Search results matching tag 'senior rider'

Re: Arthritis in your hands / Large Reins

bonniess71 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Thanks for the advice. I do use round rope reins. I don't know if they come any larger but I will check that out. Your description of who to make the reins was very instructive. Thanks so much.

Re: Arthritis in your hands

bonniess71 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Percheronrider: Thanks for the article. It sounds very interesting and something I should try. Actually, my hands are screaming out in pain today. This is probably from the fact that I rode for over an hour yesterday and didn't wear my gloves!! I just can't get into the habit.

I've received a lot of good advice from the Equisearch forum. Most of the hints I have incorporated into my daily life.

I'm going to break down and get an appointment with a rheumatologist tomorrow. My family doctor thinks it's more than plain osteoarthritis. I can manage the pain at home but when I have trouble knotting the girth on my western saddle, then I do need professional HELP.

Thanks everyone.

Arthritis in your hands

bonniess71 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Does anyone have a sure-fire remedy for arthritis in their hands and fingers? I use Naproxen for arthritis in my lower back and it has helped. But the pain in my hands and fingers persists. I "grin and bear it" when I ride but I'm afraid that if I don't do something constructive my days of riding are numbered. I even had a Radiologist tell me, after looking at films of my hands, that I'd better ride as much as I can because I'd going to lose the ability to grip in my hands. Thanks so much!! Everyone has always said that I can tolerate a lot of pain. The thought of not being able to ride is unacceptable to me. I don't ride hard or long but pleasure trail ride. I'm 61 and have been retired for 6 months so have been enjoying all my extra time to ride. I don't want to think that my riding days may be over in the next few years.

Any remedy would really be appreciated.

Re: Amazing horse(s)

crystald1957 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:00:00 GMT

I had a wonderful thoroughbred gelding I got when he was 4 and I was pretty much a beginner. I went with my trainer to look at horses and went up and down the main barn and not one horse spoke to me and then the owner of the farm took me down to her lower barn and there he was....big, bay and beautiful (16' 2"). So we tacked him up and tried him out and he took care of me. We jumped and all I had to do was hang on. What a wonderful horse. We went on to do many hunter shows together here in New England and won many ribbons.

I then had 2 children and had little time to ride and had 1/2 leased him to a young girl at the barn. Her lack of knowledge ended up being his downfall. There was a show at the barn where we boarded and there was new footing put in on the hunt course and it was deep. She took him and schooled him in this deep footing and pulled a rear suspensory. That was it for my beautiful hunter. I put him on stall rest for 1 year tried everything my vet could think of to make him sound enough to be a trail horse but more importantly to make him comfortable. After more than a year I finally had property to bring him home to. I pampered him to death but he was in constant pain. I had Tufts University come down and block him and he was completely lame. I was left with no other choice than to put him down. He was 11 years old. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. He was the best horse I have ever owned. My children learned to ride with him. My BIG BEAUTIFUL BOY! He has been gone now 8 years (Sept 17) and he is very much missed. MY WISEGUY!

He has been tatooed on my left hip....so he is always with me!

need a few volunteers

bonniecdoc — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

I recently posted a reply about fear of riding in which I mentioned a relaxation audio that myself and a musician in Texas are developing to assist riders (or anyone fearful of horses) with relaxation. It includes a guided relaxation and also a visualization that includes actual horse sounds. I am a psychotherapist and "over 50" horse owner who had a few bad falls resulting in injuries that shook my confidence to the core! I am hopeful that the audio will be helpful to others struggling to overcome a negative experience with a horse. The musician and I have done a "field test" with several riders locally, but would like some feedback from some folks in other parts of the country ( I want to be sure my Texan accent is not a distrction, etc.) I am seeking 6 - 8 riders who have had a fearful or negative experience with a horse, who would be willing to listen to the audio 3 times, and provide me with written feedback. I will provide the audio, mailing costs, etc. and the CD is yours to keep with our thanks. Anyone who would be willing to participate, please email me at bonniecdoc@hotmail.com or leave me a message at my toll free office number 1-800-697-4296 and I will return your call. Many thanks! Bonnie

Re: Riding fearlessly

t6834bl — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

[quote user="Briahna's Mom"]

When I was younger, I didn't fear being bucked off or falling off or getting dumped at a jump, I just rode. I got bucked off, fell off when my horse spooked and landed a few jumps without my horse. No big deal, I just rolled with it. Now that I'm over 50, I worry about losing my balance and falling off my horse. I really worry about getting injured. My reflexes aren't as sharp as they used to be and my strength is no where near what I used to have and my weight is, well how do I put it politely....I've gained weight.

I know, from all the information available from sources like Equisearch, so much more about riding even though I've never been formally trained. But still I worry about falling off and getting hurt.

(Did I mention I have an Arabian?)

Does any one out there have any exercises or mind strategies to help with this?

[/quote]

WOW! I feel better now!!!! LOL!!!!!!

I always knew we needed our very own 50+ forum for riding questions like these. Thank you Equisearch! Just look at all the great posts here. So many older riders feel the same as I do in this regard. I don't know if it is because of the 15 year hiatus without horses, or just the getting older and "wiser" as one post suggested. All I know is I"ve had some great information set forth, the Riding Positively website is great. So is the Grey Horse Matters website. If you haven't gone yet, please check then out. Some great books to read, gotta get to the library. So many other "Hints and Helps", just what I was looking for!

I do lunge Bri at least once a week, or after a "rain delay" in our regular scheduled rides. Not necessarily to make her tired, but from all I've learned from the natural trainers, the constant changes in direction and transitions from walk to lope to trot, I'm asserting my leadership of her and she always is a trusting ride when we go out after the round pen work. Using the word "Wisdom" instead of "Fear", that's a great one! My Bri is pretty calm at 25 years old, last Saturday "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAHNA!". But she is an Arab. She is so much more aware of her surroundings than any other horses I've ridden or owned. We hardly ride in the arena, only when the park or the trail across the street is too muddy. So the majority of what we do is trail ride. I ride by myself during the week and with friends on the weekends. I do need to become a better athelete, now I can do it for her, not just for me!!!! Strength training, flexibility training, yes, I need those. I really like the idea of Meditation via horseback too! I tried it today in the park, eyes closed on a safe riding trail, breathing yoga breaths, smelling the eyculuptus trees, all the green stuff that has come up from the rain, chanting "Now", being in the moment.....It was so relaxing!!!!

Bri is a very smooth riding horse, you can sit her trot without any problems, small horse, soft movements. So even if she does spook, spin or a four foot hoof plant, it is done very gracefully!!!! LOL!!! So really, the problem is an irrational fear I have! I too have hooked my sports bra over the saddle horn going up a hill!!! I'm more flexible than I think I am, because you have to be once your horse thinks you are urging her on by hanging on her neck and swearing!

Maybe my fear is like one poster said, more of dying of embaressment than injuries!!!!! Most times I ride alone, so that's probably not it.

Glad to see also under 50+s reading our posts. The'll be there sometime, so this will give them something to think about. Even a few new posters, gave them a reason to join our 50+ online horse community.

Thanks for all the great advice. Practice, practice, practice....enjoy!

Re: Riding fearlessly

bonniecdoc — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

I am also "over 50" and only pursued my childhood dream of owning a horse a few years ago. I had never ridden prior to age 52. I took lessons for a year, and then was determined to have my own horse, so purchased a beautiful and young Paint gelding that was way too much horse for me. After he threw me a few times, and I healed from broken ribs, fractured foot, etc. I made the difficult decision to sell him. I now have a wonderful older gelding. We seem to be a perfect match, as his favorite spped if "slow" and so is mine! However, the fear and uncertainty from my previous falls/injuries is not completely gone. I am a psychotherapist in Texas, and realized that many riders share a similar "story". I am almost finished developing a relaxation audio and guided imagery specifically for horse folks. A wonderful local musician has provided amazing background music. We have added actual horse sounds and so the audio is very realistic. If you would like, when it is complete I will send you information about where it will be available. In the meantime, I hope you continue to feel more and more confident with your horse. Take care. Bonnie

When I am old...

t6834bl — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

When I am old…
I shall wear diamonds and a wide brimmed straw hat with ribbons and flowers on it and I shall spend my social security on white wine and carrots and sit in the alley of my barn and listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out in the middle of a mid summer's night and ride the fleabitten mare across the moonstruck meadow, if my old bones will allow.

When people come to call, I will smile and nod, as I walk them past the gardens to the barn and show, instead of flowers growing, stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel and I will be an embarrassment of all who look down on me who have not yet found the peace in being free to love a horse as a friend, a friend who waits at midnight hour with muzzle and nicker and patient eyes for the Woman I will be when I am old.

Unknown

I have seen this in a few different ways, but it is still my mantra....for when I am old (or at least older than 56 LOL!!!)

Re: The 50 plus gang

t6834bl — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

[quote user="countrymouse"]

Good news all !!

Scroll down to the last forum listed under Talk about Horses

[/quote]

WE GOT IT!!!!!! OUR OWN FORUM, THE OVER 50 GANG!!!!!! WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO! CHECK IT OUT!

Like Country Mouse said, it's the last forum listed, so we aren't in the General Discussion Forum anymore!!!! Thanks Equisearch, we knew you were listening to us Boomers!

Re: Website for america's next equestrian star

Rainday — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:00:00 GMT

I saw it this morning, it was pretty good. :) I think the program will give people an insight into how difficult the world of riding dressage actually is. I failed to understand why the camera work when they were giving lessons was so disconnected to what was actually going on. Editing I guess. It's hard to see the real horse moving in the lessons, they are more interested in the people than the horses. LOL I guess I'm more interested in seeing the horses while they are talking. Hey, I like to see the horse being corrected, or have the student learn the lesson more than seeing the teacher. I'm ready for the next installment! ~EQuestrian Jewelry~ www.divadesigns.biz