disabled riding question advice needed pls

[stormandsummer]

I have a very bad back and the times i can ride ( which is not often my safety is paramount, my legs due to my back do become numb as do my hands too, this makes me more vulnerable as i may not be as secure as most riders. I get severe back spasums too and if this happens when i am riding i need to get my horse to stand and wait.

It un nerves me when riders canter up behind us or towards us, as most of the time I am just walking. I cherrish the times i can ride to be honest as my back will not always allow, I wear a back brace all the time. Which means I am not always able to twist in the saddle to look behind me, i do a small amount of road work to get to the woods, I also try to select times when it is more likely the woods will be quieter so as not to upset anyone by just walking.


I have thought about getting a disabled rider high viz jacket but i am not sure if this is the right thing to do or not ... what do you think ? I am unable to remount from the ground either, so it is essential that my horse is not spooked by riders bombing up from behind as he really does not like this. If my legs and hands are completly numb and i am unable to sit properly i am more likely to fall if he shoots forward because of someone coming up behind us too fast.

I can walk so would this be an insult to true disabled riders ( no offence in tended to anyone ) If i was to wear one ?

If you saw someone wearing a high viz disabled rider vest would you be more considerate ?


I would like to think that if i was to wear one that riders would realise that they need to pass us slowly and not tear up behind us.


whats your views on this please

[Minski&Kai]

Could you get a plain tabbbard and write your own wording on to ask riders to slow pass your horse slowly. I have a please pass wide and slow tabbard with the writing just on the back, so have written the same on the front with permaent marker, I just write over it every few months or so when it startes to fade.

[Troi]

I'm sorry to hear you have problems and admire you for trying.:)
I would def. wear a hi-viz if you need people to slow down for you, your safety is very important and surely folk will get to know you and take more care. Lots of disabled people can walk
Good luck:) I hope you can keep riding

[8-legged-pony]

A slightly different scenario, but I teach Riding for the Disabled and we often ride up the lane on to the bridlepath as a change from lessons in the school. We have custom made "Riding for Disabled" tabards as we were fed up with drivers not realising and sometimes getting impatient and speeding past (It's a single track lane in places, so they have to wait to pass, there's hardly any cars as it's a dead-end for traffic but we there are a few houses so we do get some). Since we've had the new tabards saying "Riding for Disabled" on the back of them we've had a much better time of it with cars, as they know that they can't just go racing past us as we have riders who can't necessarily cope with horses suddenly having to move sideways out the way, or spook.

I would therefore suggest that having something like "Please past slow, disabled rider" might be a good idea for you as hopefully it would make other riders aware that wizzing past you is not the best thing to do!

[shoreset]

I can walk so would this be an insult to true disabled riders ( no offence in tended to anyone ) If i was to wear one ?


I am considered disabled ish and i can walk fine, so is my friend who also has proplams with her back, I don't think it would affend anyone. and if it gets people to slow down for you its worth it

[Cheeky]

Do what you feel you need to. Heck, you could even carry a mini hand mirror to see behind you .. actually, that's not a bad idea..

Anyways, wear the viza if you feel safer to do so :) If your still worried, why not put up signs along the path before you go out stating something like "slow down - horse and rider ahead" or "please slow down -" out before you go out? Don't have to .. but just an idea :) would be a bit annoying tho putting them up and down before rides.

[Skib]

I am sorry about your back and sympathise. My own back problems are far less than yours, but there are days when many people will (or ought) to opt for a "granny" ride - just walk and trot.
Ideally every rider should wear high viz on every hack. A riding for the disabled coat is a brilliant solution for you.

BUT BUT BUT people, what have we here? What does this say about bad rider behaviour and safety codes?
I ride in a royal park. When we approach other riders, the rule is we MUST walk.
If coming from behind we have to ask permission to pass, and we always ask permission to trot on after passing, in case it upsets the other horses and they may want to join in and go faster than their riders can manage.

We dont ever canter when other horses are near or even in sight on the track, unless they are deliberately waiting and signal that it is OK for us to canter towards them. If we meet other riders where we hope to canter on, again we ask if it is OK?

I cant believe people are behaving as badly as you describe. After all, many learner and elderly riders go hacking. Is the rest of the country mad?

[stormandsummer]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I know there should be a general unwritten riders code of conduct to be curtious and generally most people are but you always get the odd few that are just hell bent on bombing round as fast as they can, may be cause they have no fear lucky them eh :rolleyes:

This is something that always on my mind when riding out that someone not so considerate will bomb up behind us and spook my horse, generally he is as bombproof as you could possibly get and ideal for me, he is now voice controlled something i had to teach him as with the problems with my legs and hands, i need to be able to control him, the left and right voice command is something wthat we need to work on but we get there in the end :D


I supposed no one likes to be disabled and do not want the label of it, not that it is anything to be ashamed off, but i guess i am in denial :rolleyes: I should wear a disabled riders tabbard all the time but somehow felt i was/am a fake cause i am sitting on a horse :rolleyes:

Time to add one to my xmas list .


Thank you everyone

[Afellpony]

Skib what park do yu ride in? I used to live in London and ride in Hyde Park and Wimbledon Common.:p

[Jane.A]

Wear your disabled rider tabard with pride. You are showing your ability to enjoy life to the full in spite of, that's how I view it. I had one made up, and only had one negative comment from someone who said if I was disabled I shouldn't be allowed out alone on a horse as I obviously couldn't be in full control!!! I said anyone who thinks they are in full control of a horse is a fool, hence the need for drivers to take extra care as they SHOULD be in full control of their vehicle, if not their mouths:mad:!

[Kittycat]

I think a disabled rider tabard is a great idea, you should feel proud of what you are achieving, not ashamed.:)

Cheeky mentioned a hand mirror, isn't there a product which is a small mirror on the end of a whip? For seeing behind you, not checking your lippy!:p I saw it on Dragons Den and am sure I saw it for sale somewhere after that. Or maybe I was dreaming....;)

[Abserd]

Wear your disabled rider tabard with pride. You are showing your ability to enjoy life to the full in spite of, that's how I view it. I had one made up, and only had one negative comment from someone who said if I was disabled I shouldn't be allowed out alone on a horse as I obviously couldn't be in full control!!! I said anyone who thinks they are in full control of a horse is a fool, hence the need for drivers to take extra care as they SHOULD be in full control of their vehicle, if not their mouths:mad:!

Think this is a brilliant comment Jane. A! and stormandsummer i think it's a really good idea about the tabard - get out there and enjoy yourself! :D

[*Sez*]

I'm a disabled rider, and find riding painful, but less so than walking. No, I don't think "less so" is correct - it's just painful in a different way, and I don't get so breathless.

I had never considered a "disabled rider" tabbard for rides, but I think I would be cautious about wearing one. I have faced a lot of discrimination at work as a result of being disabled and owning a horse. Apparently a disabled person who either drives to work and parks in a disabled bay (complete with blue badge) or arrives in a wheelchair cannot POSSIBLY have a horse. Having a horse means a person must be perfectly fit and well, apparently :rolleyes:. They forgot to take into account my support network (family, friends and wonderful OH) who enable me to keep my horse on DIY livery. Otherwise I would have to pay for full livery - there's no ifs and buts about it - I couldn't be without my horse.

Anyway, to the point - there seems to be a lot of attitude (especially here) that disabled people should not ride (ummm... RDA anyone? :rolleyes:) and I think if there was any kind of accident, it could be claimed that as I am disabled I was not "fit to be in control of a horse", especially unescorted.

[Trixie]

Too often people with a disability seem to get told by thoughtless oiks that if they can do certain things, like ride a horse etc, that they shouldn't get any of the "perks" of being disabled. Sorry, I couldn't find a better word to encompass how the oiks think.

I had a friend who got abuse for riding her horse with a disabled tabbard on. She had just got back to the stables. Didn't the rude oik look embarrassed when she dismounted and her husband brought her guide dog to her.

No-one with a disability should be made to feel ashamed for riding - in fact they should be bloody proud that, even with their disability they're still going for it.

I may be joining the disabled riders' in a while. If I do I will wear a disabled rider tabbard and I'll be daamned proud that I'm giving it a go. Anyone else says otherwise their opinion isn't worth listening to.

So for your own safety, wear your tabbard and wear it with pride!

[Abserd]

I do see what you mean sez, i guess it's a personal choice. But i'm very concerned that there is an attitude here on NR about disabled people riding!! In fact, am shocked. It's always going to be difficult, especially considering how hard it is to a) get a disability benefit and b) get a blue badge. My impression of the DWP is disability means you can't do anything, anywhere, ever...it's a really negative system we have here. What about all the positives of getting out in the fresh air, keeping moving, keeping warm and active, getting joints going, improving mental health etc. It bugs me, really it does. Sorry have hyjacked this thread a bit!....and cross posted oops

[Afellpony]

Really sorry to hear about your problems but I've never noticed too much of an attitude here on New Rider about disabled riders. Maybe I've missed something. I've been classed as 'having a disability' but as far as riding is concerned, I can (at the moment anyway) say that I've found other people nothing but helpful, especially as regards helping me mount and dismount. This is all I require at the moment - Falcon and me can manage the rest.I must say that it's all down to Falcon regarding dismounting. I think I've mentioned this in another posting a while ago. I just lean forward and put my arms round his neck and slide down his shoulder. He's great about it, doesn't flinch or move at all. Mind you, I'd never ask the YO to help because she just wouldn't. she'd probably give me some sort of wise-crack! She's the sort of person that's ok if you're doing what she wants. Now I dont have enough money to pay her daughter to ride my pony, she doesn't want to know. Well, that works both ways. What I would say to peeps who thinx it's so big and brave to take the **** out of someone with a disability is....be careful you never know when that might happen to you; and, if it does be prepared for the treatment you metted out to others and make sure you take it in good grace!!!! Mind you, I might hava a disability but I can still pack a good punch, so if peeps wanna take the micky out me, do so at your peril!!!

[*Sez*]

I haven't noticed any attitude towards disabled riders on NR either :confused:... unless I just wasn't paying attention :p

Abserd, you are completely right - if it weren't for my horse, I would not get out in the fresh air, I would not get any form of exercise, and my horse has done utter blooming wonders for my mental and emotional wellbeing.

I mentioned this thread to my partner and he thought the same thing I did - that it may create an "admission of liability", (you have to remember that the DWP and other such organisations have their rules and regulations written by people who have apparently never "suffered" and so cannot understand suffering in others) so I suggest anyone who choses to wear a "disabled rider" tabard, as with a "young horse" tabard to give the BHS or other appropriate body a call and just check that, in the event of an accident, it cannot be claimed that you should not have been riding in public. A friend of mine had her horse hit by a car, and he required veterinary attention (but is fortunately fine now). Because she was wearing a "young horse - please pass wide and slow" tabard, it was ruled that she shouldn't have had her horse on the road unescorted, and was at fault. I was appalled, as the hi-viz was not an accurate statement (her horse was neither particularly young, nor inexperienced on the road), it was just all she had at the time.

To be honest, I don't have any "pride" in my disability. I feel it has robbed me of a "normal" quality of life. It took me eight years to feel comfortable even accepting the lable of "disabled". Yes, I was born with it, but it is a progressive disability, so I have gone from being a fairly fit and active and independent child to twenty-three year old who requires assistance with almost everything. I am not even capable of caring for my horse without assistance, and that it something I dearly would love to change. I have been told there is nothing to be done except to manage my pain and subsequent depression with medication, and I understand (but have not yet accepted) that I am not going to get better. Urgh - can you tell I've had a horrible day? :o Sorry, guys - not meant to have a go at anyone, but I can't think of a better way to phrase what I want to say :o
So, I suppose for personal reasons as well, I would not wear a "Disabled Rider" tabard. I do always wear a plain Hi-Viz waistcoat when I hack out in poor lighting/visibility conditions.

I did, however find this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Horse-Riding-Hi-Viz-Waist-Coat-Tabard-Disabled-Rider_W0QQitemZ290108373054QQihZ019QQcategoryZ90859QQcmdZViewItem) on eBay for less than a fiver, for anyone that does want one. They also do custom-design Hi-Viz gear :D

[Abserd]

Hmmm, looking at the tabard, i am wondering how clever it would be? I suppose it's a loaded statement - could mean anything and drivers/police etc. may certainly think you're not in control of the horse. Which is totally ridiculous obviously. The attitude of decision makers in this country disgusts me (i mean re: benefits, services etc). Having a bad time at work at the mo - constantly having to tell people, no you can't have this, no you can't do that and why? because our government says so!! No way would the DWP, law courts etc. understand how important our horses are to us. Sez if i were closer to you i would gladly help you out - selfishly of course, to help improve my skills and experience! Hugs for your pants day xx

[Dawn_connie]

Anything that causes you pain, discomfort or extra needs and will last longer than 3 months is a 'disability'.

You should not in any way feel that you are 'faking' anything. Wear a Disabled rider tabbard for your own safety.

And ignore people who think that because you have a disability you should be laid up in bed, out of site and not be riding. Even if it is a great therapy for just about everything.

Some people in this world need to grow up eh?

Oh, and regarding the DWP perhaps having a problem with you riding. Just put it down as a therapy. Note all the positive things it does for you. Then all the things you would be unable to do if it were not for the riding, ie, your mental health suffering, depression etc. The main problem with the DWP is that everything has to be worded exactly right, you spend longer working out how to word all those answers that you get utterly fed up.

Dawn (who is filling in son's DLA form and getting utterly fed up)

[Trixie]

To be honest, I don't have any "pride" in my disability. I feel it has robbed me of a "normal" quality of life. It took me eight years to feel comfortable even accepting the lable of "disabled".


I don't think anyone is suggesting that we should have pride in our disabilities, more that we should have pride that, despite our disabilities, we're still going out there and doing what we enjoy.

[wildponies]

Definately a disabled rider tabbard!

Just think of all those people with disabilities you could inspire to get on board. I did some voluntary work for an RDA and you'd be amazed at how many people found out about the place after seeing us all out tabbarded up on the roads!

Also like the hand mirror idea, it'd be like having wing mirrors :p

[gaz deluxe]

u shhuld wear a tabbard

[Wally]

Doesn't Monty use a disabled Rider tabbard???

[Jane.A]

Thanks Trixie, I did mean that you are showing the world what you can achieve inspite of your impairments and think I may have been misunderstood. Riding is therapeutic and that was the main reasoning behind the RDA.
I have two friends on the para squads and they don't have a problem with the DWP. I have never encountered an attitude against disabled riders on this website. There may have been mis understandings (take my previous post), or some people not quite expressing what they meant, but never to my knowledge any malice. If you have a problem wearing a disabled rider tabard then stick to ordinary hi viz gear, and plenty of it. The main thing is not to let anything or anyone get in the way of your equestrian enjoyment.
I know its difficult not to be resentful of one's condition and the hand that's been dealt but there are many out there who make everyday count, I've just spent the weekend at the BD convention with some of them. A positive mindset is a powerful tool, I wouldn't be walking again without it. You can still make your mark if you so choose. Look at Tanyi Grey Thompson, Lee Pearson and Jane Tomlinson. Reach for the stars, doesn't matter if you don't get there but you can have one heck of a time on the journey.

[salee]

hi
i would say personalise the tabbard to say something like
" please pass slow and wide"
& have the disabled symbol on too, that way you are not claiming the disability as a 'reason' & so it can't be used in any way against you, but you are proclaiming your disabled state & the fact that you are fighting it!

anyone can find themself with a disability at any time, my husband was crashed into from behind by a twit in an astra, while he was waiting to turn right - our van was pushed 26ft into the opposite lane, now had the HGV which had just passed by been 20 secconds later, i could be a widow or he could be a wreck, as it is he has agrevated a previous neck injury, has problems with his nerves in his arms and a few other annoying and painfull 'minor' problems, he lost his job & had 18mths physio, but is still not 100%

i also used to teach RDA i loved it, seeing someone having the freedom to do what they normally couldn't is worth a fortune! seeing a disabled child laughing out loud while playing tick on horse back, who can't even walk unaided is even better. those who work with disabled people know the benefits of horse riding and interaction with horses is very beneficial to all, not just the disabled but their families and carers too. everyone deserves a bit of fun in life - if you find yours on a horse why not?

bye

*anyone interested in the work we do with horses rescued in france, send me a message or see :-

http://www.freewebs.com/bankendstablesequinerescueandrehabilitation/index.htm

bye & good luck.