some to be the absolute minimum of endurance training, after six months of walking the horse would be strong enough and fit enough not to be hurt by faster work.
It works for humans too. When you go back to riding WALK, for a LONG TIME. This is the only way you will get your riding fitness back. This is probably the best way to get your confidence back too.
Rhonda, I had gotten so weak that I also felt I could not trot. I finally decided that if I could only walk while riding, well then I would work at being the best rider and trainer at a walk as I could become. It worked, I can now trot (mostly posting) and do some canter. It took me years to get here.
Don't mean to lecture dear. I know it is hard.
Also, most horses don't mind walking with a disabled rider at all. Just don't hang on to those reins to stay on, pull on the saddle instead.
Comment by RhondaL on June 19, 2009 at 9:57am
Thank you for starting this group, Jackie. I know that plenty of disabled people ride, but I feel too out-of-shape to try. I can't stand the thought of trying to sit to a trot anymore. And because I don't feel up to par, I know that a horse can tell which causes me to lose my credibility with him or her.

Complicating matters is that I know that my husband doesn't want me to ride anymore. I was sick for a long time and that frightened him.

I did go around my Connecticut lesson barns asking if they had a Tennessee Walker or a Missouri Fox Trotter. Of course, they don't. Everything here is about the trot. :( So, I've contented myself with volunteer stable work and writing about horses on my blog and in my mystery novel.

Anyway, all that sounded terribly whiny. Sorry 'bout that. :) Heckuva a way to launch a positive group. :)
Comment by Jackie Cochran on June 18, 2009 at 10:33am
I have noticed a lot of disabled people still riding or trying to get back into riding. Let us all help one another here.
 

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