In the last post I talked about physical therapy and how important it was; in addition, if you are serious about riding with a disability you also need hippotherapy.
I am sure many of you are like I was and don't feel you need all that extra help in riding a horse. The first thing you have to do is get over that idea. You will be surprised how much the exercises you do on and off the horse will help you with the symptoms of your disability. With me it has been balance and flexibility.
As I said at the beginning of this blog I thought I didn't need hippotherapy; after all, I had ridden some very difficult horses on the racetrack, how bad could my balance be. SURPRISE !!!!! It stunk. In addition my legs were so tight I could barely lift the right up far enough to get on. Getting off was an experience all it own. Once I got my right leg over the horses back I flew off the horse because I had lost that much strength in my arms I couldn't hold myself back. I know Robin dreaded it and if it wasn't for her overall physical fitness I would have been lying flat on my back.
But Robin has stuck with me for the last five years and I can honestly say the she and her program have been one of the most important aspects of my desire to ride independently again. This is Robin program: Robin Korotki, Back To Fitness Hippotherapy, 410-825-0650.
Leslie did trim Bouffe and did some work on tight muscles in his back. He was also off in his right hind, which could have been from his feet. We will find out in the next few days. She also noticed that the saddle is rubbing him on his shoulders. The Passier Willi Schultheis dressage saddle arrived today, so the old saddle is history as far as Bouffe is concerned. I'm going to the farm again on Wednesday and I'll see how it fits him then.
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