Hey guys..Im a c7 and ride all the time..I had a girl from Mississippi come to get back on a horse after her injury. She is a para. She did really good. I was so glad to help her ride again. She was so happy!!!

Check out the pics and video!! I have alot of videos on my youtube page you can also check out of me riding after my accident

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvmNXylx7Es

I love the pictures! My dream was to ride again someday. I broke an arm and wrist from a fall after from my horse and my husband finally said I could not ride again. I dream of the freedom of trail riding. I am so proud of you for going after what you want. Please continue to post pictures of your success. I wish there were a theraputic horse program near me.

Check out this thread here:
http://www.apparelyzed.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=615

I am a T8 and I ride. In the spring, summer, and autumn, I actually ride almost every day. I have a horse, an ex racehorse Thoroughbred. I rode pre-injury as well. I've written some pretty detailed posts about how I ride in the thread I posted the link to above. I could talk for HOURS about horses.

Me too Twisted!! Love love horses! Im L1 though. ride almost everyday!

Thats cool..Im glad there are more ppl that try to ride own there own!! Ppl always told me that I wouldnt be able to bc I'm a quad.. HAHA

I think im getting alittle more feeling back bc Ive been riding..I love it

More pix

That is so awesome that you ride. I truly believe it has massive physical benefits--riding has helped me keep up my muscle mass, helped with my trunk stability/balance, keeps my muscles moving even if they don't function and that's not even including the emotional healing that riding and my horse (particularly my horse, who I adore) have created. Horses are extraordinary creatures--very sensitive and in tune.

I find that aswell, Ive been riding 3years post injury. Being incomplete I have some movement, and riding as really improved my muscle tone and kick started new muscles. And I agree with twisted its seriously helped my balance, there has been a few close calls, My horse likes to remind me now and again that my balance isnt that good but saying that he does look after me alot, When i first got back on him he used to stop everytime I lost balance whether I wanted him to or not! If i knew how to post pictures I would!

I can't do my former job - horse dentist - scared to go riding too in case I get thrown; I would really like to ride a friends Arab but she is feisty lol. My own Arab was wonderful especially at a flat-out gallop!

I have been thrown many times off of my horse. And thrown off many times pre-injury as well. I was thrown twice this January, the second resulting in a concussion. Not sure exactly what happened and I don't recall much of it but he, for whatever reason, took off at a full gallop in the arena (ah, Thoroughbreds!) which tossed me down onto his neck. I have a hard time getting myself back up in situations like that, reins were also wrenched from my hands and starting tangling between his legs, which started to really freak him out. A 4 foot jump course was set up in the arena and he started to go towards one of the jumps, last minute he had the sense to veer off but his veer threw me over the side of his neck. Thankfully the velcro straps I use to keep my feet in the stirrups released. The last thing I actually really clearly remember is looking at my right leg still in the stirrup as I was already falling down towards the ground and hoping that it was going to release. My helmet came off my head and I landed on my head, neck and upper back, got knocked unconscious on impact, came to shortly afterwards and had NO IDEA where the hell I was. I thought I was dreaming, didn't remember coming to barn, was totally confused, went into shock, etc. Paramedics were called, I was told I was fine but that night at home, I started to get really messed up, dizzy and sick and really sore above injury all along my spine. Our arena is not heated, making the ground frozen and hard and not a soft landing, but I was wearing ski clothes when I fell off. Literally, about 4 or 5 layers of bulky clothing since I get cold easily. My doctor told me it is actually the bulky clothing that saved me from re-breaking my back. Yikes. I was up and riding again as soon as the dizzy spells were over though. Riding an ex racehorse is not the easiest thing for me to do but I absolutely adore him and I loooooooooove Thoroughbreds in general. They are fiesty, hot, and spook over the most ridiculous things but they have so much heart and courage.




So you will totally understand and sympathtize with me when I tell you my horse is a cribber. His teeth are not that bad though and I regularly get them done. Amazing how few people know that your horse needs to see an equine dentist, right?? Can you get someone to lead your friend's Arab (I also love Arabs)--taking off at a full gallop when you are just getting back in the saddle would be a little scary When I started riding again, it was a really bizarre experience, took a long time to get used to it again.

Dude, Heather is cute and you both look good together, are you still single? When are you going to ask her out? Seriously though, I love horses but they freak me out. Apparently they get vibes from the rider so perhaps I freak them out too, that and I get "scaffolding issues" when sitting in a position like that. It must be awesome to ride a horse if you are in a chair as it would be just like walking again on the right horse. Yours look pretty well behaved. I think I prefer a quad bike to ride as at least they have an easy to find kill switch which is a bit harder to find on a horse. You look good on yours though and I love the hat.

Horses definitely get "vibes" from people. They know exactly when someone is nervous and freaked out around them. And they all handle it differently--some will totally take advantage of you, some will be patient, some may not like being around you. Horses are herd animals and hierarchy is extremely important to them. They are always testing to see if you are the alpha 'horse'. Some of them do it aggressively, some don't depending on where they feel they want to be in the herd (some are dominant, some prefer to be followers, just like people). They are also flight animals and can apparently pick up your heart rate and when it's nervous/speedy and that's why they get nervous around nervous people--their flight instinct is basically kicking in. So, yeah, try not to be nervous around them. It is perfectly natural to be nervous around large, unpredictable animals though. Like you said, Slowlegs, it is indeed awesome to ride horses when you're in a chair. My horse becomes my legs and I feel total freedom on him. With him, I can leave my chair far behind for a little while.

Oh shit! just aswell he didnt decide to jump! I havent fallen off yet post injury. I think that will be a scary experience! my horse is a TBxID he's a very spooky creature, hes not too hot or fiesty though he has his moments.

Yes, it must be amazing. Have you ever tried sailing? In the right boat it can also be the great leveller, enabling competition with able bodied participants. Funny enough with dogs I am good and can be the alpha animal with them - horses are bigger than me though.

Wheelin, I'm really really interested in any info you may have about the possibility of getting my wife Christine back on a horse. Seeing your photos of the girl from Mississippi was super inspiring.

A little background, Chris actually sustained her injury from a horse fall almost 5 years ago (T6 complete). She was an avid rider for many years and did quite a bit of competing in three day-eventing. I am a total novice and know nothing about horses or riding but I do know this was a huge part of her life pre-injury. We've spoken about the possibility of her riding again and at first she was understandably VERY apprehensive. Most of her concerns were surrounding the fact that if she couldn't "ride like I could before" than it wasn't worth it. She doesn't like the idea of being forced to have major assistance to do something now which was so natural before. And this attitude really only has applied to riding again. However, the more and more we've talked about the subject, she's come to the conclusion that riding now wouldn't be about riding like she used to (competing) and more about her love of being on a horse and being in nature and just riding again.

I've done some research and was able to share with her what I've found out and the information has really put her mind at ease with regard to the possibility of her riding despite not having control of her hips and torso (a main concern of hers). I think now she's just dealing with a bit of fear and rightfully so. But she's not the type to let fear get in her way; she's a total go-getter. I'd love to get some more information and take it to her and let her make a decision about it but I know from all of our talks over the last two years that she's really open to the idea bordering on real excitement at the prospect. It's more a matter of where and how we can actualize it. Any information you could provide or direction would be most appreciated.

Cheers,
Zak

Zak, have you looked into therapeutic riding programs/centers in your area? For her first time back on the horse, that would probably be the best place to start. They would have the right type of horses and adaptive equipment that she needs.