Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms Raised Their Ugly Heads

I was looking forward to riding Bouffe, but my MS changed my plans, as it has done numerous times in the last twenty-five years. When I went on disability the main reason was fatigue. It had gotten to the point I couldn't work two days in a row. Well, it was back again yesterday. I did drive to the farm, but my legs felt so weak, even though I had gotten a good night sleep, that all I was able to do was groom Bouffe and turn him back out. He seemed to be doing very well and is more active now that he has a two year old turned out with him, which is an ideal situation. Hopefully I will be able to ride on Monday. 

OTTB - Another Good Session

The fly sheet made it through forty-eight hours without being ripped or torn but it sure was dirty. When I took it off of Bouffe I noticed two things: Bouffe's coat was hot and sweaty and the sheet had rubbed a place raw on his hip. No more fly sheet...

I rode Bouffe in the unknown model Crosby and again he seemed comfortable, but was lazy. After the first trip around the ring I had to use my leg aids to keep him from doing anything but a slow walk. Surprisingly he wanted to travel in a clockwise direction on his own and felt much better under me doing the serpentines and small circles. It gives me some hope that this training method is working. We worked in both directions for twenty minutes, which was enough for both of us.

Bouffe got his bath and his carrots and happily went out in his paddock. I really hope Bouffe's performance today is a sign of things to come.

OTTB - Fitting A Saddle, Hippotherapy

I had a hippotherapy session this morning and got to ride Robin's new horse Roscoe, who is a Rocky Mountain Walking Horse. He was an excellent ride and I was able to successfully do all of my exercises. It was the best session I have had in quite awhile. 

Today, I took the Crosby Mark VI, a saddle that is supposed to fit any horse, with me. It didn't fit Bouffe. 

I didn't ride, but groomed Bouffe and fitted the fly sheet on him. He seemed to be very comfortable with it on and I left him happily eating hay.

OTTB: Bouffe's Back Is Better

I made to the farm again today, but the Crosby Mark VI saddle was not ready to use, so I rode in the Crosby saddle I had at the farm, which I thought originally was a Prix des Nations, but after riding in it I'm not sure. It has a high cantle, pencil knee rolls and thigh blocks, which makes me think it is a Prix St. George. I have to look more carefully at what is left of the Crosby stamp.

But the big news was that Bouffe's back was not sore after I rode him for twenty minutes at a walk in both directions. At first his gate was not as free going in a clockwise direction, but did loosen up towards the end of our ride. He walked freely counterclockwise, which was encouraging, since I always had to encourage him to walk in either direction before. I felt the session was successful.  

OTTB - I Finally Made It

At last, I finally made it to the farm. Bouffe seemed glad to see me and came right to the gate for me to bring him out. Surprisingly, his coat wasn't to bad and had a nice shine when I finished grooming him. 

I tried Bouffe's fly sheet on him and wasn't sure it fit; so, I brought it back home. By looking at the photos of it on Horse Lover, which I should have done in the first place, it fit him just the way it should.

I took the Crosby saddle I just got with me today. I think it might be too wide but I was going to try it on Friday until I started looking more carefully at the Crosby Mark VI that I got yesterday. First off it is a 17 1/2 which is the proper length for me and it also has a spring tree, which might be exactly what Bouffe needs, since the solid front polls of the Passier tree seemed to be what was making his back sore. The Mark VI has several good reviews on the Internet, both of them saying it is a good saddle for high withered horses, which Bouffe certainly is. I'll take the Mark VI with me on Friday and see how it fits Bouffe and me. 

Even though I didn't ride I felt it was a productive day for Bouffe and me. It was just enough for my first day back.

Multiple Sclerosis - Still Haven't Made It

I still haven't made it to the farm. I was sore again yesterday morning so I called off my visit. I know I say this each time, but I do feel better today and hope to go tomorrow. I do have another saddle to try on Bouffe plus the fly sheet. I have got to get there soon. 

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - Feeling Better, Still Need a Saddle, Show Canceled

Because the symptoms of my MS (numbness, weakness and muscle tightness in my legs), I didn't make it to the farm on Friday either. But all the rest has helped and I feel much better today. 

I miss Bouffe and our time together and am looking forward in making it to the farm tomorrow. I don't have a saddle that will fit Bouffe, so I won't be riding, but I found a nice fly sheet on sale that I will try on him tomorrow as well as grooming him.

The show that was scheduled for today was cancelled because of the rain we had overnight and this morning; so, Bouffe and I didn't miss a chance to get in the show ring. There is another show next month and we'll shoot for that one.

Multiple Sclerosis - Too Sore To Even Go To The Farm

I knew when I woke up this morning that I wasn't going to be able to do much of anything. My legs were tight and hurt even when I was still in bed. When I got up things were really bad and I was having trouble walking. I have been using my rollator to just get around the house today.

I realized too that I am not going to be able to free lounge Bouffe. I am so sore today, which makes me angry at myself for trying to please other people by doing what they recommend, even though I know in the long run it will make me sore and unable to continue. Who was I kidding agreeing with Colleen that I would lounge Bouffe. I have to ride him and that's it. I can slow down our work and just walk, especially clockwise around the ring to build up his top line. Hopefully I will be able to carry out this plan. We will see what Friday brings.

OTTB: - Taking Some Time Off

I met with Colleen this morning about her findings during the Reiki treatment. She said Bouffe's back was very sore and at first she could not lie her hand on his back or the Chakra areas. Just like with me, Colleen found that Bouffe is a very kind horse and could tell he has a very close relationship with me. She told me Bouffe and I need each other to get through my MS and his aches and pains associated with getting older. 

I don't know how many of you believe in Reiki and Chakra (it would be interesting to know, please comment) but Colleen told me things today, about Bouffe's past, she had no way of knowing prior to her treatment, which I found very convincing that it works. 

We also decided to give Bouffe some time off from being ridden and work more on free lounging him, especially in a clockwise direction,since his right side is weaker than his left. This also means we will not be showing on Sunday. 

OTTB - Going To Try Reiki

I had my physical therapy appointment this morning and Mike did a good job stretching my legs. I felt as good as I can, all things considered, and was ready to ride Bouffe, but it didn't happen. His back was very sore.

Since the saddle fits him perfectly (I fitted it again today) there is no reason for the saddle to be making his back sore. I wasn't sure what to do and was giving Bouffe a bath when Colleen, who does Reiki, showed up. Her Reiki treatments, had been recommended by Leslie and several others, as a possible solution for Bouffe back problem and his reluctance to be indoors. She did a preliminary exam on Bouffe and could feel tension and other issues going on in several of his Chakras. I set up an appointment with her to do a complete treatment on Bouffe over the weekend and meet with her on Monday to get the results. I am looking forward to hearing what she finds.

OTTB - He's Such A Good Mover

As the title of this post says, I got several complements on the way Bouffe moves and looks overall. Robin had a hippotherapy session going in the outdoor ring at the same time I was riding Bouffe. Her patient, who is a fairly experience horse person complemented me on Bouffe appearance calling him a "good looking horse." Then Robin's assistant, who is very experienced in many aspects of equitation and had never seen me ride Bouffe before, told me what a good mover he is and how much better I am doing with my posting when Bouffe trotted. I have to attribute this improvement on the fact that Bouffe again wasn't wearing a noseband; therefore, he kept his head down and the fact that I had gotten him a breastplate, which insured the saddle wouldn't slip and also because of its design, gave me something to hold on to when I posted. 

One thing I wasn't wearing were my spurs and also didn't have my crop, which made getting Bouffe to do anything but walk more challenging for me, but I did alright. All and all we had a good session but Bouffe, back was a little tender right in back of his withers when we were finished. I rubbed it down with Bigeloil again after I gave Bouffe his bath and hope it will be alright on Friday. If not I have to refit the saddle again and make sure it isn't too narrow and pinching his back. I will have that answer before I leave the farm on Friday.

I also found out today that Bouffe doesn't like being cross tied in the barn area used for tacking up and also by the farrier and vet. I think it reminded him of being saddled for a race in the paddock at Pimlico - I sure felt it did. He still isn't quiet enough to mount him in the indoor. I tried today and he didn't seem as fearful as before but just fidgeted too much to get on him using the mounting block; someone has to hold his head. 

Hippotherapy

I woke up this morning very sore with numbness and tightness in both legs, but I still went to my hippotherapy appointment, which if you remember is at the same farm where Bouffe is boarded. 

The first thing I did was to check Bouffe's back - it was fine. To bad I couldn't ride him this morning. Hopefully, when I have my next hippotherapy session, I will able to ride Bouffe, instead of one of Robin's horses. Robin is going to practice a session with Bouffe riderless and make sure he leads properly, something I know he can do.

The hippotherapy session went fine but my legs were very sore and weak when I finished. Too weak to ride Bouffe. Hopefully I will be able to ride on Wednesday.

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - A Day of Rest

My MS has been acting up to the point that I think I may be having an exacerbation, only time will tell. But I still felt well enough to go to the farm and visit Bouffe. It was just as well that I wasn't going to ride because Bouffe's back was still sore. 

I had Leslie look at Bouffe's back and she thought it was arthritic caused by him trying to get off where ever the real problem is. She was going to look at him further today. She also suggested that I try Reiki on Bouffe. One of the boarders is certified in giving Reiki treatments and I should talk to her.

So, Bouffe got a bath and ate hay until he was dry. I also bought some corn oil, which Leslie is going to put in Bouffe's grain to help  him gain weight and his coat to shine. 

The next show is two weeks from this Sunday. I hope we will be ready.