Riding a horse when you can’t walk can feel almost like the real thing. The canter of the horse; you may not be the one actually walking, but it sure feels like it. It’s no wonder so many people with spinal cord injuries get into horse riding post-injury, or decide to return to it like Amberley Snyder, a barrel racer before her injury.
But horses can be rather scary. They’re size, their scared-easily mindset, it takes some gumption to not let a horse scare you away, especially when you’re sitting down in front of one.
A good kind horse however is more than possible to find; one that will swiftly carry you’re paralyzed butt wherever you want to go, as our very fun horse-riding videos below prove. Check ‘em out!
Hi Tiffany, I am a PT who works with kids using horses as a therapy tool. I have a patient who has spina bifida so has similar lack of mm activation to SCI. She has been using a horse for PT and riding since she was 2 and is now 14. She is having venous problems in her lower legs–they are mottling and turning purplish. Have you ever had this problem? If so was there anything that helped you. She also has severe scoliosis that has never been surgically repaired.
Hello Jennifer! Wow that is an interesting one. Has she tried wearing thigh-high TED hose while riding?