Equestrian Life April 2018 Issue

oth Novice Class’s,
Houghton Hall placed 2nd in the Novice
with 70%
Qualified for Para Bronze Championships
at Chigwell riding trust with an Average
score of 70.35%
• April 2017 - Para Home International team
for the Eastern Region
Highest scoring Grade IV Bronze rider
from the teams with average of 67.08%.
• March 2017 - 2nd at Keysoe Novice Silver -
69.48%
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR
FAVOURITE WINS OR PLACINGS TO DATE
My personal bests of 70%+ in February
of this year and coming 3rd in a National
Championship in August 2017 after only
having my horse for six months!
WHAT PROMPTED THE NEED FOR THE
SPINAL SURGERY AND HOW LONG DID
IT TAKE TO LEARN TO RIDE AGAIN?
At age 38 I suffered a slipped disc, which
rapidly got worse and put me in hospital
several times. I was severely limited in my
movements and my ability to ride, and on
lots of pain medication. Just a month before
I was due to have my first surgery, the disc
moved within my spine and compressed
some of the major nerves to my legs. I was
rushed to hospital unable to feel my legs and
had emergency surgery. After the surgery I
regained the feeling to my right leg but my
left leg nerves remained damaged. I learned
that the condition I now have is called Cauda
Equina Syndrome. I was told that potentially
the nerves COULD repair themselves but
this may take up to two years. Unfortunately,
that’s not happened.
I have permanent pins and needles in my
left foot, and frequent muscle spasms and
cramps which feel like a hot poker firing up
my leg! I take meditation which is designed
to suppress the nerves to try and reduce
these symptoms but side effects mean I can
get very tired easily.
I started to ride again about six months after
the first surgery, but I couldn’t feel my left
seat bone, and had no grip or strength in my
left leg at all - meaning anything more than
walking was tricky - my leg flapped about and
I couldn’t keep my foot in the stirrup as I had
to grip with my knees, I looked and felt like a
complete beginner again!
I looked for help with the RDA and got
classified as a disabled rider. This allowed
me to have compensatory aids which were
elastic bands around my feet and stirrups
to hold them in place and a stick on the left
side. I also found a seat saver and silicone
I had regained
confidence in my
ability to stay
balanced, and could
now sit upright
seat jodhpurs helped with grip and stability.
I worked hard at the gym - finding a trainer
that specialised in spinal injuries has helped
enormously. I had to learn to balance again
and figure out how to improve my situation.
I persevered for the two years hoping that at
some point I would regain some feeling, but
unfortunately nothing changed, other than
starting to get more pain in my back again
which became unbearable. We went back to
the hospital and further MRIs showed that
I now had spinal stenosis which meant that
the bones of my spinal column had started to
calcify and actually squeeze my spinal cord.
So back to the operating table I went, and
I imagine the surgeon dremelled away the
extra bone and created enough space for my
spinal cord.
The difference was amazing, the pain in my
back now 90% better, but unfortunately no
improvement in the feeling of my leg. But at
least that meant I could now be more mobile
and I got straight back down the gym and
was riding again within weeks.
Now being more mobile in my lower back,
I could progress with my riding and the
couple of years in the gym and balance work
I’d done meant that whilst I couldn’t feel
anything, I had regained confidence in my
ability to stay balanced, and could now sit
upright. I’ve had to experiment with saddles
and find one that has huge knee and thigh
rolls so I can use my thigh to secure me into
the saddle rather than gripping with my
knees.
I’ve found that it is a huge mental approach
- I’ve had to regain my confidence and found
both physio and gym work off the saddle is
just as important as being on board.
TELL US HOW YOU BECAME A REGIONAL
REP AND WHAT THAT INVOLVES
I became the Para Rep for the Eastern Region
in December 2016, and in February 2017 have
just been appointed to the BD Para technical
committee too. I originally applied to be the
marketing rep.
I’d been a member since the start of 2016,
and had attended a few camps and met the
other committee members and wanted to
‘do my bit’ for BD and the Eastern region.
However when I applied our RDO asked
if I would do the Para Rep instead, I had
thought about it but at that point didn’t
know anything about the Para competition
structure so didn’t think I would be able too.
However, I soon realised that if I didn’t,
no one else would either so I took up the
challenge! I started off January 2016 not
having contact with any other para riders, so
I quickly went out and about to shows and
RDA groups to find some - and by April 2016
I’d managed to get a team together for the
Para Home International, where we came
2nd! In 2017 we went one better sending two
teams and getting placed 1st and 5th.
I now have about 40 people on my list. I
organise regular training for the riders,
as well as ensuring we have shows in the
Eastern region. I’ve been very lucky also to
have the support of CU Phosco Lighting, who
are based in Ware, Hertfordshire, who agreed
to sponsor all the activity within the region
for Para Riders - so I’m able to offer lessons
with world class trainers for a fraction of the
cost.
WHAT YOUR COMPETITION
PLANS FOR 2018
My Personal goals for 2018 are to better my
2017 achievements!
• Para
• Bronze & Silver National Championships
(August 2018) - Having placed 3rd last year
at Bronze I’d like to improve on this, and
get a 1st or 2nd!
• I’m also on track to qualify to ride in the
Silver category too.
• Able-Bodied
• We’re already qualified for the Summer
Regionals at Novice, and I’m also looking
to compete in the Area Festivals at
Elementary level.
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