Multiple Sclerosis - Feeling Better But Weather Is Hot

My legs are feeling better today but the weather is not cooperating. I didn't want to go another day without at least seeing Bouffe; so, with temperatures already in the eighties at eight o'clock I drove to Kingsville. 

Bouffe was in his stall and again stood completely still while I groomed him. As I brushed his coat I told him, it would only be a few more days, until he's got a twenty acre field, with a big run in shed, woods, and more grass, than from what I've seen of his living accommodations so far, he has ever seen. He stands so still with his kind eye focused on me the entire time; I really think he understands.

When I left, I drove to The Mill, and in preparation for the move, bought a turnout halter and some more joint supplement for Bouffe. I am anxiously awaiting the indoor ring and surroundings where I am physically able to get around without a lot of effort.

re: Last Week's Post

I have skipped over my recovery process, or lack there of, from last week's post. The three days rest I hope I was going to get never happened. For we spent a good amount of the time we were away walking and sitting at a wedding reception for several hours. Of course both of these activities took place outdoors in eighty degree heat, not good for my MS. I have not recovered from this or the activities of the week before, and still wanted to ride today, but my legs are not cooperating.

As I said yesterday, I planned on riding Bouffe today, but as soon as my feet hit the floor this morning I knew that wasn't going to happen. Even though I slept good last night my legs hurt and were weak. After living with MS for this long, all I can say is, maybe tomorrow. 

Multiple Sclerosis - Too Hot

We went away for the weekend and ended up missing all the good riding weather. As any of you with MS know, with temperatures in the upper eighties this morning and over ninety degrees now, it is just too hot to ride without an indoor ring, something I will have starting next week. The move is all set up for Monday and I am looking forward to boarding Bouffe at Four Quarters Farm.

The weather forecast is the same for tomorrow. I am hoping to get an early start and ride before the temperature rises out of the seventies.

Since I didn't ride today, I swam my ten laps to keep the level of fitness I have. 

Multiple Sclerosis - Still Too Sore To Ride

I had another pain filled evening, but I did find something to stop the muscle spasms - water. Even though I did nothing yesterday I was dehydrated, which made the MS symptoms flair at 9 PM last night. After two hours of taking my meds and trying to sleep I drank  some water, and was surprised that I needed the entire pint to quench my thirst. 

But even after what I consider a decent night of sleep, my legs were still weak, and very sore. After debating in my mind for several hours about what I should do, I went to the farm. Bouffe was again in his stall. When I groomed him, I was pleased to see his coat shine, but just that little effort on my part took its toll; I was feeling weak. My left leg didn't have enough strength to lift me over the saddle, much less ride.

While I had the Smith Worthington Saddle on Bouffe, I double checked that it fit him properly, which it did. Bouffe seemed to be very content with the full rack of alfalfa hay the barn help put in his stall and I came home.

Barbara and I are going away for the weekend, so I won't be going to the farm again until Monday or Tuesday. I am hoping the three days rest will allow me to start back riding Bouffe again.   

Multiple Sclerosis and Exercise - Finding The Right Mix

This is my second post for today because the earlier post should have been written last night, but I was too sick to do so. After I rode yesterday I was a little sore but went ahead with my exercise program and swam my 10 laps (almost 200 meters) anyway. If that wasn't enough, Barbara and I then went shopping for a new range. A trip we thought would only be for about a half and hour, two hours later we were finally leaving the store. 

But that wasn't all. We then went and did our weekly grocery shopping, which took about another hour. So, by the time we got home I had been on my feet, standing in the appliance store and pushing the grocery cart for three hours, not good for a person with MS.

My body fought back violently with extreme numbness and tightness in my legs, along with the shooting pains down my arms. I was miserable and nothing seemed to help: not sitting, or lying down, or taking a hot shower, or even my usual meds, nothing until 11 PM when I was finally able to fall asleep. Of course, that only lasted until 6 AM, when the roofers started the tapping across the street on the church roof.

It is now 4:30 PM and I have spent the entire day doing nothing. Of course, I am feeling better from all the rest and plan on riding Bouffe tomorrow. I'm telling myself riding is all I'm doing, knowing full well I'll probably give in and swim. But I've got to set some limits, or I'll be too sore to make it past being an occasional trail rider. 

OTTB - Bouffe and The Pre-Teen Group Lesson

Yesterday, was one of those days, where everything went exactly, if not better than planned, starting with Bouffe being in his stall, when I got to the farm at 11 AM. He stuck his head over the stall door when he saw me parking my car, and gave me a look like where have you been.

One of the biggest problems I have is carrying the saddle bag to and from the car; so, today I decided to groom and tack up Bouffe in his stall, which made the trip just a matter of walking about ten yards down a hill to the barn.

Now, I have worked with several different OTTB and there has only been one other horse, Dandy Dasher, who up until Bouffe was the finest Thoroughbred I had ever ridden. I called him Dan and he basically taught me how to jump big fences and ride races; of course, that was pre MS. But like Bouffe he was a five star example of an OTTB. 

 After getting the saddle in front of Bouffe's stall, I was able to groom him and put his tack on while he stood quietly, loose in his stall. Dan was the only other horse TB or not that I have ever been able to do that with. Bouffe then walked quietly to the ring where Tricie was having a group lesson with pre-teen girls and their mothers. There was a lot: kids jumping for the first time, horses knocking down fences, screams from riders and their mothers when either of the above happened, etc.), for a horse to look at and maybe shy from, but not Bouffe, who took it all in stride.

With all of the above going on Bouffe and I went into the ring and I proceeded to get on him, which because of the stirrup leathers being shorter from Sundays show, was much more difficult for me than usual. But Bouffe stood completely still until he felt my right leg go over the cantle and come down on his side. Now, I find this standing so still completely amazing. No other horse of any breed including Dan would do this. Bouffe hasn't had any formal training he just knows I need him not to move until my legs swings over!

At first, we shared the ring with Tricie's class; again, no adverse reactions from Bouffe, just some curious glances, like he was thinking, what are they doing now. When their lesson was over and we had the ring to ourselves I was able to practice my rising trot some more. At first, I was again on the wrong diagonal, but on the third try I got it, which brought back memories of posting correctly before my pre-racetrack years, where everything was a two-point stance. I had a sense of a great accomplishment and stopped riding on that positive note.

I also rode in a different saddle, which probably had something to do with my success. The Crosby that I showed in was still tight around Bouffe's withers so I tried my old Smith Worthington Walsall AP, which even though it has a MW tree, fit Bouffe perfectly when I used the withers pad. It was like being back home, riding in that old saddle and I plan to continue using it.

Multiple Sclerosis - The Day After The Horse Show

It took awhile, but late last night it finally all sunk in, Bouffe and I had won three blue ribbons in our first show. I lied in bed thinking about it until I fell to sleep. A sleep that didn't last to long, for I was awakened at 1 AM  by my old friend pain.

I knew I had participated in more activities yesterday than I had ever done, since going on disability fifteen years ago. Now, I thought I had worked up to it gradually, but my body didn't care, and was now reacting with all the usual stuff all at one time: muscle spasms, numbness and tightness in my legs, and what I call the shooting pain that runs from the back of my neck into my shoulders and down my arms. I needed to get up and take some meds, which consisted of three Ibuprofen and a Mirapex.

I never get instant relief, or anything close to it, but after several hours and some comfort food (a peanut butter sandwich) I was back to sleep until six, when the roofers started work on the church across the street.

So, today has been a day of rest; although, I did swim my laps, five rather than the usual ten, I didn't want to push myself but I needed some type of exercise.

I am planing to see Bouffe tomorrow, knowing he needed a day off too, and am sure I would have heard from Patti if anything wasn't just right with him this morning.

I've been thinking about the future a lot today and know I want Bouffe and I to go as far in the show ring as we can. I'm prepared to do the work involved and have no reason not to believe Bouffe will too.