Comments - Practice, Practice, Practice! - Barnmice Equestrian Social Community2024-03-29T00:05:49Zhttp://www.barnmice.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=1773158%3ABlogPost%3A99583&xn_auth=noDear Cat,
I have MS, differe…tag:www.barnmice.com,2009-04-30:1773158:Comment:996482009-04-30T21:26:39.653ZJackie Cochranhttp://www.barnmice.com/profile/JackieCochran
Dear Cat,<br />
<br />
I have MS, different disease but ALOT of the same symptoms, especially fatigue, lack of balance, lack of a proprioceptive sense (I often don't know where my feet or arms are), and general confusion. I have ridden for 38 years, with a 5 year gap of no riding but owning horses.<br />
I hope that you accept my advice in the spirit it is offered. I tried the dressage position, and found that it took so much of my strength that I could only ride in it for about 5 minutes. After a few times of…
Dear Cat,<br />
<br />
I have MS, different disease but ALOT of the same symptoms, especially fatigue, lack of balance, lack of a proprioceptive sense (I often don't know where my feet or arms are), and general confusion. I have ridden for 38 years, with a 5 year gap of no riding but owning horses.<br />
I hope that you accept my advice in the spirit it is offered. I tried the dressage position, and found that it took so much of my strength that I could only ride in it for about 5 minutes. After a few times of me rapidly becoming a completely ineffective rider, I decided to go back to the hunt seat (I ride Forward Seat, Caprilli's Italian Sistema) which tires me a lot less quickly.<br />
I really admire your strength and endurance to be able to ride dressage for 30 minutes, because I sure can't do it, and if I worked hard at it I would probably provoke an MS attack.<br />
As it goes I can only ride 30 minutes, on a REAL good day I can ride 45 minutes, and usually ride once or twice a week. I usually have to collapse the rest of the day, and have to take it slowly the next day. I really admire what you are doing, because I have some idea of how exhausted you must get, though there is no way I can imagine the pain you experience.<br />
I realize that most horsepeople assume that dressage is the answer for people like us. However through all the decades I have ridden, I am MUCH more secure and a LOT LESS TIRED using the forward seat than I have ever been riding the balanced, dressage or western seats. I do not jump now, I ride Forward Seat on the flat, and I am SLOWLY working now on getting strong enough in the jumping position so hopefully in around six more months I can start trotting over crossed poles. It has taken me 2 1/2 years to get to this point. This will be a big step forward for me. I never really felt secure jumping, and stopped thinking about it when I learned I have MS, figuring that it was completely unfair to expect the horses to put up with my lack of balance. I just realized recently that a large reason that I was such an awful jumper was that I WAS TOO WEAK TO MAKE UP FOR MY LACK OF BALANCE. Anyway I am stronger than I have been for decades, and maybe, with patience and a lot of 30 minute lessons, I may graduate to trotting over cross poles in six months.<br />
Always remember that even a person as weak as we are can become effective riders. I ride at two stables (bless the stable owners!) and have been working on reclaiming 2 ruined Arabs (one at a time) at one and redeeming a British Riding pony, an Arab-Welsh, and a half Dutch Draft horse/half Irish Sport horse at the other stable. These horses were either abandoned at the first stable, or donated to a riding for the handicapped program after they had been ruined at the second.<br />
I am not against dressage done properly. I have learned alot about the correct timing and coordination of my aids from books by dressage masters. By all means enjoy your lessons and learn as much as you can about WHEN during the horse's stride is the best time to give an aid, rein, seat, or leg. This will save you alot of energy during your riding life, and it will make you a better and more effective rider than most people. But if you ever think that riding dressage is too challenging physically, remember that there is an alternative riding style.<br />
I hope that you enjoy your competition. However well you do, I think that you should feel really good about your effort. When one looks at it from an energy expended angle, you have put in more of your energy to prepare for the competition, and the competition, than most people ever put into their riding.<br />
Sorry about not being able to write too well today, I just had my riding lesson today on a horse that required a lot of leg to extend his walk.<br />
Get some rest and enjoy your riding.<br />
Sincerely, Jackie