We Both Survived The Winter

It has been four months since I last posted to this blog and there are several things I should have written about. 

Soon after my last post Leslie became certified as an equine massage therapist and performed massage therapy on Bouffe, which was a success. But, on the other hand, I started feeling worse as the cold weather set in. 

This scenario continued through this past winter as Bouffe seemed to thrive in all of the cold and snow and my legs became tighter. But I continued with hippotheraphy and with Robin's help I was able to get through the winter and am again starting to get more strength in my legs. 

I took this photo today of Bouffe who really seemed to know I was feeling better.

I Still Have Bouffe

I know it has been awhile since I have written and I was surprised at the many followers of this blog I still have after all this time of no post. Thank you all for your interest.

I still have Bouffe who is now and has been on field board for the last few months. I was worried about him during all the snow, but he loved it and the horse who was the odd man out originally has become the alpha male of the group of geldings he is turned out with. J haven't ridden him since last October, but he is doing well in his twentieth year.

Just Hippotherapy - Multiple Sclerosis

I finally went to the farm today but didn't ride Bouffe. Ever since the weather changed a couple of weeks ago I have been experiencing many of the MS symptoms that are typically brought on by hot weather not the cold. But my MS has always been much more sensitive to the cold than the heat, which is what is happening now.

I did do hippotherapy today but knew I was not walking well enough to get Bouffe out of his stall, groom him and put his tack on. He did enjoy the carrots I brought and seemed to understand as he always does that I was just not strong enough to ride him today. I saw him watching me riding one of Robin's horses as Eileen led me around and Robin walked beside me. It was only for a few minutes and then he seemed to be satisfied that I was alright and went back to eating his hay. Our spiritual relationship is still very strong!

The Weather Continues To Be Lousy - OTTB - Multiple Sclerosis

As Spring approaches it seems like Winter just doesn't want to leave. Since my last post ten days ago, it has been either very cold with a wind chill in the single digits, or it has snowed. I am so tired of tromping around in the cold and wet that some days I don't even want to come out of the house.  I'm sure Bouffe is fine and as each week starts I hope to get back to my three days a week schedule. Maybe next week it will happen. 

Now It Is The Ice - Multiple Sclerosis

Now that the weather has gotten warmer during the day, the snow is beginning to melt. But, when the temperature drops in the evening everything freeezes. This is just basic weather condtions that I'm sure all of you know. But, in the morning, all of the walkways for both people and horses are a solid sheet of ice. And those were the conditions I met, when I went to the farm this morning to see Bouffe. Leslie had managed to get out of the house and met me, as I tried unsucessfully to negotiate the hill going down to the barn.

It is such a pleasure, to have a barn owner who is concerned about the well being of her boarders, as well as the horses. She took the carrots I brought for Bouffe and fed them to him for me. She is also going to email me when the conditions improve, so I will be able to get to the barn without falling. Thank you Leslie!

It is very frustrating when I can't do things because of my Multiple Sclerosis. If it wasn't for my balance issues I could have gotten down the hill without a problem.

Finally!!! - OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis

I finally went to the farm today. I had hippotherapy, which went very well, but I wasn't able to spend much time with Bouffe. There is still a lot of snow at the farm and the only way to get to the barn, after parking my car, was down a steep hill, which was packed down and icy in spots. I did negotiate it when I first got there and was able to spend a couple minutes with Bouffe, who greeted me with whinnies,  before my session. I was going to go back after I was finished but Bouffe had been turned out and I didn't feel steady enought to go up and down the hill again.

There is more snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow, but warmer temperatures are on the way and I hope to get back there and spend some quality time with this special horse.

The Winter Weather Continues

In the ten days since my last post it has either snowed or the temperature has been in or near the single digits with the wind chill index, much too cold for me to get to the farm even if the roads were passable. I have hippotherapy scheduled for Monday, but there is more snow expected between now and then; so, I don't know if I will get there or not. I miss seeing Bouffe, but know he is being well taken care of.

More Snow and Cold - More On The Way

This has been a terrible winter! The almost daily snowfall and extreme cold has made it almost impossible for me to get out of the house. Because of my MS my legs just will not work in this kind of weather. I don't know when I will get to the farm again.

Multiple Sclerosis - Extreme Cold

The average temperature for the next few days will be about twenty degrees and with the wind chill it will be below zero. I can not stand to be out of doors when it is this cold. Because of my MS my legs become completely numb and at the same time very painful. I may not get to the farm at all this week.

OTTB - More Winter Weather

I haven't written for te last few days because we had a major snow storm on Tuesday and the farm has been closed down pretty much for any type of riding. I  missed my lesson on Wednesday and just because of the very cold temperatures I didn't even try to go today. Hopefully next week will be better. Bouffe got his new blanket just in time.

OTTB - The Winter Freeze

The outdoor ring was still frozen solid, so I couldn't ride. But Bouffe really seemed to appreciate his new heavyweight blanket I put on him this morning. His old blanket was a hand-me-down from my previous horse and it has seen better days. Bouffe stood completely still in his stall while I adjusted all the straps and was so content when I was finished. There is just that sense of communication that is not spoken that Bouffe and I have and I have such a sense of peace when I am with him. I forget about my MS and any other problems I  may be having.

OTTB - Riding Postponed Until?

I don't really know when I will be able to ride Bouffe again. Because of his fear of the indoor ring I haven't been able to ride in there and lately, because of the weather the outdoor ring is frozen when it's cold and sloppy, which is not good footing for a horse with a bowed tenon, when it warms up for the day. Tomorrow we are scheduled to have both as the day starts out with sleet and then warms up with rain. It is only two and a half months until April and I can't wait. 

OTTB - My Spiritual Awakening

I did manage to have hippotherapy yesterday morning before the cold weather set in. The temperature was in the forties when my session started and in the twenties by the time the hour was over. I was so cold by then that I got right in my car and came home. 

I did see Bouffe for a few minutes before my session and told him the weather had been just too cold and snowy for me to come up and see him. He looked me straight in the eyes like he understood. I have been around horses since I was five years old and I have never had this type of a relationship with any of my horses. From the first time I ever saw him, Bouffe has had that look like he knows all about me and was put into my life as a spiritual awakening, which he certainly has been.

OTTB - The Snow and The Ice and The Cold

Right now, the weather today and in the forecast for the next few days, are making it impossible for me to go to the farm, much less ride. I'm sure Bouffe is doing OK and we will see what happens in this coming week.

OTTB, Multiple Sclerosis - Still Cold Damp and Slippery

I was originally planing on going to see Bouffe today, but because of my MS, my legs still can't handle the cold, wet and slippery conditions. I worked outside yesterday putting up Christmas decorations and even though it was a little warmer, my legs still got very cold and I was slipping and sliding on the slushy snow. I have been out for a little while this morning; I got cold just like yesterday and that is when I decided to wait until I have hippotherapy on Monday to go to the farm.

Still Too Icy and Snowing Again

It was still too icy at the farm yesterday. According to Leslie everything was still a sheet of ice and there was no way to drive to the barn. It is snowing again today and I am going away next week; so, I have no idea when I am going to the farm again. I'll know more when I get back on Wednesday.

Multiple Sclerosis - The Cold and The Ice

I have not been to the farm since last week. I was planning on going yesterday, but the cold temperatures (25 was the high and is so again today) has kept me pretty much in the house, except to shovel snow and clean my car off; there is still about two inches of frozen ice on the roof. 

Because of my MS, my body cannot stand the cold, no matter how warm I dress. My legs get completely numb, which is dangerous walking on the snow and especially the ice. We are having a heat wave tomorrow of 35 degrees and I am hoping to get to the farm.

Snow, Snow and More Snow

I didn't right anything yesterday, because I was spending most of my day digging out from the snow storm that hit Maryland Sunday and on in to Monday morning. There was no way I could have gotten to the farm anyway.

Well, it snowed again today, but not as much and everything is ready for tomorrow. I have hippotherapy, which was originally scheduled for Monday, at 10 am. I don't think I will be riding Bouffe anyway because of his dislike of the indoor arena, which right now, is the only place available to ride. I have to find someone to work with me and Bouffe in the indoor, so I won't loose anymore days where I could be riding.

Buy the way, I sold the saddle and plan to keep on using the Billy Cook until I am sure about a synthetic saddle.

OTTB - Wintertime Is Here

I couldn't ride today because the outdoor ring was frozen and when and if it thawed out it would be a bog. I did manage to groom Bouffe and of course feed him his carrots. His coat looks good and shone in the sunlight, even though it is starting to grow out. He seems to be very content having a few weeks off. I am trying not to be upset about the ring conditions. I know Leslie is doing her best and this is only the beginning of the winter weather. There will be many more days like today in the coming months.

Even if the weather gets better, I am probably not going to ride until later on next week, after my new saddle arrives. Yes, I bought another saddle. I plan on keeping the Billy Cook, but it is just too heavy for me to use on a regular basis; so, it will be my show saddle.

 I bought a synthetic saddle which only weighs fifteen pounds instead of the thirty-five the Billy Cook weighs. It should be here Monday or Tuesday and I am anxiously waiting its arrival. 

OTTB - The Rain, Wind and Snow

Today the weather got worse as the day went on. I had physical therapy with Mike at 8:30. He worked his usual magic on my legs and I felt better when I left. 

I originally had planned to go to the farm when I left PT, but when I opened the door of the office building, I was welcomed by rain, wind and temperatures that would soon fall enough that the rain changed to snow, which was enough to change my mind and I came home. Hopefully, Friday will be a better day.