How I get onto a horse from my wheelchair

[GoldenLioness100]

Your stables are epic, and Red looks such a sweetheart. I have a question; do you prefer being lifted in this way, or being lifted manually into the saddle?

[GoldenLioness100]

@GoldenLioness100 If you don't mind me asking, of course?

[theparaequestrian]

@GoldenLioness100 I don't mind at all. I'm more than happy to be asked question. Thank you for asking :)

[theparaequestrian]

@GoldenLioness100 The owners of the stables are absolutely brilliant in allowing me to install things such as my hoist and store equipment and ride and... the list is endless! Nothing is too much trouble. Everyone who uses the stables will help however they can. I'm so lucky that way. Reds a bit tall and I'm a bit heavy to manually lift me onto him and it would take more people to do it than using the hoist. The hoist is less "resource intensive" though most horses need training for it so

[theparaequestrian]

@theparaequestrian I suppose it all equals out. I have been manually lifted a few times but that was on a ranch in Texas and they were used to throwing cattle around so I wasn't much of a problem lol. I don't mind which way is used as long as I get to ride :) My next project is to get a horsebox and fit a hoist in it so I can ride at other venues also.

[GoldenLioness100]

@theparaequestrian Thank you for answering :) I hope the horse box hoist project runs smoothly

[monogirl12]

*GIGGLE* this movie brings joy to my life! how many people told you this wasnt possible? "well keep your head up and believe its possible" that's what i will do! i have a hearing loss and people told me my whole life i could never be in band, but now i'm 2nd chair in band (alto-sax) thank you for sharing this video i give it a double thumbs up!!!!

[theparaequestrian]

@monogirl12 Thank you for your comment and the double thumbs up :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video! And a big well done you! I'm so envious of musical people, I'm not musical at all lol My two favourite mottos are 1 - "if there is no way I will make one" and 2 - "I refuse to live my life through other peoples fears" so I only have myself to blame if things go wrong! lol

[kalikacre]

Thanks so much for the share and inspiration. I am temporarily out of the saddle after a bad toss broke my clavical, ribs and lacerated my liver. So trivial by comparison, but was just looking for a little inspiration and have found plenty. :)

[theparaequestrian]

@kalikacre Ouch! and wow! That sounds very painful indeed! I wish you a full and speedy recovery :) The things we put up with for horses eh? lol. Thank you so much for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[Lois390]

Wow. your position at the walk is amazing! upload more videos soon please!!

[theparaequestrian]

@Lois390 Hi. Thank you for your comment, that's very kind:) Truth is I can't sit any other way! How the hoist deposits me on the horse is how I have to ride. I ride a bit twisted to one side but luckily Red and Cleo are very forgiving rides and do their best to make me look better than I am.

[kippen64]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I very much look forward to your future videos.

[theparaequestrian]

@kippen64 Hi. Thank you for your comment and I apologise for not responding sooner. I'm hoping to have more videos soon :)

[EquitationQueen100]

This is fantastic that they found a way for you to ride. Good for you!!! What are you able to do horseback? I would LOVE to see more videos of you! -3

[theparaequestrian]

@EquitationQueen100 Hi and thank you for the comment. I'm 6ft tall and Red is 17.1hh so lifting me manually wasn't an option lol. I got an electric winch meant for building site use and a fall arrest harness and hey presto I'm in the saddle. I'm still discovering what I can do but that's the exciting part. I'm hoping to add more footage soon :)

[CaseyHorses]

This is really cool! I'd love to see you ride more!

What all can you do?

Or are you just beginning to find balance ?

It's unreal how impressed I am !

[theparaequestrian]

@CaseyHorses Hi. Thank you for such a lovely comment! Before my condition worsened, although still in a wheelchair, I could do the usual walk, trot and canter. Recently my health has kept me out of the saddle but I'm hoping to ride again this week and find out what I'm able to do now. I'd love to get back into jumping lol and I am so jealous that you barrel race! Your horse is gorgeous.

[CaseyHorses]

@theparaequestrian Well I'm excited for you !

That'd be so cool if you were back into jumping, take some videos! :D

Lol, our barrel racing is a joke, we're awful at it!

we're definitly better jumpers!

and thank you :)

[sthnwatch]

God love you that must feel so good. You're very brave!

[TheIceDragonlady]

i loved seeing how happy your horse was for you to appraoch him with your chair. I have not ridden now for almost 16 years and I miss it terribly. I have an unknown disorder which leaves me very weak with little grip/balance/ limb strength (similar to MS) I also have scoliosis - I have wondered whther it would be theraputic to try to ride again ? I have been looking at going to the RDA near me but I have a very unhelpful g.p. (who would have to sign the papers). Im so glad you still ride xx

[paraequestrian]

@TheIceDragonlady It's wonderful that you want to ride again. The bond between a non-able bodied rider and their horse is something magical and un-explainable. You'll understand when you get back in the saddle :) I believe Drs in America prescribe riding as therapy (look up Hippotherapy on here) and from personal experience I know how effective and theraputic riding can be. Go for it!

[DaniAndTammy091010]

is that your horse?.....because last summer i tried out these ex race horses at a stables in oxfordshire and one of them was called red and looked very similar!?

[paraequestrian]

@DaniAndTammy091010 Hi. Yes Red is my horse. He's a 17.1hh cuddle monster! I have had him just over a year. I didn't get him from Oxfordshire.

[DaniAndTammy091010]

@paraequestrian ...had he just come out of racing??....because he might have gone somewhere else to be sold.....he looks sooooo similar!!!

[horseluvers1000]

no offence but thats wierd like whats a cord doing in a ring and how does she even controll the horse its just something that could cause her more harm take my advice be carefull and dont do anything stupid like stunts

[paraequestrian]

@horseluvers1000 Once I had corrected your spelling and grammatical errors I realised you were being insulting - I take it "cord" is a derogatory term for a spinal cord injured person, yes? Your lack of basic writing skills is astounding and your obvious disdain for disabled people in general is disgusting. I don't "control" my horse we work as a team though this is something I feel you would fail to comprehend and will never experience. I truly, truly pity you.

[sthnwatch]

@horseluvers1000 You really shouldn't say"no offence but..." then go on to say something so blunt, ignorant, & offensive. Your obviously very young & uneducated. You've got alot to learn before you're going to be successful in anything worthwhile. You need to learn to consider victims of illness & injury. Not so much to pity them but to have empathy & compassion for them. You never know, you might end up like that one day. It's a strong, brave person who overcomes such challenges.Think about it

[se7enspeaker]

Hey there! I am a T12-L1 and I want to get back to riding soon. I was wondering: How do you stay in the saddle? Do you have weighted boots etc? I really want to get riding again, but I am working on getting my lesson horse used to the whole wheelchair thing. He doesn't seem to mind it, but I don't want to get trampled because he is afraid of the shiny. I am also training him from the ground. To lay down so I can get on. But your way of doing it, is very effective! Best of luck to you!

[paraequestrian]

@se7enspeaker Hi, sorry for my late reply. I'm lucky in that my horses are very accepting of my wheelchair. Red sometimes walks into me and then looks as if to say "oops, didn't see you down there" but that's just Red being Red! lol I love the idea of getting a horse to lay down. TBH I don't always stay in the saddle but I just get hoisted back up there and try again. I find Western or Australian saddles far better to ride in than English 

[paraequestrian]

@paraequestrian @se7enspeaker I've considered straps across my thighs to hold me into the saddle but these create further safety issues. I have heard of weighted boots before but am yet to try them. It's brilliant that you're training your horse! I saw a video of an amazing horse whisperer in a wheelchair - I'll try and find it again and favourite it for you to see. Good luck!

[rdf111]

Are you spinal cord injured? What level injury are you? You have balance, that's why I ask. Thanks, nice video.

[theparaequestrian]

@rdf111 Hello and thank you for your questions! I don't have a spinal cord injury, just extensive and rather severe nerve damage to other areas, making balance something I have to work incredibly hard to try and maintain. I ride looking down a lot, or stare at the horse's ears because I always have a sense of falling and staring at a fixed point allows me to recognise when I am actually falling or leaning. I always look serious because I'm concentrating so hard lol. Plus I hate heights!

[nydressage]

do you take off your harness when riding ?

[theparaequestrian]

@nydressage Hi and thank you for asking! No, I leave it on as I can't stand in the stirrups to remove it. Luckily it is very comfortable - I hardly know its there. It can press into my neck as I'm lifted but a couple of sheepskin nosebands cure this lol The harness isn't really that noticable under a jacket either.