A Plan is Born

O.K. so it's just barely a plan, but I feel like I'm getting a start anyway. After riding both horses in the arena last weekend, something I have a really tough time making myself do, I decided 'Glory' would be my primary endurance ride horse this year. She showed me she needed a bit more polish and some focus on developing her work ethic. Although she is only 6 months younger than 'Bella', 'Glory' is a year behind 'Bella' in saddle time. I think 'Glory' will really blossom with some rides under her cinch.

I made a list of ride dates for this season that I'll take in to work and see which ones I can get vacation days for. I'm hoping a minimum of 4 LD's and maybe a 50.

Next step, get my clippers fixed and give Glory a partial clip so she can work more comfortably. Somehow I'd like to keep Bella in shape too. You never know when you might need a back up horse.

I rode Glory out on the trail today for the first time since October. We mostly walked and had a great painfree time.

Ride On!

I had another great ride today. A good 3 hours of walk, running walk, rack and canter. My hip feels great. This is my third ride since the Doc cleared me for riding. Riding is a whole new experience without pain. I love to ride and always have, but it had become more difficult to enjoy the last few years. Endurance riding is my discipline of choice, and as you can imagine, requires many hours in the saddle, not only for the competitions, but also the conditioning. When my life aligned to allow me to persue endurance riding, my arthritis had progressed to the point where a 50 mile ride was out of the question. To spend 10 hours in the saddle would have been too painful. Most of the competions offer 25 or 30 mile rides, which is all I have completed up to this point. Completing a 50 mile ride has been a goal of mine for nearly 10 years. One I have yet to achieve. After todays ride, my 50 mile ride goal feels like something that could actually happen.
This is my second week of work, back to full duty. I have had my share of testing moments, especially the mini-donkey that wasn't impressed with having her mouth flushed and examined. 250lbs of pissed off. My hip is holding up fine, it's the rest of me that needs some time to adjust back to working a 40+ hour week.
I ended my physical therapy last week. I just couldn't see how I could fit it all in. I've continued to do many of the exercises at home. I still need to build up some strength. I can't rise from one knee using just my right leg, it is still just too weak. I'm fortunate it is my right leg, since I use my left leg to mount, getting up on my horse has not been a problem.
I'll soon need to put together my ride plan for the summer. I hadn't begun to seriously think about it until now, not knowing how things were going to turn out. I'm thinking a few LD's and maybe even a 50 this year. Ride On!

No Words Necessary

It's A Go!

I had my six week check up with the surgeon yesterday. Actually it has been 7 weeks, but this was the soonest I could get in. They took radiographs of my hip and the surgeon showed me how well my bone is fusing to the implant. Great news!
The news I really wanted though was whether I could start riding. I relived a little of what happened years ago when I originally injured my pelvis. I was a very active teen, lettering in cross-country and track my freshman year before the accident. I also had just gotten my first very own, long awaited and dreamed about, horse just two months before. Then bang, I'm on crutches all summer, no running, no riding. I can still feel the disappointment I felt leaving several of my dr. check-ups back then, crying in the car, no, you can not ride, no, you can not run. I did not want to leave yesterdays appt. feeling like that. My surgeon did not disappoint me. When I asked if I could start riding, he didn't even hesitate with his answer 'Sure'. And he added 'Especially if that's what makes you happy'. Oh, if he only knew (I think he does).
Seeing the radiograph of my pelvis with the implant in there was a bit surreal. I certainly don't feel like there is a big chunk of titanium in there. I don't feel like there is a bunch of rough bone grinding together though either. My hip feels like it's 14 again.
I'll try to get out for my first ride this Sunday. A slow, safe ride. My dog, my horse and I are all a bit out of shape. I'll definitely post a picture of my first ride with my new hip (and a big smile).