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.