Just started reading this board and thought it was worth doing an intro here.
I'm partially disabled, although I never like calling myself disabled. I had something that may of been polio when I was 2 years old. This left me with a weakened right leg which was 2 1/2 inches shorter than the left leg. After various operations they are the same length now. I had riding lessons as a kid and rode a friends pony and anyones horse/pony that would let me. I then rode briefly again in my 20's and started again in my mid 30's last year!
I now share a 16.1h TB and have lessons at the Avon RDA which is brilliant. I can walk, trot, canter and have jumped small jumps. The riding has definitely helped to keep my leg strong. When I started at the RDA we used an elastic band to keep my bad foot in the stirrup, now I don't use this. My main problem is because of the weakness I don't have such a strong seat if the horse shys or trips. Also I can't maintain rising trot for too long.
I've recently bought (and still awaiting) an aussie stock saddle for hacking in. Firstly as it should be very comfey and secondly because the poleys might give me a bit more security if I lose a stirrup etc. Anyone else ride in one for more security?
Andrea
I'm partially disabled, although I never like calling myself disabled. I had something that may of been polio when I was 2 years old. This left me with a weakened right leg which was 2 1/2 inches shorter than the left leg. After various operations they are the same length now. I had riding lessons as a kid and rode a friends pony and anyones horse/pony that would let me. I then rode briefly again in my 20's and started again in my mid 30's last year!
I now share a 16.1h TB and have lessons at the Avon RDA which is brilliant. I can walk, trot, canter and have jumped small jumps. The riding has definitely helped to keep my leg strong. When I started at the RDA we used an elastic band to keep my bad foot in the stirrup, now I don't use this. My main problem is because of the weakness I don't have such a strong seat if the horse shys or trips. Also I can't maintain rising trot for too long.
I've recently bought (and still awaiting) an aussie stock saddle for hacking in. Firstly as it should be very comfey and secondly because the poleys might give me a bit more security if I lose a stirrup etc. Anyone else ride in one for more security?
Andrea
