At 15:47:04 on 14.04.10, HUNNYMUNSTA wrote:
Hi zoe I love your pic it looks a lot like my mare! well done for starting such an inspirational thread! all have made great reading. I was told not to ride due to slipped disks so far ive avoided surgery so its good to hear about other people and theyr stories some with similar problems to myself. just now im using reki and accupunture to try to control it, I do ride though ive been told not too...like a few other people by look of things. but realise my limitations, im scared what will happen to my back but fingers crossed its improving.Ill keep riding as long as possible then look into being around horses in other ways, dont have to be on em to love do you?! plus my lot would happily be retired!. I would say im only confident on horses i know whereas years ago id have ridden anything but now I have to careful about who i ride. Ive been thrown and trampled several occasions nearly all on trying loan horses or whilst loaning others I(mostly cus theyr owner didnt want them) since having my own though the accidents have reduced to almost nill!, phew. But i always do pre flight checks and if theyre acting up and not listening or somethings going on I do something else I can awlays ride another day! try not to put myself in danger if poss!.

At 20:46:15 on 14.04.10, NMH wrote:
Alexander Technique is brilliant for bad backs, some practitioners treat riders a lot & it will help your position too!

At 20:38:58 on 30.11.10, dixierider wrote:
I too have a story. I was a VERY blessed rider. I had talent. I had the skill. I had confidence. At the height of my career- I was ranked in the top 30 in the world. I have survived Badmition, I have conquered Spruce Meadows I have even seen the back stretch of Church Hill Downs from the back of a galloping thoroughbred. I have ridden horses worth millions of dollars and competed with some of the best in the world. I rode out with friends on the 4th of July weekend a happy healthy person. The day ended with a 3 broken vertebrae all the ribs on my left side crushed, collapsed lung, skull fracture and a fractured ankle. I was told I would be lucky if I walked again with out aid. I was told that riding of any kind would be impossible. I lived in a world of pain killers and self pity that did me no good. I wasn't going to therapy because I couldn't ride- so why bother. I mourned the death of my career and my dreams. I came home after being driven to a doctor's appointment and found an old friend in the back yard. Apparently my grandfather drove 24 hours round trip to get my old pony out of retirement. He knew its what I needed. At first I resisted Prince. The doctors were right. Right? They were wrong. I waited til everyone had finally left my house and went out side to look an old friend in the eye. Prince is the grade pony I learned to ride on. He was my teacher, confidant, partner in crime. He was my friend. I managed to pull myself up on him- screaming in pain but I did it. I sat on him til the sun came up. That was all the motivation I needed. A long story short- I ride. Not at the level I did before. But I do ride. Are there consequences? Yes. I have not been pain free since that 4th of July. I am also drug free. Weaned myself off of all pain killers. There are days that I can't ride. Hell, there are days that I can't hardly get out of bed. But I do. Since I can't ride like I used to I do what a lot of others do- Teach. I have several students that have done remarkably well. My goal for them is not the blue ribbons (which there are many. My goal is to let them glimpse the world I love so much. I credit my grandfather who passed away a month ago yesterday. I would not have gotten back in the saddle with out his support. That is they key- surround yourself with positive support.

At 20:44:25 on 06.12.10, Sylvia Hibberd wrote:
have not read all postings as am in a hurry but to people such as kim who are worried about never being able to ride again. my dad knows someone who cant run and is very lucky not to be in a wheelchair, she fell off a young so called 'bombproof' horse in the forest and broke her back. her doctor said it would have been alot better had she been wearing a body protector. she can never ride again .my dad told her about me and my love of horses and she asked my dad to tell me to always wear a body protector as it could be the difference between life and death, or never riding a horse again. please take this warning (i must admit most of the time i cant be bothered either) because i hate stories about never being able to ride again and if it happened to me personally, i know it would ruin my life. thankyou sylvie xx